Transferring Movie files to iPad for editing

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shk292

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#208059 25-Jan-2017 12:01

A question for iOS experts – my son is experimenting with making home movies and I have been encouraging him to use a proper camera for this instead of his iPad mini. The problem I have now encountered is how to transfer the camera’s movie files onto the iPad for editing in iMovie. I normally use Windows and Android, and so would either plug the android device into a PC and transfer via USB, or store them on my NAS and download from there. However, Apple seems determined to isolate users from file structures, so what is trivially easy on Android/Windows is a challenge on iOS.

Things we have tried so far:

Using DropBox – this works, but his quota is quickly full and transferring via the internet seems inefficient
Using the Synology DSFile app – this allows us to see the movie files on the NAS, and appears to allow download, but iMovie cannot see the downloaded files
Using Windows Movie Maker for editing - but my son prefers iMovie

So, my question is – is there a simple, free, efficient way of transferring movie files from a camera to an iPad for editing in iMovie? I have googled this but can't find any useful help

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#1709297 25-Jan-2017 12:05

OK I have not done this but maybe try......

Camera -> PC/MAC -> Itunes -> Ipad

Depends how the camera is saving the file but once you get it into itunes it should convert it to mp4

trig42

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#1709299 25-Jan-2017 12:06

What format are the movies in (on the PC?).

For iOS they need to be an MP4, then you can just transfer them to the iPad using iTunes.

There are various guides on making the video file compliant with iOS on the web (transcode them using Handbrake etc.)

shk292

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#1709317 25-Jan-2017 12:40

Thanks both

I think the files are in a format usable by iMovie because when transferred via Dropbox they are editable.

I'll try using iTunes to transfer, that seems to be the preferred solution

davidcole

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#1709321 25-Jan-2017 12:41

Another question on the format? And are they on SD card? If mp4 (I guess) you could look at getting the camera connection kit to transfer direct to the ipad.

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shk292

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#1709357 25-Jan-2017 13:23

davidcole:

Another question on the format? And are they on SD card? If mp4 (I guess) you could look at getting the camera connection kit to transfer direct to the ipad.

They are on SD card, but I haven't seen lightning-port CCKs available so had discounted this solution (iPad in question is a Mini 2)

It seems like a good solution if there is a compatible kit

richms

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#1709358 25-Jan-2017 13:25

There were some ipad card readers at the 1.2.3 dollar store when I was looking for something else. Perhaps worth a shot. Then again might just pop up the message that its not an approved device and do nothing since apple love to screw people over with software updates.

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davidcole

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#1709361 25-Jan-2017 13:28

shk292:

davidcole:

Another question on the format? And are they on SD card? If mp4 (I guess) you could look at getting the camera connection kit to transfer direct to the ipad.

They are on SD card, but I haven't seen lightning-port CCKs available so had discounted this solution (iPad in question is a Mini 2)

It seems like a good solution if there is a compatible kit

I bought the official apple Lightning to SD card reader and use it on my SLR - but only for photos (no video capability). Cost about $50. You main problem would be the video compatibility. But I find the workflow pretty easy now, but I'm mainly doing it for viewing/backup while away.

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shk292

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#1709397 25-Jan-2017 13:53

davidcole:

I bought the official apple Lightning to SD card reader and use it on my SLR - but only for photos (no video capability). Cost about $50. You main problem would be the video compatibility. But I find the workflow pretty easy now, but I'm mainly doing it for viewing/backup while away.

I'm reluctant to blow $50 on this if it might not work for videos. I think I'll try using iTunes first, because if that works it will be a good solution

Frustrating that Apple make simple stuff so difficult; I had a very similar problem to this a couple of years ago when I wanted to transfer some PDF files onto an iPad and read them. Always good to refresh my Apple aversion occasionally though :)

davidcole

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#1709428 25-Jan-2017 14:30

shk292:

davidcole:

I bought the official apple Lightning to SD card reader and use it on my SLR - but only for photos (no video capability). Cost about $50. You main problem would be the video compatibility. But I find the workflow pretty easy now, but I'm mainly doing it for viewing/backup while away.

I'm reluctant to blow $50 on this if it might not work for videos. I think I'll try using iTunes first, because if that works it will be a good solution

Frustrating that Apple make simple stuff so difficult; I had a very similar problem to this a couple of years ago when I wanted to transfer some PDF files onto an iPad and read them. Always good to refresh my Apple aversion occasionally though :)

What about fileexplorer/fileexplorer pro, I think that can pull from a computer (webdav/smb) from there you should be able to push into imovie. Should essentially be a wifi version of using itunes.

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#1709434 25-Jan-2017 14:44

From DS File, can you download the videos as a local file and save in the camera roll on the iPad? iMovie needs the video file to be specifically in the camera roll to be able to import it, it seems. That's just from this help, https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3026672?start=15&tstart=0 , I don't have iPad available at the moment to test. iTunes method might be best though - the iTunes server app for Synology diskstation might help with that too. https://www.synology.com/en-global/knowledgebase/DSM/tutorial/Multimedia/How_to_enjoy_my_Synology_NAS_music_on_iTunes_Mac

shk292

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#1709443 25-Jan-2017 15:04

jonb:

From DS File, can you download the videos as a local file and save in the camera roll on the iPad? iMovie needs the video file to be specifically in the camera roll to be able to import it, it seems. That's just from this help, https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3026672?start=15&tstart=0 , I don't have iPad available at the moment to test. iTunes method might be best though - the iTunes server app for Synology diskstation might help with that too. https://www.synology.com/en-global/knowledgebase/DSM/tutorial/Multimedia/How_to_enjoy_my_Synology_NAS_music_on_iTunes_Mac

It was very unclear (to me at least) where DS File was storing downloaded files. A blank window is presented with "choose location", and you can either save to this location or create folders within it, but iMovie or the photo app don't seem to be able to see this location. There appears to be no way to tell iMovie where to import videos from (you can select a source for project files, but not video files), so the whole download facility of DS File has no obvious purpose. If you just want to view the files, then DS File works - but not if you want to save then edit them

davidcole

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#1709444 25-Jan-2017 15:06

shk292:

jonb:

From DS File, can you download the videos as a local file and save in the camera roll on the iPad? iMovie needs the video file to be specifically in the camera roll to be able to import it, it seems. That's just from this help, https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3026672?start=15&tstart=0 , I don't have iPad available at the moment to test. iTunes method might be best though - the iTunes server app for Synology diskstation might help with that too. https://www.synology.com/en-global/knowledgebase/DSM/tutorial/Multimedia/How_to_enjoy_my_Synology_NAS_music_on_iTunes_Mac

It was very unclear (to me at least) where DS File was storing downloaded files. A blank window is presented with "choose location", and you can either save to this location or create folders within it, but iMovie or the photo app don't seem to be able to see this location. There appears to be no way to tell iMovie where to import videos from (you can select a source for project files, but not video files), so the whole download facility of DS File has no obvious purpose. If you just want to view the files, then DS File works - but not if you want to save then edit them

likely, if DS File supports it, does it have an Open In option? You'd then "share" the file with imovie which would copy it from DS File.

shk292

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#1709445 25-Jan-2017 15:08

davidcole:

likely, if DS File supports it, does it have an Open In option? You'd then "share" the file with imovie which would copy it from DS File.

Not that I noticed - I'll check at home this evening

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#1709504 25-Jan-2017 17:09

what about lightning to USB?

peteflynn

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#1709505 25-Jan-2017 17:09

instashare is a great piece of software. I use it for transferring almost every type of file from iphone-mac, ipad-mac and vice-versa. So you could do camera->imac/pc -> ipad

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