Imported audio distorted with a reverb-like effect

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Level 1

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Imported audio distorted with a reverb-like effect

I often record game footage using OBS with HDMI input from console and a blue yeti mic.

Today after recording some videos, when I imported the video to iMovie it plays back in iMovie with a slight reverb / echo effect. If I play the video in QuickTime, the audio is fine. It’s just when it’s imported and previewed / played in iMovie.

if I test with previous videos recorded before today - made exactly the same - they import and play fine. It’s just started to happen now.

Would really like to salvage todays recordings.

Using iMovie on Mac. Thanks

MacBook Air 11″, OS X 10.11

Posted on Jul 30, 2022 5:40 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Rich839

Level 8

47,904 points

Jul 31, 2022 8:39 AM in response to ToastMasterX

iMovie is a bit more sensitive than QuickTimePlayer to slight aberrations in audio format or rendering.

Try converting your troublesome clips to H.264, Mp4/AAC with the free download, Handbrake. Do that even if the codec already is indicated to be Mp4/AAC. Handbrake will convert to Mp4/AAC by default. Re-rendering often cures audio issues.

You can get Handbrake here:

https://handbrake.fr/

A simple way to do it is to open Handbrake and do a File/Open Source. Navigate to your video and choose it as the source from the resulting screen. Then do File/Start Encoding. Wait a couple of minutes for the conversion to complete. Then save and import the converted clip into iMovie.

-- Rich

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Answer 2

Rich839

Level 8

47,904 points

Jul 30, 2022 6:33 PM in response to ToastMasterX

Try deleting/resetting preferences. To delete/reset preferences open iMovie while holding down the Option and Command keys and select to delete preferences in the box that appears. iMovie will open in a new library. Reopen your old library to get back to your projects. Possibly you may need to reboot to set the changes. Deleting preferences is a safe procedure that will not cause data loss or disruption to your project.

-- Rich

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Answer 3

ToastMasterX Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 31, 2022 5:34 AM in response to Rich839

Thanks for your reply, Rich. I should have said I’ve already tried that a couple of times and rebooted, but the audio still plays with a reverb.

It must be something to do with the 3 video files I recorded in OBS but they play fine in QuickTime and I’ve not changed the OBS settings.

Any other ideas appreciated.

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Answer 4

ToastMasterX Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 31, 2022 4:03 PM in response to Rich839

Thanks. I followed your suggestion and Handbrake encoding the clips, then import to iMovie, solved the issue.

Bizarrely I recorded more original video via OBS using exactly the same process today and the five new clips I recorded today worked without issue. So no idea why the ones yesterday had problems. Thanks

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Answer 5

Rich839

Level 8

47,904 points

Jul 31, 2022 5:20 PM in response to ToastMasterX

You are very welcome. The ones yesterday may have been used in a different project, possibly? Sometimes glitches are confined to just a specific project.

—Rich

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Imported audio distorted with a reverb-like effect

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