From a Flip Video Camera to Windows Movie Maker

Written by: PapaJohn • Edited by: skierhughes
Updated Jan 11, 2010 • Related Guides: Windows | AVI | Movie Maker

Flip Video to Windows Movie Maker is quick and easy... depending on which of the two paths you go down... avi or wmv from the Flip.

Last year I saw a large pile of Flip video camcorders in our Sam’s Warehouse store. That was about the time I first heard about the product, and it being a featured article on one of Oprah’s shows. I played with the demo unit and didn’t think much more of it…. I had my expensive mini-DV camcorder and didn’t need something less. But the pile was huge, which means an expectation for lots more sales than those looking for my camcorder model.

Sometimes ‘less’ features catch on and becomes more popular than 'more' features. A recent article in the local Kalamazoo newspaper said the Flip Video camcorder ramped up to taking 13% of the camcorder market in its first year. It couldn’t be totally due to Oprah!!! I decided to do some checking. As a Windows guy, I’m always thinking of what kinds of files a camcorder makes, and how to get them into Movie Maker for editing. The lower priced easier to use models are often a techie challenge needing a walk through codec hell.

The Flip website gave some technical info, but not enough to satisfy me. A forum post by a Flip owner said the file was an AVI but wouldn’t go to the timeline of Movie Maker. I sent an email to Flip's tech support, asking if I could have copies of the Flip software, any needed codec, and a couple sample files. We exchanged emails a few times. Their responses were quick and I ended up with two sample video clips.

They couldn’t send the software because it’s built into the camcorder, not something to install from a disc or download. The camcorder records to an internal hard drive and the software on it lets you choose between avi and wmv formats. The samples I got were one of each.

I was told the avi file was Divx encoded, but checking it at my end with GSpot indicated it was compressed with Xvid…. Divx spelled backwards... close enough. It was 640x480 pixels at 30 frames per second. The audio channel was mono. The video played fine in my Windows Media Player, which said it was using a Divx Decoder Filter to show it. But it wouldn’t work in Movie Maker without file conversion.

The wmv sample also played fine in WMP11. Unlike the Xvid avi file, Movie Maker 2.1 on XP had no problem using it in a project. It was interesting that the wmv sample was 496x370 pixels, less than the pixel dimensions of the avi recording.

To use the higher pixel quality in my movie projects, I converted the avi file from Flip it to a DV-AVI file using VirtualDub with the Panasonic DV codec. Conversion was easy and quick.

kevin May 4, 2011 10:30 PM

RE: From a Flip Video Camera to Windows Movie Maker

Convert Flip Video to Windows Movie Maker: http://www.convertflipvideo.com/convert-flip-video-to-windows-movie-maker.html
supports convert Flip files to AVI, WMV, MPG, then importing converted Flip video to Windows Movie Maker freely.

PapaJohn Feb 21, 2011 1:08 AM

about Kerry's comment....

I have a techie nephew in California who uses and is happy with Any Video Converter. A year ago I downloaded the free version and did a test conversion of a Flip .avi file to wmv.... it had the same issue I've seen recently with Xilisoft's conversion software.... an NTSC avi at 29.97 frames per second was converted to a wmv file at 25fps... that's why I stopped promoting Zilisoft's. Be careful and do some test conversions before purchasing.

I don't have any notes about the Leawo converter. I added Kerry's note to my database as the first about this app.

