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solofx7 · Feb 2, 2010, 12:39 PM

I am not really sure how to ask this question, but I would really like to know what I should use to catalog and organize my videos?
iPhoto automatically imports the videos to its catalog, but it is horrible for keeping track of them and such.
Sometimes it even deletes the video and only has a thumbnail of a pic.
I really want to have one location to view, edit, log and such, but iMovie acts a bit weird too.
It appears to be reading the videos from iPhoto, but not keeping them in its database.
I would really like to know whats the best place to keep and how to import the videos without having to go through a process every time.
The videos are important family ones and I have lost them too many times to count and had to restore.
Please let me know if I need to clarify.
Thank you.

solofx7 · Feb 4, 2010, 09:39 PM

any thoughts?
what do you use?

Big Mac · Feb 5, 2010, 02:06 PM

iTunes doesn't work?

solofx7 · Feb 5, 2010, 10:07 PM

not really. this would be for keeping, organizing and logging personal videos.
iphoto is kinda stinky for this, so i am in the process of trying to get them all out of iphoto and put them in the location you suggest

turtle777 · Feb 5, 2010, 10:21 PM

Again, WHY does iTunes not work for you ?
What specifically do you want to do that iTunes can't do ?

For someone who used iPhoto to organize videos, you're a bit quick to dismiss iTunes as a tool.

-t

solofx7 · Feb 6, 2010, 01:57 PM

I guess more or less, the question is what does everyone else use to do this with their own personal videos.
I have a young child and take videos of her. I want to be able to do the following with them.
Organize and name videos
Possibly put them in events or timeframes of when they were taken.
Have them readily available for upload, email, editing in other programs.

In iPhoto, the videos are all over the place and tough to keep track of because there are tons of pics floating around in there also.

iTunes does not appear to have all of the functionality that I am talking about here.
I mean I use my iTunes for all of my music, podcasts and movies videos and such, but for categorizing, uploading and editing personal videos, it does not seem to be the optimal solution.
I know that iMovie reads the files in iPhoto and such, but I want one central location for all of my personal videos. iPhoto does all of my photo stuff great.
iMovie is great for editing, but I have yet to try and use it to house and categorize all of my movies. I am asking if it is a viable option and what people are using to accomplish this take on their mac.
iPhoto currently houses my videos, but one of the issues is there is a bit of confusion with all of the photos in there and makes the videos tough to find and work with on their own.
Currently iPhoto does not open, edit or do anything with the videos, it opens quicktime to do so.
iTunes is great for some of the media stuff, but not all of it.

I mean each of the mac programs seems to have a clear cut idea behind what it is for.
I just do not see any one program that does for video what iPhoto does for photos. That being said, it may be iMovie, but I don't know. That is why I am asking. Apple markets iMovie as a movie editing software, which is cool because I use it for that too. I want to name the videos and put them into event type things. I know that I am not the only person that has personal videos and does this or wants to do it. I am thinking that iMovie may be the program, but I am not sure. I just want to make sure that is the correct location before I move gigs and gigs of video there or to any other program. Also if it cannot do it, I do not want to waste the time and effort. I want to make an informed decision.
Thank you for all of your time, effort, help and suggestions.
I love this board and your help is appreciated.

solofx7 · Feb 6, 2010, 02:12 PM

In furtherance of my description, I would like to put it this way.
Like iPhoto is the central location for all photo related stuff that you do, and iTunes is generally the one stop location for all audio/podcast stuff, I wanted to know what people either use or think is the best thing for one stop for all personal video stuff.

turtle777 · Feb 6, 2010, 03:27 PM

I don't know how well iPhoto handles videos, but iTunes has some basic (sufficient) ways to organize videos.

I'd organize them as TV SHows.

You can use fields like "Show" and "Genre" for specifics like Family, Friends, Vacation etc...
You can use the "Season" to enter the Year (i.e. Season 2009, Season 2008)

Really, be a bit creative.

-t