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One workaround for iMovie3 sound bugs Apps
I've just had a very frustrating time working on a project in iMovie3; for whatever reason, rendered sounds on transitions (fade in/out, cross fades) would stutter and skip. No amount of updating fades fixed it. Since I needed to have chapters in my project, using iMovie2 was more or less not an option, though it would fix the corrupt transition sounds (this hint might also provide a solution)

In poking around, I discovered that the reference movie files that iMovie2 and iMovie3 create can be read by Quicktime Player. iMovie3 projects will also contain a chapter track for iDVD chapters that Quicktime can also detect. So to fix the sound of an iMovie3 project while also keeping the chapters, I figured I'd try to copy the sound track from a 'good' project and paste it onto the 'bad' iMovie3 reference movie; luckily, it worked. Here is how I proceeded (it requires QT Pro):

  1. Using iMovie2, make your project as usual. Note that it might be possible to edit everything in iM3, load it up into iM2 to fix the sound, then go from there; I do not know if iM3 specific effects will get loaded into iM2, however.
  2. Save the movie, then export it as a large full quality movie file from iM2. We'll call this backup project "B."
  3. Load up your main project in iMovie3; at this point, your transition sounds will become corrupt. Add your chapters and save your project.
  4. Load up the main project in QT Pro using the reference file (available in the root of the project's folder); delete all sound tracks by using the Delete Track... item in the Edit menu.
  5. Load up project "B" in QT Pro; extract the sound track. Copy it into the clipboard.
  6. Go back to your main project in QT Pro, select Add... in the Edit menu (make sure the playhead is at the start); the new 'good' sound is now part of the main project, while still keeping the chapter markers. Save the project.
  7. Load iDVD3, import the reference file, and you're good to go.
I must say that I haven't been impressed with iMovie3 because of its inability to accomplish such a simple task properly, and it'll be the last time I use it (iM2 from now on!). Ironically, a PC would have been more productive.
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One workaround for iMovie3 sound bugs
Authored by: rinnin on Sep 15, '03 11:16:16AM

Just wondering is there any way to Remove iMovie 3 and replace it with iMovie 2 or do I have to completely reformat my HD and reinstall OS X?
Many thanks
Ronan



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One workaround for iMovie3 sound bugs
Authored by: sigma8 on Sep 15, '03 05:30:12PM

If you have the Jaguar install discs you can re-install it from one of them. Unfortunately I don't remember the process and I can't seem to find it easily using the search in the Apple discussion forum.

I'm pretty sure you can put in the disc, run the installer and there should be an application recovery/installer feature that will only reinstall that one application.

I have heard they also have an archive of older versions on .Mac's iDisk, so if you have that, you could look there. I don't know if free trials allow access to that or not.



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One workaround for iMovie3 sound bugs
Authored by: sebastienb on Sep 15, '03 05:33:49PM

DVD supplied restore discs aparently have a bunch of images that you can mount to get the original software.

Multi-disc restore disc have to be copied to the system (copy the disc images numbered 1-7 or whatever) then mount disc 1 and you'll get the original image of the drive. From there copy the apps you want.



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One workaround for iMovie3 sound bugs
Authored by: lstewart on Sep 15, '03 11:20:24AM

I haven't experienced sound bugs in iMovie 3 transitions like this. However, I have seen my share of synchronization issues with iMovie 3, including the 3.0.3 update. I wanted to share one reliable (though painful) workaround that has worked for me on the synch issues; it might help with this bug as well.

Most DV cameras can record audio at depths of 12-bit or 16-bit. I have seen a whole lot less problems when working with audio that was recorded at 16-bit depth. For some reason, iMovie doesn't handle the 12-bit audio as well. (I strongly suggest anybody shooting footage for eventual editing in iMovie, switch your cam to 16-bit audio!)

On one project that was having synchronization issues, I edited the movie as usual in iMovie 3. I then set my DV cam to 16-bit audio, and exported the whole thing to DV again. Then I imported it again (without the auto-split-clip function, and directly to the timeline), placed chapter markers, and finally sent it to iDVD. Doesn't take too long (just 2x the length of your project) but potentially clears up a lot of audio mixing issues.

This cleared up all the synch issues. Maybe it would help on corrupted transition sounds too? Maybe not. Good luck.



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One workaround for iMovie3 sound bugs
Authored by: BMarsh on Sep 15, '03 11:29:10AM

final cut pro has a problem as well if you end up with different bit rates, or did back around FCP 1.x and 2, not sure if FCP 3 or 4 still has this problem.

doesn't really help anything, but does provide a little more background to this kind of problem.



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One workaround for iMovie3 sound bugs
Authored by: BMarsh on Sep 15, '03 11:26:27AM

I have not seen this problem on any of the macs we have sold to clients, or any of our demo machines we do these sort of things on.

Check to make sure your iMovie and Quicktime are fully updated (I believe it's iMovie 3.0.3, and Quicktime 6.3)



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One workaround for iMovie3 sound bugs
Authored by: sebastienb on Sep 15, '03 05:35:16PM
I have not seen this problem on any of the macs we have sold to clients, or any of our demo machines we do these sort of things on

well, I have with mine!

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One workaround for iMovie3 sound bugs
Authored by: sigma8 on Sep 15, '03 05:53:11PM

The problem is not apparent in shorter movies. I never noticed it until I made a 60 minute long x-mas video. I ran into the problems mentioned in this hint: stuttering transitions and out of sync audio.

I didn't even notice the out-of-sync audio right away, and wound up wasting a few DVDs. It doesn't get bad until about 10-15 minutes in. By the time you're at 40 or so, it's pretty laughable. The sync problems are only noticeable in the finished product, too (either a self-contained export, or a DVD-burn). They never manifest in the actual working project.



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