I am a Linux newbie and want to learn how I can do some video editing with Linux. I can get MOV files into Linux, but I have not been able to edit any of them. I posted a question about how to convert the MOV file format, and a member told me to use "mencoder". Now I can either try the MOV file, or the MPEG file that is a conversion file from MOV using mencoder. The problem is that if I open the MOV file in Lives, I get no sound. I decided to try Cinelerra, and it simply hangs when I try to open the MPEG file, that plays fine in Lives. I can open the MOV file in Cinelerra, but I get an error: Quicktime read frame error, Quicktime decode video failed error.

1) How can I get Cinelerra to open an MPEG file for editing? It just hangs with a "busy" cursor.

2) How can I get Cinelerra to open the MOV file without a decode video failed error?