Lousy iMovie HD 6.0.2 playback -- stuttering video and audio

Hi Ernie,

iMovie 5 worked very well for me on my old G3 under OS 10.3.9 and QuickTime 6.5.2 - UNTIL I upgraded QT to version 7. That upgrade introduced the "stutters", so I quickly downgraded to QT version 6.5.2 using the re-installer provided by Apple. That fixed the stuttering problem with iMovie 5.

iMovie 6.0.2, together with QT 7.1.1, works fine on my current iMac G5 (the version before the iSight addition). So far I've not experienced the stuttering issue that some users are seeing (fingers crossed).

iMovie 3.0.3 was a problem for me as I recall. I still consider it to be the worst version in terms of responsiveness. It was painfully slow when responding to commands, particularly with regard to audio editing - so much so that it was almost unusable. But that may have been due to my particular setup - who knows! It's good to hear that, in your case, it works fine under Tiger and QT 7 - that may well work for others too.

I think the more opinions we get the better, as long as we all respect each others opinions and see them as a possible solution to user problems. So, thank you for your input Ernie. Please try not to get too aggrieved if others have a differing view. We all need to work together and your opinion is as welcome as any other, but try not to get personal - to use a soccer/football expression - it can put people "offside" 🙂

Cheers
John

Thanks John for reply.

PLEASE note I only get "offside" when other posters ridicule my approach. Thanks again !

I have found it necessary to format my Firewire 150G HD in OSX3.9. I also load any photos etc. I need in a project to iPhoto and storage folders (although with iPhoto 5.0.4 poor resolution in my imported photos is apparent- working on this). I then use the 150 G hard drive as the start-up disk. In this way I have kept ALL my running programs and resources on one disk This avoids "can't find file" errors and greatly speeds up both iMovieHD5 and iDVD.

So this is NOT a minor modification but goes back to where I was before OSX4 and iLife06- not quite as updates in QT to QT 7.1.1. Still use iLife5 iMovieHD 5.0.2 The "experts' insist this "mismatch" won't work- WE WILL SEE !

I have two athletic carnivals this week. I will take videos at both. this involves having to wait around for some 5 to 6 hours each day to take 60 mimutes of video This will ensure I will get it right ! This is why I ask the Groups Gurus whether they have taken and processed any REAL LIFE videos- the answer so far is NOT ANY ONE !

KEEP POSTED THANKS.

Will my approach work ? TIME WILL TELL !

Ernie Lee

Thanks Ernie - if it works for you, stick with it! You are to be commended for persevering with your approach.

I think all the other contributors to this topic are just trying for workarounds to the iMovie 6 stuttering issue - hence the heading for this topic. I guess that many users aren't able to revert to previous versions of software, given they may have new equipment and/or didn't keep older versions. Additionally, they may prefer to stay with the excellent new features offered by iMovie HD 6.0.2.

So, we're all just looking to help out those folks, just as you are. Pardon me if I'm wrong, but I don't think others were intending to ridicule your approach - they were simply questioning the viability of it based on their experience with earlier versions of the software. For example, Karl has indicated that the stutters also occurred with older versions - so he reported that your solution may not work for all users. It may work for some, just as it does for you, which is great! Therefore, you have made a worthwhile contribution for which other users will be grateful. In the meantime, we're still searching for a decent workaround for the stuttering iMovie 6, pending a solution from Apple!

Good luck with the athletic carnivals - sounds like a couple of long days ahead of you, followed by some heavy editing sessions - keep smiling!

John

First:
I've been following this thread because I am having all the same horrible problems with iMovie.

In fact F. Farmer could have been telling my story.
I have made a lot of iMovies and have never had so many problems as I am now having.

Now, since I upgraded to the latest version of iMovie HD, I get a message telling me that I need a different video card. I am not happy about this since I upgraded my video card about a year ago to the one recommended by Apple - this was to allow optimum use of the 20" Cinema Display -

iMovie worked GREAT a year ago -- all my iMovies were flawless and I found it very easy and user friendly -- Now the glitches make me wonder why I am bothering to buy iLife and iWork at all...

