In Final Cut Express go to File - Open - your iMove HD project.

Final Cut Express will ask you to pick a location to save it.

Then Final Cut Express converts your iMovie HD project into a Final Cut Express project.

Double-check that you have all the contents you need.

If your iMovie HD project has a transition/effect in the iMovie Timeline that Final Cut Express doesn’t have (for example Overlap), delete that transition/effect in iMovie before importing into Final Cut Express.

iMovie HD and Final Cut Express use different audio standards, so you’ll have to render your iMovie audio in Final Cut Express before listening to it without the beep:
⌘A (Command - A for select all)
⌘R (Command - R for render audio and video)

Final Cut Pro 6 will not import an iMovie HD project, however you can Control-Click on your iMovie HD project and then Show Package Contents. Then copy your iMovie HD Media Folder contents to wherever you are storing your Final Cut Pro project’s assets for importing, and then import your iMovie HD media from there into Final Cut Pro.

Final Cut Pro 6 will import an iMovie ‘08 project as an XML file. Go to Share - Export Final Cut XML . . . and this window opens up (see below):

(If you don't want your transitions to turn into Cross Dissolves or other effects trampled upon, you must delete them before making your XML file.)

When you import your project into Final Cut Pro 6, you will be greeted with this window:

Double-check your Destination and Sequence Settings, keep all boxes checked and then click OK.

Any questions?

return to top