View original (French)

Choppy playback with iMovie HD

Solved
Justin -  
 harmonieux -
Hello,
For the past two days, all my iMovie HD projects (my version is 6.0.3) have become unreadable:

The video window gives a choppy image (like 5 frames per second), despite all the preferences settings.

I understood from an English Apple forum that the problem could be related to QuickTime 7.5, which I recently installed.
Naturally, despite my attempts to downgrade to 7.4.5, I can't revert to an older version… assuming the problem lies there. I tried using software like Pacifist, but ugh… I don’t want to mess around too much, as I'm not a whiz at computers.

Is there a way to fix this before I reinstall my entire system (OS 10.4.11)?

I should mention that I have naturally deleted the iMovie prefs, caches, etc. Nothing improved.
I also want to clarify that the problem is just with playback, and when I export, everything works fine.

Do you have any ideas, dear and skilled Mac users? 
Configuration: Mac OS X Safari 4525.13

10 answers

  1. nanar4327
     
    Good evening
    try downloading V L C on Google or on mac-gratuit.fr as well on Google.
    the V L C logo is an orange and white cone.
    I did the same operation with the DVD player. I had choppy playback.
    see you soon.
    1
    1. Slowfood Posted messages 7 Status Member
       
      Well yeah, but that won't solve my problem with iMovie (I need it for my editing!)
      0
    2. nanar4327 > Slowfood Posted messages 7 Status Member
       
      Good evening,
      when I reply to someone depending on the time of day, I say good evening or good morning and thank you.
      Have you tried reinstalling VLC?
      Otherwise, you'll need to reinstall the entire Mac software while backing up the files.
      Goodbye and have a nice evening.
      0
    3. Slowfood Posted messages 7 Status Member > nanar4327
       
      Sorry for the rudeness: I wanted to be direct.
      I will follow your advice (although VLC… ??)

      Thank you and have a good evening, dear nanar…
      0
    4. nanar4327 > Slowfood Posted messages 7 Status Member
       
      re hello
      What is VLC?
      The logo is an orange and white cone.
      To find it on the computer, you need to do the following: 1: applications
      2: VLC, which is a folder
      What happens when we send it to the trash is that we delete hidden folders
      So you need to go online with Google, type VLC, and download it, and in principle, it should work.
      I got caught twice, but the second time I had saved it on an external hard drive.
      Hoping it works.
      See you soon.
      0
    5. eleazar > nanar4327
       
      Hi nanar

      I have exactly the same problem as you, and I doubt, if not to say I'm certain, that VLC will change anything about the issue. It's an external app that has nothing to do with iMovie.
      Like you, I think it's QuickTime that's acting up, especially since the issue arose after the last iMovie update.
      There's another problem: I'm unable to export my edited iMovie film from the Mac to the camera. I only have sound and no image, whereas everything was working fine before. I'm using an iMac G5 1.8 GHz OS 10.4.11

      If anyone has a solution, thank you in advance.
      0
  2. Anonymous user
     
    Good evening,

    QuickTime may be responsible; it has often happened that a version of QuickTime was poorly finalized.
    But QuickTime may also not fully accept codecs or installed plug-ins (Perian, Flip4Mac, Divx, etc.).
    The versions of these codecs need to keep up with the evolution of QuickTime.
    One way to proceed would be to first remove these codecs, repair disk permissions, and possibly perform a hard disk repair, then test again.
    If it still doesn't work, QuickTime should be uninstalled (search with EasyFind for all files related to QuickTime to delete them), then reinstall QuickTime 7.4
    (here: http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/quicktime745forleopard.html)
    And then gradually reinstall the codecs / plug-ins.

    If it turns out that QuickTime is the culprit, we can hope for a quick fix from Apple. - (In the past, Apple released a QuickTime module that allowed reverting to a previous version when issues related to QuickTime occurred)

    Best regards
    --
    Sanspseudo - Francis
    iMac G5 2ghz 2Go - OS 10.5.3
    0
  3. franck
     
    Hello
    Mac G5 1.8 GHz- 10.5.4
    all my dv or mov files are choppy with the latest quicktime.
    Interestingly, divx, flv, mpg2, and wmv files work fine on quicktime without any stutter.
    I tried with vlc and everything works, so quicktime is the issue but it's impossible to go back, as the older versions have been deleted.
    Thank you apple for taking action quickly.
    0
  4. desault
     
    Hello,

    I have the exact same problem: choppy playback of my .dv videos in iMovie while everything is smooth with VLC...
    Please let me know when someone finds the solution... I'm looking for it on my end as well.

    Have a good day.
    0
  6. eleazar
     
    One thing is for sure, the problem disappears when the camcorder is turned on and connected via FireWire while using iMovie. I believe you also need to check "play on camcorder" in the iMovie preferences.
    But it's a makeshift solution! We need to find the REAL fix.

    Hi Macs
    0
    1. Justin
       
      It comforts me a bit not to be the only one.
      I've found another temporary solution: reopening one of the early versions of iMovie (4.01), back when it was still simpler and more intuitive. Of course, it's not possible to open recent projects…
      As for installing the latest version, the one in iLife 08, which everyone talks so badly about, that's obviously out of the question.

      Hello everyone!
      0
  8. Justin
     
    Alas: I just tried this solution again: no .dv project works correctly. It is readable with Vlc, indeed, but the problem remains unsolved regarding iMovie! Damned! What is Apple doing???
    0
  9. Franck
     
    In addition, when I play .dv or .mov files in QuickTime or iMovie, the CPU works and saturates at 100%, whereas VLC, known for its consumption, only operates at 50%, so it's lighter. Incredible from Apple.
    0
  10. Justin
     
    As I had anticipated, it was indeed Quicktime that was causing the problem apparently!

    I just downloaded the latest update (7.5.5) and everything seems to be back to normal!
    They were certainly careful not to let us know: those people are exemplarily discreet!

    Sanspseudo, who seems well-informed, suspected that the bug might be fixed in the coming months: apparently, it’s done! But how many hours wasted tinkering…

    Thanks to everyone for your messages

    Mac-cordially yours,

    Justin
    0
    1. eleazar
       
      Saint Justin, pray for us...

      Thanks, man, for the info, and I’m rushing to update my QT

      In the meantime, I treated myself to a BIIIIGGGG pleasure by getting the latest 24" iMac, which had no issues with QT…

      So everything ends well

      PS: You’re right about all that lost time!

      PS: Does anyone know how to convert MKV to DivX on Mac?
      0
    2. harmonieux
       
      Of course my comment is a bit late... but I also downloaded the latest QT update and everything is back to normal!!.... phew!! & thanks a lot for the info.... best regards
      0
  11. franck
     
    I just downloaded the latest update (7.5.5) and everything is fine
    I regret, as usual, Apple's silence.
    0