iMovie HD: How to mix video formats within a project

You'll get best results from iMovie if you use the same video format for all of the footage in a project. If you don't have this option, then these steps may allow you to mix various media footage (DV, HDV, MPEG-4) in the same project using iMovie HD.

Normally, when you attempt to import footage from a different camera type than what's used in your current iMovie project (iSight footage is the exception—you can import it into any project format), iMovie won't let you and may give you the following warning message:

"The attached camera uses a different video format than your project's format. To use this camera, disconnect any other tape-based cameras, then create a new, empty project."

Don't worry; it can be done. If you need to mix footage from different camera types, follow these steps:

1. Import the additional footage into a new iMovie project.
2. Select the imported footage in the clips pane or timeline and copy the clips to the clipboard (from the Edit menu, choose Copy).
3. Close the project and open the project in which you want the clips to appear.
4. Paste the clips into the clips pane or timeline (from the Edit menu, choose Paste).

iMovie HD will automatically convert the footage so that it can be used in this project. Please be aware that depending on the project and footage formats, the footage may be converted to a lower quality.

If your footage is of a different aspect ratio, it may be letterboxed or pillarboxed to fit the project you are pasting into. If you need to add an effect to such footage, consider adding the effect in the clip's original project before cutting and pasting it into the new project.