A while back, I wrote about a way to convert the MP4s that the new Flip cameras create into WMV files, so that they are able to be imported into Windows Movie Maker.
If you have an HD camera, though, this process reduces the resolution of the movies to 640 x 480. If you are using Windows Movie Maker, this isn’t a problem, since that’s the largest size that program will output. For other purposes, though, you may want a higher resolution.
One solution to this is to use the FlipShare movie editing software (included on your camera) to create a movie. Doing this will preserve the 1280 x 720 HD size, while still producing a WMV file. To do this:
- Plug in your camera and run FlipShare.
- Select the movie(s) you want to convert.
- Click Create -> Movie at the bottom of the screen (or from the menus).
- Click Next.
- Add Titles and Credits if you like.
- Click Next.
- Add music if you like.
- Click Next.
- Give your movie a title and select a location for saving. (Note: The movie will be put in a folder in My Videos -> FlipShare Data -> Videos).
- Click Create Movie.
Make sure to wait until the movie is finished rendering before closing FlipShare. The status is shown in the bottom left corner of the screen.
If you’re running a relatively recent version of Vista that came with Movie Maker already installed, you can import the MP4’s directly — though it isn’t obvious.
If you use the ‘import’ dialog, “.MP4” isn’t one of the file types supported. However, if you have installed FlipShare, the codec that Movie Maker needs is there.
Rather than using the .MP4 files directly from the FlipShare library, which can screw up FlipShare’s database, select the clips you want in your movie from FlipShare, right click on one of them, and use the “Export to…” choice to put them into a folder on your desktop. (You can them move them wherever you wish.) This export is virtually instantaneous, since no conversion is done — it just makes an exact duplicate of the .MP4.
From their new location, drag them DIRECTLY into Movie Maker. There is a very good chance you can simply edit them as you would .wmv files and produce your movie. Recent versions of Movie Maker will, in fact, produce full resolution 1280×720 movies from your Flip videos, if you choose an HD output format.
I have other strategies for XP users available to members at my site, but the above should work for a very large percentage of you.
p.s. If you’re a teacher and only have access to XP machines, send me a note. Maybe we can work something out.
http://flipinfocus.com/contact
Thanks for that tip. Nice to know there are at least *some* benefits to Vista. 🙂