I may sound paranoid but I am pretty certain that these built-in bugs are a way of forcing me to buy yet another new Apple computer. I've owned Mac's since 1987 and always upgrade when it is of obvious necessity.

BUT with all my other needs being met and since I have not yet won the CA State Lottery, I feel like I need to just give up using a program that used to be amazing and is now a pile of junk. My old iMovies will not even play on my computer now. It is frustrating.

How am I supposed to fix this problem?

Frank,I totally agree.
I', starting e new project today.
I'll keep you informed if anything goes sour,or not.

Jacqo

I also appreciate immensely your efforts to uncover the cause/potential solution to the stuttering problem. Please don't stop! I'm counting on you!

Thanks for the encouragement, Frank.

It's too soon to say for sure, but I think we may be making progress, perhaps substantial progress.

I need to examine a stuttering project due to arrive today, but if that checks out, I hope to report some results soon. It won't fix the problem, but it may help us avoid it.

Karl

STUTTERING-WHAT'S THAT ?

I really push my poor old 3 year old eMac to its limit.....I normally run at least two or three programs at once- called multitasking. So, "stuttering" is a very normal occurence. It is only a sign that the CPU is being really pushed and has trouble keeping up! APPLE is well aware that this a normal thing and is not any program or system fault. This is why I have ACTIVITY MONITOR running in the background to check on progress- what program is running smoothly and what may be "hung". IF any program crashes-not so often now with System X compared to the Classic System, APPLE is interested. Try my approach in WINDOWS and see what happens- the wlole computer "FREEZES" and needs a complete reboot. I have not had a FREEZE in OSX, with CLASSIC, FREEZES were often. It is ALL because sysrem X is UNIX based. General Electric originally developed UNIX and C for REAL life computer prorams. It has been under developement for over 30 ? years and still is not perfect.

So what is ALL this nonsence about "stuttering" ? If your project cannot be "BURNT" through iDVD, THEN you have a problem. Waste up to 8 hours and a now cheap DVD blank to PROVE a project ? NOT ME- must be a program fault !

Now, "stuttering" can be caused by FILE FRACTURING and/or HARD DISK FRAGMENTATION and/or MULTI TASKING. Is it a problem in your project ? ONLY "BURNING" will show this. This is why I ask the GROUP gurus "when was the last time you used iMovie for a project YOU TOOK IN THE REAL WORLD ?"

PATCHES-

TIDYING UP your files either by exporting to QT or another iMovie Project neatly does this. So you get a free flowning Project- LOOKS GOOD, MEANS NOTHING. You then "BURN" to a DVD or to a disk image and PRESTO it WORKS- then it must be MY inginuity that circumvented "bugs" in iMovie. ONE WORD describes this- CRAP

It is only until I joined this group that I thought "STUTTERING" was a problem. It occurs in any Project I do because I "MULTITASK". It is a very common occurence with Mac users who MULTITASK and is of no consequence. WHY is it more prevelant now in ImovieHD6 than in older verdions of iMovie? SIMPLE- iMovieHD6 is a lot more sophicticated and creates a lot more modifications in running files.

GO BURN YOU PROJECT AND THEN POST THAT IT DOES NOT WORK !!

A movie project takes a long time to make- I know that. I can spend up to 24 hours on one.

Now I only use a small number or no video tranistions. LOOKS GOOD SURE- improves look of final Video, not really.

I concentrate on things like SHARPEN, COLOUR which greatly affect look of look of the final video. I have some 100 burnt disks which I have rejected because they did not look good on a TELEVISION.

TITLES are a BIG winner for normal TV watchers. I get "how did you get that STAR WARS thing ?- looks GREAT !! NOT, GEE that tranistion from scene to scene looks professional. Then "I can't get WINDOWS to do THAT !!"

