PC World Business

The latest version of iMovie has been merged into Apple’s iLife — a bundle that also includes iDVD 3, iPhoto 2 and iTunes 3 – in one $95 retail box. If you purchase a new Mac, the iLife package is included at no cost. Additionally, iMovie 3 is available as a free 82MB download from www.apple.com.au/imovie.

In this column, we look at some key features bound to be of interest to home movie enthusiasts.

New titles, transitions and effects

Once you’ve edited and arranged your video clips into your movie’s timeline, iMovie 3 has some new transitions, effects and titles for you. I was particularly pleased with the polished results obtained from the Cross Dissolve and Overlap transitions, as well as the Aged Film (Sepia), Black and White, and Letterbox (widescreen) effects (FIGURE 1).

You can add transitions, titles and effects by clicking the Trans and Titles and Effects buttons, respectively, and selecting a preset of your choice. You’ll be able to watch your selected option in a small preview window in the top right. For transitions, drag the highlighted transition type/name between the two clips on the timeline where you want to transition to occur. For titles and effects, drag and drop the title/effect name onto the actual clip thumbnail you want to affect.

Rendering will then commence. When rendering is complete, you will be able to view the results of your changes. If you’re after time-saving, real-time rendering, take a look at more advanced software such as the $595 Final Cut Express (www.apple.com.au/finalcutexpress).

Sound track effects

Many film makers, professional and novice alike, know that audio is an essential element to a video piece. In version 3, iMovie includes an assortment of sound clips from Skywalker Sound — the company behind audio effects for movies such as Star Wars, Jurassic Park and Saving Private Ryan. You’ll find these by clicking the Audio button; they range from environmental weather sounds to doors squeaking. This feature is unique to iMovie 3.

Provided you have already installed and set up iTunes 3, you can also use iMovie 3 to take music tracks from a CD or iTunes playlist and place them into your movie. Simply select Audio CD or iTunes Library, respectively, from the drop-down box at the top of the audio area.

Additionally, if you own a microphone you can record voice-overs by hitting the red record button and speaking as your movie plays — you’ll notice a new audio (in this case, voice) track forming on an audio timeline.

Audio arrangement

You can view audio timelines any time by clicking on the clock icon located at the bottom left of iMovie (known as the Timeline viewer tab). This icon allows you to drag and drop selected audio clips (CD audio, MP3s, etc.) to either of the two audio timelines displayed. You can synchronise your audio by clicking in the centre of an audio clip and moving it back and forth on the audio timeline; use the movie clip timeline above it as an easy reference for your arrangement. Audio clips can be shortened from the end or start by clicking the arrows at either end of the clip in the timeline.

iMovie 3 now allows you to adjust audio volume of both video and audio clips. First select the Edit Volume box in the timeline view before selecting the clip you want to adjust in the timeline, then click to adjust the volume line over the length of the clip (see FIGURE 2). A centred line indicates normal volume, while upward and downward increases and reduces volume.

When you have made two clicks, two dots will appear (representing the start and end of a volume change). Clicking between them will allow you to add a gradual curve to your volume adjustment.

TIP: the hare/tortoise control — also in timeline view — allows you to slow down or speed up the motion of selected clips without rendering.

More integration

iTunes isn’t the only iTool that integrates with iMovie 3. iPhoto 2 libraries can be accessed within iMovie and the cool photo pan and zoom (Ken Burns) effect can be used to add photos to your movie — great for credits and photo montages. This is all found under the new Photos button. The new iDVD button allows you to send movies to iDVD 3 complete, with chapter markers!