Step-by-Step Guide to Import a DVD into iMovie

Brittany Garcia

May 16, 2024 10:57Updated by to Rip DVD

Do you want to edit videos from physical DVD copies? The good thing is your Mac has a default video editor to professionally trim, add effects, and do overall editing for free. But can you import a DVD into iMovie? While it is not easy to achieve this task, this article will guide you to successfully import the DVD content to the Mac’s default video editor. Let’s continue reading to see the demonstrations.

Import DVD into iMovie for Editing

Part 1. Can You Import a DVD into iMovie

iMovie on Mac is able to allow users to import VOB files from homemade DVDs. However, there is a lingering drawback with this: the lack of native support for commercial DVDs. This means that you can only import videos you have burned on discs, while movies that are released from cinemas are unsupported.

As obvious as it is, for you to import DVDs on your video editor, you must convert and change the file extensions into supported ones. Here are some natively supported formats on your Mac computer:

Video: MP4, MOV, M4V, VOB, 3GP, AVI

Audio: AAC, AIFF, MP3, WAV, CAF

But remember that these formats must contain uncompressed codecs for you to be able to import DVDs into iMovie. Or else the video editor will not recognize it. Now, if you have homemade DVDs, it is easy to turn them into VOB files and import them to iMovie. Here’s how:

Step 1.You may use HandBrake to convert the DVD into iMovie or VOB. Make sure to download the software from the official website and then install it.

Step 2.Load the disc and allow the program to detect it. Import the videos and choose VOB as the output format. Hit the Start button to process and convert the DVD to VOB.

Handbrak Load Disc Rip Convert

Step 3.Once the files are converted, open iMovie on your Mac. Click the Create New button to start a new project. Browse your local folder and find the converted videos. From there, copy the DVD videos into iMovie and drag them to the timeline below to start editing or watching.

iMovie Mac Create New Project Upload Ripped Files

Part 2. How to Rip DVD to iMovie-Supported Digital Formats

While HandBrake can rip DVDs, it is still insufficient for a high-quality conversion. So, we encourage you to use AnyMP4 DVD Ripper as it has the power to rip homemade and commercial DVDs on Windows and Mac.

The desktop tool consists of advanced technology to extract content from physical DVD copies without lowering the quality. Of course, it converts the videos into other containers, allowing you to change them to VOB, MKV, MP4, and so on. Although you can import DVDs to iMovie for video editing, you might as well use the DVD Ripper’s built-in video editor to add text, cut unwanted parts, and further enhance the overall visual. Download DVD Ripper to start with the fastest ripping process.

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Step 1.To get a DVD into iMovie, download AnyMP4 DVD Ripper and install it on your computer. Load the disc to the optical drive, then click the Load Disc button from the software’s main interface. Wait until the program processes it.

AnyMP4 Load disc Import DVD into Movie

Step 2.Once the disc is successfully loaded, proceed to select the desired output formats. If you want to make the videos compatible with your Mac or any built-in app, go to the Profile menu and choose the MOV, MP4, or others.

AnyMP4 DVD Ripper Format

Step 3.Don’t forget to pick a location folder where you want to save the converted files. Then, hit the Rip All button and wait until the conversion is done. After that, you can play and edit the videos unrestricted.

AnyMP4 DVD Ripper Rip All

And there you have it! AnyMP4 DVD Ripper is made to rip and convert the DVDs you want to import to iMovie. The process is easier with excellent output quality.

Part 3. How to Import a Ripped DVD into iMovie

Once you have done the last part’s demonstration and the ripped DVDs are ready, it is time to import them to the iMovie app:

Step 1.Open iMovie on your computer and navigate to the My Media panel from the sidebar. Click the Import Media button and pick the ripped DVD files from your local folder.

Step 2.Once the videos are loaded on the window, drag and drop one to the timeline at the bottom part of the interface. Proceed to edit the clips, such as cutting, trimming, adding effects, etc. Click the Play button to see a preview of the edited video. Then, export the video from iMovie as the format you want to save.

Import Ripped Videos iMovie Mac

Part 4. FAQs about Importing DVDs into iMovie

Wrapping up

In conclusion, it is not possible to directly import DVDs on the video editor. However, you have learned how to put a DVD into iMovie, and it is done by ripping and converting the extracted files. With the help of this post, you can use iMovie to edit and watch the videos, but we also urge you to use DVD Ripper to preserve the high-quality content. Check the free version and discover a professional DVD-ripping software for Mac and Windows.

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