XL2 and iMovie at DVinfo.net

Chris Lynch · January 6th, 2005, 11:41 AM

Greetings all, and Happy New Year!

Newbie here, and I'm really glad I found this site - its been really helpful.

I just have a quick question:

Me and some mates are looking to branch out and start making our movies with better equiptment. One of my friends has convinced his parents to buy him an XL2. The only hardware that we have at the minute is my iMac G5 with iMovie. The question is will we be able to import the footage into iMovie using Firewire because at the minute I cant afford to buy Final Cut.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Bob Zimmerman · January 6th, 2005, 11:53 AM

I had the XL1s and it worked with iMovie and Final Cut Express. But to be sure go to Apples website and see if it will work.

Michael Gibbons · January 6th, 2005, 12:06 PM

I can't imagine why it wouldn't work, but imovie has no native 16X9 support at this time. Your wide screen picture will be squashed into 4:3- at least that's what happens to me with my pdx10... but I would be very happy if someone were to tell me how wrong I am!

If either one of you are students, you can get an academic discount on FCP, which should cut the price in half... at least it did for me a year ago. Good luck.

Incedently I love imovie, I think it is a great little program, that doesn't get near enough props, and you will be astounded at what you can do wit it- BUT be sure to save your work frequently. I've lost a couple of hours of work over the years when imovie "unexpectedly shut down" on me...

Chris Lynch · January 6th, 2005, 12:10 PM

Bob,

I looked on the Apple website and it lists a lot of Canon cameras as ones that can be used ( inc. XL1, XL1s) but XL2 is not listed.

Michael Gibbons · January 6th, 2005, 12:18 PM

Chris,
where did you find that list on the Apple site? I can't find it and I'd really like to get a look at it.
Thanks

Chris Lynch · January 6th, 2005, 12:46 PM

Michael,

you can find it here:

http://www.apple.com/macosx/upgrade/devices.html

Michael Gibbons · January 6th, 2005, 01:59 PM

Thanks chris,
It appears that the sony pdx10 (my cam) is also unsupported. I'm pretty sure that I've imported video into it with the pdx10 but I have a little cam that I mostly use for a playback deck so maybe I'm wrong...
guess I'll have to find out.
Thanks again for the link!

Sven Ohrvik · January 6th, 2005, 03:46 PM

I have successfully imported footage from XL2(PAL) to iMovie, but as mentioned in an earlier posting, only in 4:3.

Since 99 percent of my footage is shot in 16:9, (which was one of my major reasons for purchasing the XL2), I had to move from iMovie to FinalCut Express or FinalCut Pro to edit. [There is (as well) a lot of other good reasons for that specific move...]

As far as I'm concerned, there is little need for FinalCut Pro before you need to edit HD footage - and when the price tag is four times higher for FCP than for FCE, (that be in Norway...) - this one was a simple choice for me.

(The connection between FCE and XL2 works flawlessly, although the XL2 is not listed on Apples "Supported Devices" page).

Bw

Sven O.

Chris Lynch · January 6th, 2005, 04:24 PM

Thanks Sven,

that's exactly what I needed to know

John Sandel · January 6th, 2005, 08:20 PM

I haven't looked at FCExpress in detail yet. Does anybody know for sure that it supports 16:9 & will not squash the image?

JS

Sven Ohrvik · January 7th, 2005, 03:45 AM

Yes!

Sven O.

Kevin Kocak · January 7th, 2005, 09:10 AM

I have an XL2 and FCPHD and can not capture from the camera. Apple lists the XL2 as compatible but there are well documented issues with Cannon cameras and MAc's. It seems that if you are capturing to an external FW drive or have any external FW drives connected the camera is not very cooperative. The consesus seems to be that Canon's do not like to share the FW bus with other devices, meaning you can't have anything else connected by FW at the same time as your camera. Go to the Apple FCP forum and run a search on XL2 and you can read for yourself and form your own opinion. I wouldn't let that be the only thing that stops you from getting the camera though. Its a great camera and you don't have to capture from it. I went out and spent $200 on a little mini DV camcorder to capture from. It is a lot of wear and tear on an expensive piece of gear to capture from the XL2 in my opinion.

John Sandel · January 7th, 2005, 09:39 AM

Thanks, Sven--JS

Kevin Kocak · January 7th, 2005, 09:58 AM

Check this out...
http://discussions.info.apple.com/webx?14@957.dlz8auHbId1.0@.68a0b5f0

towards the bottom it addresses the Canon/FCP conflict and the solution.

Eric A Robinson · January 7th, 2005, 02:49 PM

Hi

I have heard that a new version of imovie (5) is to be announced next week at Macworld in San Francisco. It appears the new version will do both 16:9 and HD.
How accurate this story is only time will tell.