kerry Feb 21, 2011 12:50 AM

I have been used video converter for 3 years, because of my work, an editor of a website, I have to cut many videos a day, and combine, convert, edit them. So, I used various video converter, I think any video converter and leawo video converter are the best ones, for any video converter is very easy to use, and leawo video converter has a good convert speed with high quality. I use them both.
http://www.leawo.com/leawo-video-converter/

niki Jul 22, 2010 3:37 AM

flip to windows movie maker

your article let me know more! i have ask the same problem on yahoo answer,,and get some good answer,,flip video is mp4,,wmm like wmv, avi ,,,so they recommend me a flip video converter,,,google recommend one,,,iorgsoft flip video converter,,,,,,,i just convert my flip video to wmv,,then import success,,,,,,,,,,,,share u,,,and hope learn more from u

good luck

April Jun 23, 2010 5:58 PM

Transferring Flip Vidoes to Windows Movie Maker

Import the Flip videos, click movie, click and select each video clip you want, drag to the white area in the box, Click Next, When Finished creating the movie click my movies, Find movie, highlight, file, export, Save. Open Windows Movie Maker and import your footage. Hope this helps!

PapaJohn Jun 10, 2010 3:08 AM

thanks for the info Darrell

9 of 22 files I tried to import made it into Flip Share.

Darrell Icenogle Jun 9, 2010 5:46 PM

Importing into FlipShare

Sorry, PJ, I just noticed your issue with getting stuff into FlipShare. There are two methods.

First, to get Flip video clips into the FlipShare library, use "Help->Recover other FlipShare files..." The basic idea of this is when you're moving FlipShare from one computer to another, but it will work in other contexts.

The second is to import files not created with a Flip camcorder. The file filter shows *.mp4, *.avi, *.wmv, and *.jpg. It is probable that not all flavors of these video types will work. I have a media profile that I created that, at one time at least, allowed me to create importable .wmv files from WMM. Let me know if you would like to have it, or perhaps how I can make it available.

Darrell Icenogle Jun 9, 2010 5:35 PM

Video Conversion for Flip

I'm finding myself increasingly impressed with Microsoft Expression Encoder, which the only free of the suite of tools Microsoft created for Silverlight. It creates many flavors of .WMV, including VC1. It gives you a lot control over the conversion parameters, and allows you to set up a template of parameters that correspond to video from a certain camcorder or other video source. And, it also comes with an excellent screen capture program. You can even do basic trimming and sequencing of your clips. You can batch convert your video. It seems efficient. I like it.

I created a tutorial for this approach to converting Flip on my website. It's a membership site, but the non-version you see there gives you the basic recipe. The members-only version is a detailed, step-by-step walk-through of the whole process I use.

Here's the link to the video: http://bit.ly/dtIUTI

I hope that's helpful.

Darrell Icenogle
FlipInFocus.com

PapaJohn Apr 27, 2010 6:05 PM

Hi Milara and Jeremy

I don't have a Flip camera but I've downloaded and installed Flip Share software on my XP and Windows 7 systems. I haven't figured out if I can use Flip Share for anything without having a camera. The purpose of my article and website is about getting stuff from Flip, not getting videos back to Flip.

I'm with you, open to learning how to do things with it.... just havn't found anything yet.

Jeremy Apr 27, 2010 1:03 PM

Question

Can i take video from Windows Media Player and then import it over to my flip camera editing software. If so how. It keeps saying I can't import it. What do i need to change it to to fit into flip software.

Milara Apr 23, 2010 2:52 AM

flip video to dvd

Doremisoft Flip covnerter or Flipshare software

Thanks for your post and I have a problem that I want to share my flip video to youtube and wanna do more editing in windows movie maker, then I download doremisoft flip converter searched on google. ( http://www.flip-converter.com/ )
i convert the videos from my camera into the software and save it in the prog. it goe great but I heard that flipshare software also can upload flip camcorder video to youtube. Yet I don't know how.

Alex Apr 17, 2010 3:06 AM

FlipShare software

Just FYI, the FlipShare software that comes with the Flip video camera is downloadable from the Flip website. From their home page, click on the Support link and theb you'll see a link to Update the Software on your Flip. In reality, that file you download is simply the setup file for the latest version of the software. You do NOT need the actual Flip camera to install the software.

Here's a direct link to the page:
http://www.theflip.com/softwareupdate/

PapaJohn Mar 11, 2010 9:56 PM

MM1 on my Toshiba laptop

.... imported and previewed the files fine in the collection and on the timeline.... and saved a project to a DV-AVI file.

