Beat Markers allow you to set points in an audio track and then drop in video with cuts that match the beats. After timing out the beats in a soundtrack, all you need to do is drag and drop video or photos into iMovie and the video will be cut to match the markers. You can even add transitions that fit along with the beats.
Want to know more about how to use iMovie on your Mac? Check out this MacMost course!
Comments: 15 Responses to “MacMost Now 479: Using Beat Markers in iMovie 11”
Faye
13 years ago
Thank you for the tutorials about iMovie11. It's very useful because I used it every time I had presentations in my school. My classmates and my professors really amazed in the videos... So Good job and for me this is the best tutorial website in Mac I Ever watched! ^_^
Caio
12 years ago
Hi,
This video was very helpfull, but I wonder, is it possible to add multiple songs to a project and have each one individually have their own beat markers. I have trying adding an extra song at the end of the first one, but no luck. Is there a way to do it. Do I need to finalize the project?
I don't know. In general it is not a good idea to have multiple songs in a single GarageBand file. You should work on each song in a project of its own.
Brian
12 years ago
Great videos--all very helpful! Once beat markers are done and video is inserted, can they (the beat markers) be changed? Can't figure out how to do it once it's done. Thanks!
I think so. Can't remember off of the top of my head -- play around with it.
Peter
12 years ago
Hi Gary, very helpful videos. I added music to a project, set the beat markers and placed photos and all worked great. When I then went to add videos things seemed to fall apart as each video was cut to .1 seconds. Any idea on why this is happening?
Lauren
12 years ago
Hey there. I've been working on a imovie project (stills and video...music video-ish) using beat markers and I've stumbled upon a problem.
I made an adjustment to a clip that got it off track of the beat marker. It wasn't a problem as I allowed the clip to be longer, thinking that the next clip would sync back with the beat markers, but somehow the new clips aren't getting on track with the other markers I set. Is there a way to get them to start snapping back to the beats again or do I need to start the whole project over?
Can you make adjustments, in general, as you go? i.e. I find that this section needs a longer clip than I allowed for with my original marking, and this section needs a shorter clip, etc.
I also have a question about the additional songs. I plan to use three. Can I just string them together and mark each as I go?
I would suggest just playing with it. Try making some sample movies and experimenting. That's the best way to learn the ins-and-outs of a complex feature like this.
Peter
12 years ago
Tried again tonight and it worked perfectly, not sure why it didn't before.
laura
12 years ago
Thank you for the tutorial, it really helped! Question: you added all the pictures in order of how you wanted them. If I know that I want specific video clips in the chorus of the song, but haven't made my way back to the first verse yet, is there a way to add the clips to the song not in order?
You can drag and drop them in any order. Insert some at the beginning or between others. Try it.
Drew
11 years ago
Any more thoughts on the question "Once beat markers are done and video is inserted, can they (the beat markers) be changed?" I played around with it for quite some time and cannot figure it out. I laid down the beat markers, starting inserting video clips, and then wanted to edit the beat markers further along in the song. Once I drag new clips in though, they no longer snap to beat markers. Extremely frustrating. Any ideas??
Frank
11 years ago
Hi Gary,
I have a weird thing happening. I set up beat markers, and for the 1st half of the project clips are added at the beats and truncated at the correct duration. But halfway through they start being added at random durations, like 0.2 seconds, 1.4 seconds, etc. Any ideas?
Frank
11 years ago
One more thing: I did re-check the song, and the beat markers are correct all the way out to the end. No idea how to get this fixed.
Frank
Frank
11 years ago
Also, I've tried restarting iMovie, restarting the MacBook, plus adding various different clips--still get the same problem. Would love your input.
Want to know more about how to use iMovie on your Mac?
Thank you for the tutorials about iMovie11. It's very useful because I used it every time I had presentations in my school. My classmates and my professors really amazed in the videos... So Good job and for me this is the best tutorial website in Mac I Ever watched! ^_^
Hi,
This video was very helpfull, but I wonder, is it possible to add multiple songs to a project and have each one individually have their own beat markers. I have trying adding an extra song at the end of the first one, but no luck. Is there a way to do it. Do I need to finalize the project?
Thanks in Advance
I don't know. In general it is not a good idea to have multiple songs in a single GarageBand file. You should work on each song in a project of its own.
Great videos--all very helpful! Once beat markers are done and video is inserted, can they (the beat markers) be changed? Can't figure out how to do it once it's done. Thanks!
I think so. Can't remember off of the top of my head -- play around with it.
Hi Gary, very helpful videos. I added music to a project, set the beat markers and placed photos and all worked great. When I then went to add videos things seemed to fall apart as each video was cut to .1 seconds. Any idea on why this is happening?
Hey there. I've been working on a imovie project (stills and video...music video-ish) using beat markers and I've stumbled upon a problem.
I made an adjustment to a clip that got it off track of the beat marker. It wasn't a problem as I allowed the clip to be longer, thinking that the next clip would sync back with the beat markers, but somehow the new clips aren't getting on track with the other markers I set. Is there a way to get them to start snapping back to the beats again or do I need to start the whole project over?
Can you make adjustments, in general, as you go? i.e. I find that this section needs a longer clip than I allowed for with my original marking, and this section needs a shorter clip, etc.
I also have a question about the additional songs. I plan to use three. Can I just string them together and mark each as I go?
Thanks so much for any feedback.
I would suggest just playing with it. Try making some sample movies and experimenting. That's the best way to learn the ins-and-outs of a complex feature like this.
Tried again tonight and it worked perfectly, not sure why it didn't before.
Thank you for the tutorial, it really helped! Question: you added all the pictures in order of how you wanted them. If I know that I want specific video clips in the chorus of the song, but haven't made my way back to the first verse yet, is there a way to add the clips to the song not in order?
You can drag and drop them in any order. Insert some at the beginning or between others. Try it.
Any more thoughts on the question "Once beat markers are done and video is inserted, can they (the beat markers) be changed?" I played around with it for quite some time and cannot figure it out. I laid down the beat markers, starting inserting video clips, and then wanted to edit the beat markers further along in the song. Once I drag new clips in though, they no longer snap to beat markers. Extremely frustrating. Any ideas??
Hi Gary,
I have a weird thing happening. I set up beat markers, and for the 1st half of the project clips are added at the beats and truncated at the correct duration. But halfway through they start being added at random durations, like 0.2 seconds, 1.4 seconds, etc. Any ideas?
One more thing: I did re-check the song, and the beat markers are correct all the way out to the end. No idea how to get this fixed.
Frank
Also, I've tried restarting iMovie, restarting the MacBook, plus adding various different clips--still get the same problem. Would love your input.