compression formats) which are used to convert uncompressed videos to compressed ones. Within each container format, the video or audio streams may use different codecs (a.k.a. The container format is like a wrapper that contains video or audio streams or both and packages them together. Generally, when we talk about a video or audio format, we mean the container format, which is basically what the file extension is. Now, here is something important about iMovie formats. It is a file extension for an audio file encoded with Advanced Audio Coding (AAC).ĭeveloped by Apple, it is used for storing sound data. It is an audio coding standard for lossy digital audio compression.ĭeveloped by Microsoft and IBM, it is an audio file format standard for storing an audio bitstream. It is an audio coding format for digital audio. MPEG-1 Audio Layer III or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III

Here is a list of the common video formats that are not supported by iMovie. Videos recorded in the iFrame format will have optimized performance in iMovie. Introduced by Sony, XAVC and XAVC S can support 4K resolution.ĭeveloped by Apple, it is created to simplify video editing. IMovie allows users to import videos from iMovie-supported cameras in formats AVCHD.

You can import video to iMovie from tape-based cameras in HDV format.įormat for digital recording and playback It is a format for recording of HD video on DV cassette tape. You can import video to iMovie from tape-based cameras in DV, including DVCAM and DVCPRO. It is a format for storing digital video. However, iMovie can't import DRM-protected M4V files. iMovie supports all MOV videos using iMovie-compatible video and audio codecs.ĭeveloped by Apple Inc., M4V is very similar to MP4. MOV is the file extension of QuickTime File Format. IMovie supports all MP4 videos using iMovie-compatible video and audio codecs such as H.264 and AAC. It is a video compression format in which each video frame is compressed separately as a JPEG image. It is a widely used method of defining compression of audio and visual digital data. It is widely used in digital video broadcast and DVDs.

It uses H.264 for video compression and AAC for audio.ĭeveloped by Apple Inc., it is the successor of Apple Intermediate Codec. IMovie supports HEVC files since maOS 10.13 High Sierra.ĪVCHD is a high-quality video codec and can be used by iMovie. IMovie supports H.264-compressed video from a number of digital cameras with HD video recording feature.

How to open avi files in imovie