How to Import AVCHD to iMovie for Mac or iOS iPad/iPhone/iPod?

Does iMovie Support AVCHD?

Situation 1 Does iMovie 10 for Mac support AVCHD files?

Though the new iMovie 10.0 for Mac OS X Mavericks/Yosemite claims the native support for AVCHD, its support for AVCHD is just the same as iMovie 11: iMovie can import and edit native AVCHD in 1080i 50/60, 720p 24/25/30, 1080p 24/25/30, but iMovie does not support AVCHD 1080p 50/60 or 720p 60. So does iMovie for macOS Sierra

That is, you will still fail to import AVCHD to iMovie 10/11/09/08/HD if the AVCHD footage recorded at 1080/60p, 1080/50p or 720/60p with whatever model of cameras or camcorders like Panasonic Lumix DMC, Panasonic HDC series, Canon XA20, Pana TZ7, Sony Alpha DSLR(SLT) Cameras, Sony HDR-PJ790 and etc.

Situation 2 Can iMovie for iOS iPad, iPhone or iPod import AVCHD?

The short answer is no. Normally, iMovie for iPad, iPhone or iPad only works with the video files recorded by the iOS devices in MP4, MOV or M4V format. And iMovie for iOS will not import AVCHD footages recorded with other cameras or camcorders.

How to Import AVCHD to iMovie for Mac or iOS?

In order to successfully import all kinds of AVCHD to iMovie for Mac or iOS, a recommended solution is convert AVCHD to iMovie more supported video format.

iDealshare VideoGo is just the ideal AVCHD to iMovie Converter. It supports converting various AVCHD movies to iMovie more supported MP4 or MOV. Besides converting AVCHD to iMovie, it also helps to convert other video formats for importing AVI, WMV, MKV, VOB, DivX, Xvid, FLV, WTV, MXF, MOD, TOD, MPG, MVI, and etc to iMovie of all versions.

Step by Step Guide to Convert AVCHD to iMovie Format

The following is a step by step guide on how to convert AVCHD 1080p 60 to iMovie more compatible video format.

This guide applies to:

• Convert all kinds of AVCHD files for import AVCHD to iMovie 10.0 on macOS Sierra or Mac OS X Mavericks or Yosemite, or import AVCHD to iMovie '10, '11, '09, '08 or HD.
• Convert and import AVCHD into iMovie for iOS like AVCHD to iMovie for iPad, AVCHD to iMovie for iPhone, AVCHD to iMovie for iPod.
• Convert AVCHD in .mts, m2t, m2ts to iMovie supported MP4, MOV, DV
• Convert AVCHD in 1080/60p, 1080/50p or 720/60p to iMovie video format
• Convert AVCHD from all kinds of cameras or camcorders like Panasonic Lumix G5, Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2, Panasonic DMC-G6, Panasonic HDC series camcorders, Canon XA20, Pana TZ7/ZS3, Sony HDR-PJ790, Sony A65, A99 etc Alpha DSLR(SLT) Cameras and etc.

Make Preparation: Free download and run AVCHD to iMovie Converter

Free download the powerful AVCHD to iMovie Converter - iDealshare VideoGo (for Mac, for Windows), install and launch it, the following interface will pop up.

Step 1 Import AVCHD recordings

Copy and paste the recorded AVCHD movies from your camcorder to computer, then click "Add File" button to import the transferred AVCHD files to iDealshare VideoGo. This powerful AVCHD to iMovie Converter also supports drag and drop function.

Tips: This program supports batch converting AVCHD files to iMovie format, so you can add multiple files for converting at a time.

Step 2 Select iMovie format and set output resolution

Click the "Profile" drop down list to select iMovie more compatible 'H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Video(*.mp4)' from "General Video" Category.

If your AVCHD is in 1080p, 1080i or 720p, and you want to convert the AVCHD files with the same resolution and video quality, please select 'HD H.264 Video(*.mp4)' from "HD Video" Category.

To set desired resolution like 1920*1080, 1440*1080, 1280*720, click "Settings..." to open the 'Advanced Settings' window to select preferable one from the 'Video Size' drop down button.

Step 3 Edit AVCHD files (optional)

Click the "Effect" button to open the 'Video Edit' window for editing the AVCHD movies:

• Go to "Trim" tab to define which AVCHD segment you want to convert for iMovie by setting the start time and end time;
• Go to "Crop" tab to remove the black bars for the AVCHD files or adjust the output zoom mode like 19:6 or 4:3;
• Go to "Image" tab to adjust the output video brightness, contrast, saturation;
• Go to "Watermark" tab to add text or picture watermarks to the AVHCD movies;
• Go to "Effect" tab to add video effects like "Soften" or "Oil Painting" for the output video;
• Go to "Subtitle" tab to add or remove subtitle for the output videos;
• Click the Rotate button like 90 Cloudwise, Flip Horizontal, or Flip Vertical to turn your AVCHD footages to correct degree.

Step 4 Convert AVCHD to iMovie video format

Click the "Convert" button to start and finish the AVCHD to iMovie video format conversion.

Import AVCHD to iMovie for Mac

Start iMovie on Mac, then click File > Import > Movies... to locate and import the converted AVCHD files to iMovie 10.0, iMovie '11, iMovie '09, iMovie '08, iMovie HD and etc.

Import AVCHD into iMovie for iOS

• Put the converted AVCHD movies into any of your "Photo" folders that syncs with iTunes
• Connect your iOS device like iPad, iPhone or iPod to your computer, then open iTunes on your computer.After a moment, your device appears in iTunes, below Devices on the left.
• Select the device, then click Photos at the top of the iTunes window. Check the box next to "Sync Photos From", and make sure check the box next to Include videos, then click on the drop-down menu and select your "Photo" folder (Note: You had better select your whole "Photo" folder, for the sync process will delete all the photos and videos in your iphoto library of iPhone)
• Click the "Sync" button to transfer the converted AVCHD files. When the transfer is complete, the video and photos are available within iMovie for iOS iPad, iPhone or iPod from the Video browser and Photo browser.