As is known by us all that a 1-second-video is usually made up from 24 to 30 single images in most cases. When you play those images one after the other in a sequence, it would trick the mind into believing that it is seeing motion.

What would happen if you take one photo every minute, and then you play all those images at a speed of 24 fps (frames per second)? The result is a magnificent hyper-realistic compression of time.

We call this a time-lapse. iMovie software application allows you to create this magnificent display in no time. We have split the content into three sections to make sure that it is easier for you to digest the information:


Best iMovie Alternative to Make Time-lapse Videos

iMovie is capable of creating awesome time-lapse videos but there are more powerful and better featured software programs on the market.

One important issue with iMovie is that it can only be installed on Apple platforms. The second most important reason for choosing and alternative, is the video speed. The default speed of a normal video is 24 frames per second (fps). For time-lapse videos, you would need something much faster and iMovie limits this by only allowing 10 frames to be played per second, that is, 0.1fps.

One alternative for iMovie is the Movavi Video Editor. This software application can be installed on both Apple and Windows platforms and it is a powerful and easy-to-use video editing and processing program.

Amongst its features, you can apply video effects, cut and merge video clips without losing on quality, add titles and text and even music, either uploading your preference or selecting from its in-built royalty-free library with hundreds of tracks. Its wide range of features and its intuitive interface and wizard, makes it the best alternative to iMovie.

Two ways of creating Time-Lapse Videos using iMovie Alternative

I will guide you into using the 2 ways of creating your perfect time-lapse video with Movavi Video Editor. The following are easy to follow steps to guide you:

#1. Converting a Normal Video into a Time-Lapse Video using Movavi

By using this method, you just need to shoot at your normal frame rate and then speed up the playback in Movavi video editor.

Step1. When you open up Movavi Video Editor, click on the Add Media Files buttonand import your pre-recorded video clip. Then, drag your video file to the timelineas seen in the screenshot below:

Step2. Once done, select the video cliplocated on the timeline and open up the basic editing tools panel by clicking on the Clip Properties icon.

Step3. Adjust the video speed by simply dragging the speed slider, seen below, to create a time-lapse effect:

Even though this method is the simplest form of simulating your time-lapse video, here are some of the pros and cons of using this method:

Pros:

  • Shooting your video is easy. All you need to do is set up the video and hit record, leaving it to run.
  • Processing the video speed is easy. All you need to do after uploading the video to Movavi, is to adjust the speed with the speed slider and your video is ready to export.

Cons:

  • Constraints on the Time/Memory – Shooting movies using a Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera, would be limited according to the memory and space available.
  • Output Quality Restriction – The output of your video solely depends on the quality of your recording device and video file format.
  • Constraints on Exposure Timing – There are several concerns such as limits for low-light as well as high video frame rates, to name a few.
  • Limited Options for Post-Processing – You would have to ensure that your exposure and lighting etc., is perfect while shooting the video.

#2. How to Make a Time-lapse Video with Pictures in Movavi

To create a time-lapse video from images or photos, you would be required to take hundreds and sometimes even thousands of pictures. The photos would then be merged or stitched together at a low FPS rate, creating that stunning time-lapse look.

Follow these steps to create your spectacular time-lapse video using Movavi:

Step1. After downloading and installing the software, open up Movavi Video Editor. Firstly, you would need to import the images you wish to use, directly into the software program, and then drag and drop them to the timeline in the order that you want.

Step2. On the timeline, highlight all the images and then go to the toolbar and click on the Clip Properties icon.

Step3. Each photo or image is a frame on Movavi. Set the Durationof each frame using the duration option in the editing tools panel as seen below:

To calculate the duration, divide the 1 second by the frames per second (FPS) you want. For instance, if you want 30 frames per second, use the formula 1/30 which is 0.033 seconds. Manually insert this number into the duration option.

You can review the video in the preview screen and change the duration if you desire.

You now have your time-lapse video! Even though this is the regular method of creating time-lapse videos, it comes with both pros and cons. See below:

Pros

  • There are no dropped frames
  • Post processing is more flexible
  • Your raw shoot can give you a higher quality
  • Errors when saving files are minimal to none
  • You can enjoy a lengthier exposure time

Cons:

  • Time consuming when processing individual images
  • You may need additional software if you want to process RAW files
  • Increased setup required for positioning the camera, setting up a timer to snap at intervals, etc.

How to Make Time-lapse Videos in iMovie 2020

If you prefer using iMovie to create your time-lapse video, here are the instructions:

Step1.Downloaded and install the software and then, open up iMovie. Selectyour option to create a new project, see below:

Step2. You would then need to import your files into the iMovie program. Once your files are imported,drag and drop all the images to the timeline below, firstly pressing Ctrl+A to select allthe images.

Step3. Ensure that you have selected all the images on the timeline, then go to the preview window and click on Fit. This command ensure that all the movements between the clips are taken away, thus giving your video a much better look.

Step4. Click on the i icon located to the top of the preview window and go to the Clip Information. In the duration box, type in 0.1, which, as discussed previously, is the fastest FPS allowed by iMovie.

You can click on the play button in the preview window to view your time-lapse video.

Not satisfied? The best solution would be for you to download the free trial version of Movavi Video Editor and create your time-lapse using that.

How to Make Time-lapse Video Using iMovie 2020
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Hey, My name is Paul – nice to e-meet you 🙂 I’m a freelance video editor who has over 4 years experiences of making all types of videos. I founded this website to provide step-by-step and easy-to-follow instructions to first-time editors or beginners like you who want to start their journey in video editing.

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