Audio Encoding Error--Solution!!!

Hi. I have a solution to the problem of "audio encoding error". I went through the same frustration that has appeared on this forum. I even let iDVD run for 3 or 4 days with the hope that the spinning rainbow actually meant that something was working. After trying all the stuff on the forum, my answer finally came from one of the geniuses at Apple Store, Walnut Creek, California.
I hope this works for all and saves you many hours/days of frustration. If my answer is not clear enough, email me at andysamwen@yahoo.com

Solution:
-Do not use iDVD to encode your project.
-Use iMovie to encode the project.
-Export the iMovie as a quicktime. I chose to make my quicktime project 'best quality'.
-Once the quicktime movie has been made, the new quicktime file has all of the transitions, audio, etc. encoded as one giant clip.
-If you wish to make individual "chapters" from your main clip, you will need to import the main clip to iMovie each time you want a chapter. Edit each clip to the length of each chapter. Then export the chapter as its own quicktime file. If you want many chapters, do this many times. If you want just one long file, you don't need to do any further editing.
-Open iDVD and set up your project themes, audio, etc.
-Once your iDVD is ready, import the single or multiple quicktime files into iDVD. When you process the iDVD, it will still take some time but it should not freeze since the most complicated encoding was done by iMovie.
-iDVD will take a several gb quicktime file and compress it to a smaller file once it places it into iDVD.

A few additional comments:
-quicktime files need to be on Mac HD and not on external harddrives.
-encoding the iMovie may still take a long time depending on the complexity of the movie.

I hope this works for you all. It took me a few days to figure out all the details even after I finally got on the right track. Yes, I agree, Apple should fix this obvious problem. Merry Christmas everyone and good luck with your projects.

Andy

Posted on Dec 25, 2006 1:57 AM

Reply
4 replies

Dec 25, 2006 10:59 AM in response to sakmee64

Nice try asw, perhaps the genius at the Apple store forgot to mention that this solution only applies if the footage imported into iMovie was shot in 16 bit audio if not you will have massive out of sync audio throughout the entire project getting progressively worse at the end. 99% of the time people shoot at the default camera 12 bit audio. Quick time encoded from 12 bit audio in Imovie is definetely not the way to go. Apple are you listening.??? Merry Christmas to all !

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Audio Encoding Error--Solution!!!

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