iMovie Wont Export Unless ProRes???

Hi,

As you have found, this appears to be an audio issue. When you try to export, are you getting an "lpcm" error message? Other users have reported that. In such cases the only successful export that can be done is with the setting Best Quality (pro res). LPCM is an audio codec, and it seems that somehow, in some cases, iMovie erroneously identifies clips with that codec. It may be something with the clip, or your camera settings, or some issue with iMovie, I don't know. The vast majority of users have not experienced the issue. Best Quality (pro res) exports in the lpcm audio codec, whereas all of the other settings export in the AAC audio codec. That might be why Best Quality (pro res) is successful when the other settings are not. It is a pesky issue and so far I have not seen any solutions reported. Sometimes it spontaneously resolves and then returns. If you detach and delete the audio, you probably will be able to export your video at other settings, like you can with the soundless still image -- which confirms the audio issue.

You have tried the remedies that others have tried, also with no success. Working with a duplicate, you might try converting/reconverting your video clip to Mp4/AAC and see if that will then export from iMovie. You can convert it using the free download, Handbrake. You can also try re-encoding your duplicate clip by control-clicking on it on your desktop and, in the drop down menu that appears, selecting "encode selected video files" and see if the re-encoded clip will export in settings other than pro res.

You can also try booting in Safe Mode (see Help Menu) and then, after everything loads, immediately shutting down and rebooting in normal mode. That might clear out some conflicts that could be causing this. Run the first aid program in your Mac's Disk Utility app, found in the Utilities folder and see if that helps. Try exporting different clips and different audio in different projects and see if you can see any correlations with what exports and what doesn't. Also, was there anything that happened 4 months ago, when the problem started happening, that might explain it? Installation of a new app maybe?

Good luck with this. Perhaps someone on the forum who has managed to solve this will chime in.

-- Rich

That's the same error message that others have gotten with this problem, and the one I was referring to.

After you export in pro res use Handbrake to convert the resulting file to Mp4/AAC. That will leave you with a file about 1/4 the size of the pro res file. Not optimum, but at least a workaround.

-- Rich

Exporting to Mp4 format is not possible any more. Any attempt to make file on desktop in anything other than Best Quality is impossible Sharing directly to YouTube (etcetera) is seemingly impossible.

Best Quality (pro res) setting is the only avenue.

I have been going thru this same problem and have spent some time with Apple tech on this. The matter is unresolved and no matter if I am working on a new partition with a fresh install of everything, the only way to get an file saved to desktop is to use the Best Quality (pro res) setting. After this you can use file conversion with Quicktime or other apps but overall this is a real time burner.

In my experience recently, it would appear that something has happened in the codecs and how iMovie handles the codecs. The problem is the same for Final Cut X (only exports to Pro Res). Everything was working fine back in the summer of 2017.

What happens with my iMac (2013 hybrid drive) is that it just drops clean dead a few seconds or minutes into a share file, no error reports from either iMovie or Final Cut X. The computer restarts no problem but there is no trace of errors to follow to problem solve the issue.

What is interesting is that most users, including me, don't have the problem. Why it occurs selectively, I don't know. It would seem that everyone would have it if the issue were indigenous to the the software. Perhaps it is related to one's specific set up.

Have you tried exporting using the Custom setting option?

-- Rich

I haven't used any video editors other than various versions of iMovie so can't recommend any from experience. I have heard of Filmora, that you can Google. Final Cut Pro is good from all I have read.

Good luck with this. Frustrating, I know.

-- Rich

SO, this problem seems to be in a full court review. As of today, Apple Engineers have had me involve GoPro engineers in order to eliminate a potential red-herring. Regardless, it would seems that there is an issue with what moves and groves Mp4 (H.264) formate files saved from both iMovie and FCP. Why this is not being experienced wide spread, is a mystery but I could have to do with work flows, the variety of versions of Mac Computers and the different version of Operating Systems. I imagine if you have dependent on iMovie and or FCP to work and it is working, there is not a big rush to test the capabilities of your system with what is pushed out from Apple.

In any case, it seems that the status of my case can be summarized by the summary sent to Apple Engineers and GoPro engineers which is:

Dear Emily and GoPro,

I have just set up a care with GoPro tech support on the matter concerning Mp4s and iMovie/FCP.

The case at GoPro is:

Case #:05042014

I have also uploaded to GoPro your last email with the specific error report that Apple Engineers have zeroed in on as a possible offending code issue.

I will also be providing a summary of this matter (as relayed on the phone) to GoPro via a PDF copy of this email.

History:

1. Up until end of May 2017 > successfully post produced on iMac in iMovie mixed media captured via:
2. GoPro (Hero HD 2011) material mixed with other camera media (iPhone/iPad/Cannon EOS 6D/pro video cameras/Panasonic cameras/etc)
3. Work up to the end of May 2017 was on an iMac (27-inch, Late 2013) using Sierra.
4. At this time > May 2017 < iMac has Sierra (10.12.4) and iMovie version (10.1.5)
5. iMovie version 10.1.5 was in use up to the end of May 2017.
6. GoPro (Hero 5 - Black) was purchased in late May and this and GoPro software including GoPro Quik software was installed for use in June 2017.
7. NO additional POST PRODUCTION work was undertaken until AUGUST of 2018
8. At this time > August 2018 < iMac has Sierra (10.12.6) and iMovie version (10.1.8)
9. PROBLEM IDENTIFIED in August 2018
   • iMac DEAD STOP - no Crash Reports > while processing in iMovie Old Project Files (mixed media) and new (GoPro 5 4k and lower) project files.
   • Resolution of 1080p and 4k at Quality High/Med/Low (H.264 Mp4 file types)
   • TROUBLE SHOOTING STEPS:
     1. Re-Installed iMovie.
     2. Deleted iMovie preferences.
     3. Re-built Photo library.
     4. Initiated with Apple tech case 100618034454
     5. Made new GoPro 4k 3 minute test video file.
10. Installed all the latest Apple Software
11. At this time > LATE August 2018 < iMac has High Sierra (10.13.6) and iMovie version (10.1.9)

    PROBLEM PERSISTED with the following TROUBLE SHOOTING STEPS:

    1. Created new Partition on iMac with Clean install of High Sierra (10.13.6)
    2. Did tests on both old and new Partitions and recreated DEAD STOP problem on iMac
    3. Generated Specialized Crash Report for Apple Tech.
12. Apple Tech identifies potential cause of the DEAD STOP as being XPC-API helper in GoPro Quik Software.
    • TROUBLE SHOOTING STEPS:
      1. Remove all GoPro Software and all remnants of support libraries and operating processes
      2. Did tests on both old and new Partitions and recreated DEAD STOP problem on iMac
      3. Deleted Trash.
      4. Zapped PRAM.
      5. Installed FCP 10.4.3 tested output and inadvertently SUCCESSFULLY made Best (ProRes 422) output.
    • Tested Mp4 Output with FCP and DEAD STOP crash of iMac.
    • Tested iMovie Output with Best (ProRes) .mov format and SUCCESSFULLY made files
13. Contacted GoPro and opened a Problem Case file

SO, for the moment this is the best summary I can make of everything. Clearly there are other people with similar problems (see hyper link to Apple User Group on iMovie)