FLIP Video Recorders/FLIP Share File Format

Working with PCs and Macs MovieMaker and iMovie

Julia Zangl Colby, M.Ed.

Education Technology Specialist Plymouth Public Schools

Summer 2011

Using the FLIP Share software included with your Video Recorder, you can: • View your FLIP Video clips • Edit your FLIP Video clips • Trim your video clips (click the tiny scissors in the lower right-hand corner of your

clip).

• Share: Send an E-Mail attaching your video clip. • Share: Create an online account and Share your Clips with a Group • Share: Send a Greeting Card embedding your video clip into the card • Share: Share your video clip online to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube • Share: Export your clip to your computer and compress the file size of your video clip

for posting on a web site.

• Create: Create a movie of multiple clips – add a title, credits, and music. • Create: Create a still snapshot from your video clips

• File > Export allows you to export your video to your computer or any other storage

device. Makes an exact duplicate of your video clip.

If you are interested in viewing or doing other things with your video clips “outside” of FLIP Share Software, please read on: With the newest FLIP Ultra Video Recorders, the FLIP video clips are saved in file format: MP4 (MPEG-4). The older FLIP Video Recorders save the clips in AVI format which can be brought into Microsoft Movie Maker. If you have Windows Media Player 11, you are able to view the MP4 clips (outside of FLIP Share software – those stored in My Documents > My Videos > FLIPShare Data > Videos). If you have a Macintosh computer, you are able to view the MP4 clips on the Mac and import them in to iMovie. Please Note: If you try to view your FLIP Video clips on your computer (whether it is a PC or a Macintosh) and you are not able to view the video, you need to install the FLIP Share software or a Media player which contains a codec for FLIP videos, such as DivX. FYI: "Codec" is a technical name for "compression/decompression". It also stands for "compressor/decompressor" and "code/decode". All of these variations mean the same thing: a codec is a computer program that both shrinks large movie files, and makes them playable on your computer. Codec programs are required for your media player to play your downloaded music and movies.

Problem: You cannot bring MP4 clips into Windows Movie Maker or PowerPoint on a PC.

Solutions: Solution #1: You can convert the MP4 Video Clip to wmv file format using an online converter, such as:

Zamzar at www.zamzar.com UConvertIt at www.uconvertit.com, aka www.youconvertit.com

Solution #2: You can download a free converter, such as:

AnyVideo Converter at: http://www.any-video-converter.com/products/for_video_free/

You can use AnyVideo Converter to convert your MP4 Video Clip to wmv or avi (both can be brought into Windows Movie Maker). If you convert to MP4 (basically the same format) you can sync to iPod.

Question: Can you transfer your MP4 Video Clips from your FLIP Recorder to your iPod (on a PC)? When testing this on my Windows computer, using an iTouch, I found the following: • Even though the video clips were in MP4 format, they would not sync from iTunes to the iTouch. • If I used my converter software – AnyVideoConverter – and converted the clips to MP4 format (yes, I

know it is the same format), I then imported the new movie clip into iTunes > Movies. I was then able to sync the updated video clip to my iTouch and iPod Nano.

• However, you can convert right in iTunes – See Below:

iTunes: File > Import your mp4 FLIP video clip into iTunes.

This mp4 video clip can play in iTunes; however, it will not sync to your iPod.

You can convert in iTunes. Select your Video Clip Advanced > Create iPod or iPhone Version The Video Clip is converted (puts it underneath the existing one with the same name) This converted Video Clip will sync to your iPod

Question: Can you transfer your MP4 Video Clips from your FLIP Recorder to your iPod (on a Macintosh)? You can transfer your FLIP mp4 video clips to your iTunes Library on your Macintosh. Once you transfer the video clip to iTunes, you can view in iTunes. However, it will not sync to your iPod. If you convert it (to the same format) it will then sync to your iPod.

Macintosh Computer • When you download movie clips from your FLIP Video Camera, they are saved in:

Macintosh Hard Drive > Users > youruserid > Movies > FLIP Share Data > Videos • They are saved in MP4 format. They open with QuickTime. • You can import your video clips into iPhoto. • You can bring your MP4 clips into iMovie.