Sound is very important- editing unwanted, sometimes very amusing, comments parents make during "shooting" is wise. "Did I say that" is a common remark. In a lot of projects I use BACKGOUND MUSIC or SOUND EFFECTS to cover up embarrising coments. If I think it is OK, I will give parents a copy of the ORIGINAL DVD TAKE. This is where the new DVD camera has it's advantage over the old DV tape camcorder.

THE MAIN THING IS NOT TO EXPECT QUICK GOOD VIDEOS . Commercial film makers spend MOST of their time EDITING and employ a very large number of REAL EXPERTS to do this- see those boring CREDITS, now thankfully in with the film or at the end. In the good ? old days, I use to wonder why people use to come in late- watch a old movie on DVD and I bet you "fast forward" the starting Credit bit. So in iMovie get on with the action, avoid stills that are still, don't make pan shots too long-if these things annoy you, they sure will annoy other veiwers. I sadly remember the 35mm SLIDE NIGHTS !

Sorry about the LONG haggle, but it may be of some value, I HOPE !

Ernie Lee

Not really!

First of all I don't like your tone.
Just post something that's of real interest for us.

<So what is ALL this nonsence about "stuttering" ?>
This is NO nonsence,if you can't edit because of the stuttering,it is very frustrating.
<TIDYING UP your files either by exporting to QT or another iMovie Project neatly does this. > Exporting to QT does help,already mentioned in one of the first pages of this thread.Exporting to anotheriM project doen NOT.It copies he problem.
<then it must be MY inginuity that circumvented "bugs" in iMovie.> BURP!
<It occurs in any Project I do because I "MULTITASK".>
Well well good for you,but we all already know that when working in iM,don't run any other app.See one of the first pages of this thread.

The biggest issue is that working a lot with audio starts the stuttering.Not especially transtions

I suggest that you read all the posts before posting suggestions that we already know.

We only want to know things that really might help us.
Like the things that Frank and Karl tell us.

So please keep this thread clean ,I also don't need a comment on my post,I want as mentioned before by others,that this forum is used for what it's meant for.

Jacqo

Why dif you post for ?
IF you don't like what I say, don't read it !

If your problems have been ALL solved, then marked thread ANSWERED. Other wise try my approach !

Say start with a Firewire External Hard Drive. Transfer ALL needed files to another HD.
ERASE and FORMAT with OSX from DVD containing the OX you wish to use. Thus HD will include the applications you will need for using iMovie.
UPDATE Software.

Now that is simple enough but takes time. Start fresh using external HD-
System Preferences >Startup Disk.

Start iMovie- the one in the APPLICATION FOLDER.

Now import QT file SAVED from your PROJECT you are working on. IMPORT music and photos from files STORED pn the SAME DISC.

NOW HAS STUTTERING GONE ? NOT a PROBLEM ANYWAY. BURN A DVD through DVD or make a DISC IMAGE. IF NO problem in BURNT DVD, then not "BUGS" in OSX or running programs.

GO and edit PROJECT until you find it impossible to do so. THIS is the limit for which the iMovie program can be used on YOUR Mac using you add on Hard Drives. YOU COULD ALSO TRY AND REMOVE ALL UNUSED HDs connreted to your Mac> FIREWIRE as it can be a bit fussy on what is connected.

BURN a DVD and prove I am WRONG. THIS ALL TAKES TIME AND EFFORT. So does ALL those ADD-ONs and ad hoc "solutions" made by other posters.

Being an Athletics coach, I am use to having egg on my face.

YES, I have read ALL of the other posts and am amazed by the lack of knowledge shown by others.

I WORK ON REAL PROJECTS !

Ernie Lee

OK there is a MAJOR hassle in using iMovie HD. It goes without problems until you SAVE and then RELOAD the iMovieHD6.0.2 Project. I am burning a Project I started in iMovieHD6.0.2 through DVD before this "stop-start" process commenced.

