How to import JVC HDD Camcorder Video and convert into iMovie or iDVD

Posted on October 11, 2008 by JamieBee

**Say it in one breath: Copy & Paste Video straight from Camera, Convert .MOD to .MOV, Drag & Drop into iDVD, Burn, Enjoy!**

Today someone brought me a JVC HDD 30 GB camcorder that is FULL.  Here is a tutorial to help you get video off your camera and into iMovie to edit & iDVD to burn and watch in your DVD player.
READY. SET. GO:

First thing you have to get all the video files off of your video camera. Open up your video camera & your computer hard drive. Drag the PRG Folders inside the SD_VIDEO folder onto your computer into a folder. See Image:

Your JVC HDD Camcorder records video in MOD (video file) & MOI (info file).  The .MOD file type needs to be converted into something else that will import or open on your Mac (.MOV, .DV, .AVi file or whatever format you need.) The .MOI file can be discarded (and anything else BUT .MOD).

You are going to need another program: FFmpegx to Convert the files. (Download ffmpegx here). Once you have ffmpegx downloaded, installed and opened you are ready to convert the files. See Image below  (1) Drag & Drop the .MOD file into the “Source” Format section. (2) Select .MOV preset and hit the Encode button. (3) The .MOV file will appear when it is finished converting.

NOW you have a file ready to use in iMovie or iDVD!  Open iDVD and create a new project.

Click and drag the .MOV files into iDVD.  I have clicked on “Show the DVD Map”. (See image below) In most iDVD themes 6 videos fit perfect.  Because the camera creates a new file every time you start and stop the camera you will have a lot of files to sort through. *Combine videos in iMovie*  Keep the .MOD files and the .MOV files together so you can reference the .MOD files for the date & time the video was taken.  The .MOV file date and time is the time that the file was converted (not actually filmed). This can fill up your hard drive on your computer quickly so delete any files you will never use & buy a nice size external hard drive to store backup your files.  (Western Digital MyBook 1TB at Costco for $184.99)

Change the theme, change the title, change the file name, fill drop zones, preview, and Burn your DVD.  (see image)

Enjoy!

If this tutorial doesnt help or you want to look more places – here are my resources. I found a lot of this information from Garth, who found this information online at TeacherTube: JVC HDD Camcorder to iMovie HELP! and then I found this link HOWTO: Import JVC .MOD camcorder files into iMovie, Final Cut or Convert to another format,

Good luck! Let me know if you have any problems, need any help, or have a better solution!

Thanks!

UPDATE: After finishing this I read somewhere that it works fine with iMovie you just need to wait.  and SURE ENOUGH! It worked! Read more about how to import JVC HDD camera video straight into iMovie with no conversion. remember the key is to WAIT and WAIT and WAIT!