PapaJohn Mar 10, 2010 2:08 PM

first test results with Darrell's 4 test clips

On a Windows 7 system with the latest version of FlipShare installed....

Darrell's clips are MP4 files of 1280x720 pixels, 30 fps, 11,473 kbps total bitrate.... they

- opened and played in WMP
- played in the Quick Time Player

Attempts to import them into Movie Maker varied by the version
- MM1 said it wasn't a supported file type
- MM2.1 and MM2.6 gave the same message.... it's not a supported file type, and it didn't try to import them
- MM6 tried to import them but gave a message about not having the codec required to play it
- WLMM imported and previewed them, and saved the 4 combined clips to HD720 wmv file without issue

I couldn't figure out how to get them into FlipShare to check what I can do with that software.... without having a Flip camcorder.

The free version of Any Video Converter made comparable quality WMV files from the MP4's, files that can be used in any versionof Movie Maker.

PapaJohn Mar 9, 2010 1:13 PM

thanks Darrell....

for the pack of MP4 test clips from your Flip.

Darrell Icenogle Mar 8, 2010 10:47 PM

Any Video Converter

I have used it on XP, Vista, and Windows. I wrote a couple of articles about my use of it on the site, but basically, you just create a custom profile starting with wmv, set it to 1280x720, 6mbps, WMA9.2 audio. Set your output folder, and hit the convert button.

You can batch convert, and you convert other video types with this custom template and import them into FlipShare.

You can even preview video and do some minor editing -- not so different from what you can do in FlipShare --, like trimming, taking snapshots, and even cropping.

It's possible I'm missing a trial period timeout buried in the fine print, but their website calls it "freeware."

http://www.any-video-converter.com/download-avc-free.php

Video clips coming in the morning.

Darrell Icenogle
FlipInFocus.com

PapaJohn Mar 8, 2010 6:53 PM

thanks Darrell

.... for any and all sample files

I have a nephew who uses Any Video Converter and he says it's great. My notes say it's a free converter but also a $30 item for the higher level version. I don't know the limitations of the free version. I just downloaded it to start finding out.

Darrell Icenogle Mar 8, 2010 5:14 PM

Editing Flip Video with Movie Maker

Just saw your response, PJ. I guess I'm going to have to sign up to be notified. (Or did I just fail to check the notification box?)

I'm coming to the same conclusion you may have reached, which is that one should just bite the bullet and convert Flip videos before attempting to edit them outside of FlipShare. For example, many people have problems with audio sync when editing Flip files with Windows Live Movie Maker. I've tried some things that seem to make the problem go away, and days/weeks go by without my being able to reproduce the problem; then something changes -- perhaps something as simple as what codec got loaded by the last piece of software I was using -- and the problem returns. At that point, I have to go in search of another solution. (I have three different solutions all of which have worked for some folks, at least some of the time. The last one I haven't announced, yet, because I want to see if it "sticks.")

I just found that I couldn't even edit Flip .MP4's in Corel VideoStudio X2 -- at least after upgrading to Windows 7. (I thought I could before.)

So, conversion may be the better part of valour. The next question is what converter to use. One that I like, that is free, that has an intuitive UI, that allows you to set up a template very quickly/easily, and that allows you to convert in batch, is "Any Video Converter."

I have Virtual Dub 1.9.7, but it doesn't open .MP4 files for me on Windows 7. I'm also a little but off my this big, blank window staring at me when I open it up. That contrasts a lot with Any Video Converter, which is pretty much a wizard (though you still need to figure out how to create a custom setting.

I would be happy to supply you with some video clips. I'll put some in something like DropSend, which would allow me to transfer large files.

Darrell Icenogle
FlipInFocus.com

PapaJohn Feb 3, 2010 9:36 PM

thanks Darrell...

.... for any and all comments. Feel free to use whatever space Bright Hub allots to a comment.