MY original suggestion to AVOID using iMovie6.0.2 until APPLE fixes this up APPLIES.
As I stated, load the erased disk with OSX 3.
Update with ALL suggested UPDATES
Load all required files into this HD.
And go AHEAD.

You MUST realise I have to get this right "pretty now soon" as I will need to edit and burn REAL projects by the end of the week.

Stirring up people in cyber space is needed to get anywhere. Sydney's new electric train sets- so called Millenium- spent more time disabled than running because of software problems existing in the "fail save" super modern software that they used. It was not until the developers were made to get and solve these hassles "at the scene" did they "get it right". So much for "clerical engineering"

Ernie Lee

MY original suggestion to AVOID using iMovie6.0.2
until APPLE fixes this up APPLIES.
As I stated, load the erased disk with OSX 3.
Update with ALL suggested UPDATES
Load all required files into this HD.
And go AHEAD.

If everybody would stop using things that dont' work flawles
and don't give feedback to designers/developpers,we wouldn't get anywhere.
We keep on using 6.02,trying to figuerout what's the problem,or when it occurs.
So we make it easier for the developpers to try and fix the problem.
I'm sure that Apple is working on the problem,only a pitty that the don't give US feedback.
If we keep eachother up to date,when the problem occurs,what was he or she was doing,others might avoid doing the same,or try to find a workaround(for the meantime)untill the problem is solved.
Because the problem doesn't occur with everybody,or at the same time,doing the same things,it is important for those who try to find a solution,to know what,when and how.


We all are working on REAL PROJECTS,but also work with test projects.

Jacqo

Ernie - you said:

YES, I have read ALL of the other posts and am amazed by the lack of knowledge shown by others.

That's why we come here Ernie - to gain knowledge and also to pass on what little knowledge we have to others.

Every little bit helps, as I'm sure you know. All the knowledge you've exhibited has undoubtedly come in bits and pieces from using cameras and computers over the years, and possibly using forums such as this. That's why the forums exist - we're all just exchanging information for the common good. We're certainly not here to prove who is the most knowledgable or the most expert. We also have to be careful not to assume that we know more than we really do! There's an old saying "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing":
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/10400.html

Ernie, without wishing to appear condescending, I'm sure you're a great guy with a passion for what you do - anyone who helps or coaches kids with athletics training and spends endless hours producing videos for their families is to be commended. So, why spoil it by continuing to make inflammatory remarks in the forum? As I posted previously, it just gets us all "offside" (to coin a football expression - seeing it's World Cup time!).

I've seen some of your other posts where you've confined your comments to courteous, helpful advice, without getting personal. That's great and just what we need. None of us are perfect, we've all got our faults - so for what they are worth, please take my comments as being constructive as I don't wish to offend - I'm just trying to be helpful also!

I'm quite happy to exchange ideas and information with you, provided there is mutual respect. So, let's wipe the slate clean and keep things positive! Kindness is catchy!

All the best,
John

Dear F.Farmer,
I had the same problems. I edited a 11'40" project with iMovie HD 6.0.2, panoramic DV-PAL, and the more I added audio clips (wav, aiff and audio extracted), the more iMovie became sluggish and jerky. Removing a bit of audio clips, it returned normal. At last I exported all the movie as an AIFF file, and re-imported it in the project after trashing the original audio clips. The job resulted good, but I'm not satisfied: iMovie MUST work with his many audio tracks, just as the previous version I used (since iMovie 2.1 ).
Well, it's a QuickTime issue? It doesn't seem to me, I tried re-installing 7.0.4 and is the same. Version issue? I opened the same project (5,9 Giga) with iMovie HD 5.0.2, and have the same troubles.
So: is the problem born with "HD" versions of iMovie, for panoramic projects?
My camera is a Canon MV500i, always good with 4:3 projects.
APPLE MUST FIX IT!
Please!
Have a nice day.