"Does iMovie support MPEG? How do I import MPEG to iMovie? I uploaded some videos from my Sony Cam to my Macbook Air, and i can't import them to iMovie, please hlep." - A question from Apple Support Communities.

For those who would like to import MPEG to iMovie, converting MPEG to iMovie compatible video format seems to be a good idea.

Part 1: What and Why

What is MPEG?

mpeg

MPEG is actually a group, fully named as Moving Picture Experts Group, which is formed by ISO and IEC to set standards for audio and video compression and transmission. There are several different MPEG standards. Among those standards, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-3 and MPEG-4 are very common ones. There are many different types, classes, and parts of the MPEG format. As a matter of fact, its development still continues until today. However, despite all such developments, MPEG-4 remains to be the most preferred video file format for movies that are stored on drives and played on discs.

Why some MPEG videos are not supported by iMovie?

mpeg-to-imovie

iMovie accepts DV (mp4, mov, m4v etc), DV Widescreen, HDV 1080i (25 and 30 fps), HDV 720p (25 and 30 fps), MPEG 4 Simple Profile (.mp4 format), and iSight. In fact, iMovie generally can recognize MPEG files. However, if your MPEG files are muxed (multiplexed) MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 videos, iMovie won't accept them because of the codec incompatibility. On this occasion, you need to convert MPEG format to iMovie compatible formats like MP4, MOV, M4V, etc.

Part 2: How to Convert MPEG to iMovie on Mac with Leawo Video Converter for Mac for Importing MPEG into iMovie

As is mentioned above, if you want to import MPEG into iMovie for editing, you'd better convert MPEG files into the formats iMovie is compatible with, like MP4, MOV, M4V, etc. To carry out the MPEG to iMovie conversion, you could use Leawo Video Converter for Mac, a professional Mac iMovie video converter able to help you easily convert MPEG/MPG videos to iMovie MP4, MOV, DV, etc. formats. Download and install this Mac video converter, and follow the guide below to convert and import MPEG into iMovie on Mac.

Guide on how to convert and import MPEG into iMovie on Mac:

Step 1: Import source MPEG videos

import-source-mpeg-videos

Kick off Leawo Video Converter for Mac, and under the "Convert" module, click the "Add Video" button or directlry drag source MPEG videos into for this Mac video converter. You could get all information on the left processing list, import multiple MPEG videos for batch MPEG to iMovie conversion, edit loaded MPEG videos, add 3D effect, etc.

Step 2: Set output format

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After importing source MPEG files, click the drop-down box right before the big green "Convert" button and then select "Change" option on the drop-down panel to enter the Profile window for output format setting. Open "Format > Common Video" group to select iMovie compatible video formats such as MP4 or MOV as output format.

detail-video-and-audio-parameters

Optional: If you're not satisfied with the video and audio parameters of preset format like video codec, bit rate, aspect ratio, quality, frame rate, audio codec, audio quality, audio bit rate, sample rate and channel, you could reset them. After setting output format, re-open the drop-down box and then select "Edit" option to enter the Profile Settings panel. On the Profile Setting panel, you could freely set the parameters.

Step 3: Set output directory

set-output-directory

When all the format settings are finished, save the settings and return to the main interface. Click the big green "Convert" button on the main interface to set output directory on the popup sidebar. You could open "Save to" box to browse desired folder as output directory.

Step 4: Convert MPEG to iMovie on Mac

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Finally, click the bottom "Convert" button of the sidebar to start to convert MPEG to iMovie on Mac.

When the conversion is finished, you could import the converted videos to iMovie for editing on your Mac computer freely.

import-mpeg-into-imovie

Guide on how to import MPEG into iMovie on Mac:

On the main interface of iMovie, click "File" button on the sub-menu, choose "Import" button on the drop-down list, and select "Movies" to browse and choose MPEG video file (now converted into iMovie friendly video format) for importing into iMovie.

Part 3: Other Options for Converting MPEG to iMovie Compatible Video Formats

Apart from Leawo Video Converter for Mac, there are many other solutions for you to convert MPEG to iMovie compatible video formats. Here I introduces three other options.

#1: Aimersoft Video Converter for Mac

aimersoft-video-converter-for-mac

Aimersoft Video Converter for Mac is recommended as a choice to help you change MPEG to iMovie. Simply add your videos, select iMovie as the output format and you'll get videos that are highly compatible with iMovie (iMovie 11) in a few minutes. In addition, it can convert MPEG to other videos formats like MP4, MOV, MKV, FLV, WMV, AVI, VOB, 3GP, etc. and vice versa.

#2: Aiseesoft Video Converter for Mac

aiseesoft-video-converter-for-mac

Aiseesoft Video Converter for Mac is a universal and fast multithreaded media conversion tool that lets you easily convert video/audio to and from virtually any format, of course including MPEG to iMovie conversion.

#3: MacX Video Converter Pro

macx-video-converter-pro

MacX Video Converter Pro is able to convert any video and audio formats on Mac OS X, of course including MPEG to iMovie conversion.