Although BrightHub indicates this article was published only a month ago, that was just a minor update. I wrote the original over a year ago, before Flip's HD models. It's appropiate today to cover SD, HD and whatever other flavors Flip cameras produce.

As I don't yet own a Flip, and it's not in my budget plan, it's about how to get an occasional Flip file into Movie Maker... and as Movie Maker typically doesn't work well with Divx or MP4 files, file conversion is the quick and easy path.

In today's marketing oriented world product claims are often not supported by those implementing them. I give a file about 30 seconds to go into and work in Movie Maker.... then do a file conversion if it doesn't.

Ever since MM2.1 in XP I've been using custom profiles to save movies to HD sized wmv files. I'd be glad to check any of your profiles in the Windows 7 environment.

One thing I'd appreciate help with with.... as I don't have a Flip camera, can you point me to downloadable sample files from the latest cameras?

Darrell Icenogle Feb 3, 2010 4:04 PM

No talk of HD, here?

I notice that all talk here is all about the SD/VGA Flips. When I set up my site, it was because Flip came out with an HD model -- the Flip MinoHD. That was followed by the Flip UltraHD and the 2nd generation of Flip MinoHD. To top it all off, right before Christmas they came out with FlipShare TV, which allows you to just drop your clips and movies into a FlipShare 'channel' on your computer, and watch them remotely on your HD TV. Not only that, but anyone whose email address you listed for that channel gets an email and access to the video within minutes of your having dropped it into the channel. (Ease of sharing is what gives the Flip and FlipShare an edge over its competitors.) If THEY have FlipShare TV, they can watch it in 720p on their own TVs.

So, my site is dedicated completely to Flip HD camcorders, making good movies with them with free or budget tools, and sharing them in a variety of ways.

At any rate, there is a whole different set of problems with Flip HD footage and WMM. The files are .MP4. Here's a paradox for you: WMM6, which doesn't claim support for .MP4 files, will edit the files from a Flip HD camcorder (just drag them in, or use the "All Files *.*" filter on import); but Windows LIVE Movie Maker, which claims to support .MP4, messes up the audio synch on Flip MP4 files.

It gets more interesting. On MM6 you can create HD profiles using Windows Media Profile Editor, but when you move MM6 from Vista to Windows 7, the profiles don't show up, for the most part. I have one magic 1080i profile that I set up for my Canon HF10, and I can see that one when I put it in the Shared/Profiles folder. But any flavor of 720p profile is ignored.

Much to say, space is short, and we're both busy guys. If you get interested in HD, I'm not sure where the right venue is to discuss it. I'll forgive you if you decline. I've already learned my share from your writing.

Darrell Icenogle
FlipInFocus.com

PapaJohn Jan 8, 2010 9:22 PM

Maribel..... as all or most computers have....

USB ports and USB external drives are pretty plentiful these days, copy the file to an external drive and then use it to get the video to the other computer.

If you don't have an external drive, borrow one from a friend... swing by my home in Kalamazoo and I'll do it with you.

Maribel Jan 8, 2010 9:00 PM

hey...i have a problem i installed flipshare on my acer aspire one right and downloaded my first videos on it. then i was going to take a snapshot and cuz of the pc being too small i couldnt see the save button. then i installed flipshare on my other computer a big one where i can see the program completly. but know how i pass the videos from my acer computer to my big computer cuz i tried and the flipshare didnt reconize them :(

PapaJohn Dec 29, 2009 1:53 AM

Seth.... check the...

...info on the Cameras and Capture Devices > Brands > Flip page of my website www.papajohn.org.

The Setup Movie Maker > Codec and Compressors and Conversion Utlities pages might help also.

There are lots of conversion utilities available today... but not all work on all systems. Try them until you find one that works best for you.

seth Dec 28, 2009 6:36 PM

how

how did u convert it? im having trouble with mine and i would really like to know how so i can edit it

From a Flip Video Camera to Windows Movie Maker

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