January 6th, 2005, 11:41 AM	#1
Chris Lynch Tourist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 4	XL2 and iMovie Greetings all, and Happy New Year! Newbie here, and I'm really glad I found this site - its been really helpful. I just have a quick question: Me and some mates are looking to branch out and start making our movies with better equiptment. One of my friends has convinced his parents to buy him an XL2. The only hardware that we have at the minute is my iMac G5 with iMovie. The question is will we be able to import the footage into iMovie using Firewire because at the minute I cant afford to buy Final Cut. Any advice would be much appreciated. Cheers

January 6th, 2005, 12:06 PM	#3
Michael Gibbons Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Loveland, Colorado, USA Posts: 292	I can't imagine why it wouldn't work, but imovie has no native 16X9 support at this time. Your wide screen picture will be squashed into 4:3- at least that's what happens to me with my pdx10... but I would be very happy if someone were to tell me how wrong I am! If either one of you are students, you can get an academic discount on FCP, which should cut the price in half... at least it did for me a year ago. Good luck. Incedently I love imovie, I think it is a great little program, that doesn't get near enough props, and you will be astounded at what you can do wit it- BUT be sure to save your work frequently. I've lost a couple of hours of work over the years when imovie "unexpectedly shut down" on me... __________________ " When some wild-eyed, eight foot tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head against a bar room wall, and looks you crooked in the eye, and he asks you if you've payed your dues, well, you just stare that big suker right back in the eye, and you remember what old Jack Burton always says at a time like that, 'Have you paid your dues, Jack? Yes sir, the check is in the mail."

January 6th, 2005, 12:18 PM	#5
Michael Gibbons Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Loveland, Colorado, USA Posts: 292	Chris, where did you find that list on the Apple site? I can't find it and I'd really like to get a look at it. Thanks __________________ " When some wild-eyed, eight foot tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head against a bar room wall, and looks you crooked in the eye, and he asks you if you've payed your dues, well, you just stare that big suker right back in the eye, and you remember what old Jack Burton always says at a time like that, 'Have you paid your dues, Jack? Yes sir, the check is in the mail."

January 6th, 2005, 01:59 PM	#7
Michael Gibbons Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Loveland, Colorado, USA Posts: 292	Thanks chris, It appears that the sony pdx10 (my cam) is also unsupported. I'm pretty sure that I've imported video into it with the pdx10 but I have a little cam that I mostly use for a playback deck so maybe I'm wrong... guess I'll have to find out. Thanks again for the link! __________________ " When some wild-eyed, eight foot tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head against a bar room wall, and looks you crooked in the eye, and he asks you if you've payed your dues, well, you just stare that big suker right back in the eye, and you remember what old Jack Burton always says at a time like that, 'Have you paid your dues, Jack? Yes sir, the check is in the mail."

January 7th, 2005, 09:39 AM	#13
John Sandel Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: stately Eldora Road Posts: 386	FCE & 16:9 Thanks, Sven--JS

January 6th, 2005, 11:53 AM	#2
Bob Zimmerman Major Player Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Illinois Posts: 888	I had the XL1s and it worked with iMovie and Final Cut Express. But to be sure go to Apples website and see if it will work.

January 6th, 2005, 12:10 PM	#4
Chris Lynch Tourist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 4	Bob, I looked on the Apple website and it lists a lot of Canon cameras as ones that can be used ( inc. XL1, XL1s) but XL2 is not listed.

January 6th, 2005, 12:46 PM	#6
Chris Lynch Tourist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 4	Michael, you can find it here: http://www.apple.com/macosx/upgrade/devices.html

January 6th, 2005, 03:46 PM	#8
Sven Ohrvik New Boot Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Drammen, Norway Posts: 23	I have successfully imported footage from XL2(PAL) to iMovie, but as mentioned in an earlier posting, only in 4:3. Since 99 percent of my footage is shot in 16:9, (which was one of my major reasons for purchasing the XL2), I had to move from iMovie to FinalCut Express or FinalCut Pro to edit. [There is (as well) a lot of other good reasons for that specific move...] As far as I'm concerned, there is little need for FinalCut Pro before you need to edit HD footage - and when the price tag is four times higher for FCP than for FCE, (that be in Norway...) - this one was a simple choice for me. (The connection between FCE and XL2 works flawlessly, although the XL2 is not listed on Apples "Supported Devices" page). Bw Sven O.

January 6th, 2005, 04:24 PM	#9
Chris Lynch Tourist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 4	Thanks Sven, that's exactly what I needed to know

January 6th, 2005, 08:20 PM	#10
John Sandel Major Player Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: stately Eldora Road Posts: 386	I haven't looked at FCExpress in detail yet. Does anybody know for sure that it supports 16:9 & will not squash the image? JS

January 7th, 2005, 03:45 AM	#11
Sven Ohrvik New Boot Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Drammen, Norway Posts: 23	Yes! Sven O.

January 7th, 2005, 09:10 AM	#12
Kevin Kocak Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tampa, Fl Posts: 149	I have an XL2 and FCPHD and can not capture from the camera. Apple lists the XL2 as compatible but there are well documented issues with Cannon cameras and MAc's. It seems that if you are capturing to an external FW drive or have any external FW drives connected the camera is not very cooperative. The consesus seems to be that Canon's do not like to share the FW bus with other devices, meaning you can't have anything else connected by FW at the same time as your camera. Go to the Apple FCP forum and run a search on XL2 and you can read for yourself and form your own opinion. I wouldn't let that be the only thing that stops you from getting the camera though. Its a great camera and you don't have to capture from it. I went out and spent $200 on a little mini DV camcorder to capture from. It is a lot of wear and tear on an expensive piece of gear to capture from the XL2 in my opinion.

January 7th, 2005, 09:58 AM	#14
Kevin Kocak Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tampa, Fl Posts: 149	Check this out... http://discussions.info.apple.com/webx?14@957.dlz8auHbId1.0@.68a0b5f0 towards the bottom it addresses the Canon/FCP conflict and the solution.

January 7th, 2005, 02:49 PM	#15
Eric A Robinson Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 82	Imovie Hi I have heard that a new version of imovie (5) is to be announced next week at Macworld in San Francisco. It appears the new version will do both 16:9 and HD. How accurate this story is only time will tell.