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Gogogosia

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 13, 2023
26
5
Yeah rosetta would definitely impact the performance.

You can check OS version by going to the  symbol top right and clicking "About"
thanks! so updating the Os and imovie is 2 things, but the stuff with Rosetta is another? or updating the aforementioned should help with that? I'm literally already sitting on the erased mac ready for the courier to pick it up haha... still wanting to find a solution. Classic
 

Ploki

macrumors 601
Jan 21, 2008
4,324
1,560
thanks! so updating the Os and imovie is 2 things, but the stuff with Rosetta is another? or updating the aforementioned should help with that? I'm literally already sitting on the erased mac ready for the courier to pick it up haha... still wanting to find a solution. Classic

The first version to support Apple Silicon natively was iMovie 10.3 but that was 2021 already so it's very unlikely you're running rosetta.

One thing I can think of is maybe you're running low on RAM and have little space on the internal drive.
(Although 16GB should be plenty for simple video editing, i had the same config as you 16/512).

However if by some weird reason you're running out of RAM, the system pages the RAM to SSD.
If SSD is full, it runs slower and makes the whole process more annoying.

But i've edited 4K footage on FCPX on a 13" M1 16/512 and it was absolutely fine

It makes absolutely zero sense that a 2014 could run better, even if it were a maxed out 15".
it has much slower CPU, slower RAM and slower SSD and slower GPU.
it's just much slower in every single aspect.
 
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e1me5

macrumors 6502a
Jun 11, 2013
503
1,085
Cyprus
Your files are the problem. Footage from smartphones tend to have a variable frame rate, and that slows down your hardware. You need to re-encode them to a more solid format and framerate, and that will cure your issues. Doesn't matter what software you use, or hardware, it's a file problem.
 

cupcakes2000

macrumors 601
Apr 13, 2010
4,031
5,424
Personally i find FCPX few times faster then davinci when working on similar footage, although i'd much rather work in davinci FCPX just appears to be more optimised.

Admittedly i never tried iMovie
FCP is pretty spectacular, but it’s heavily optimised, mac only and costs a pretty sum. Davinci on the other hand, is also blazingly fast, is as or more feature filled, it’s just as easy to use, it’s free for everything but the most advanced usage, and it’s available on everything - including Linux and iPad. It’s pretty hard to beat in my opinion.
 
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Ploki

macrumors 601
Jan 21, 2008
4,324
1,560
FCP is pretty spectacular, but it’s heavily optimised, mac only and costs a pretty sum. Davinci on the other hand, is also blazingly fast, is as or more feature filled, it’s just as easy to use, it’s free for everything but the most advanced usage, and it’s available on everything - including Linux and iPad. It’s pretty hard to beat in my opinion.
I agree. Also Studio version has tons of neat features such as AI assisted masking, proper anamorphic etc.

But fcpx is just blazing fast on apple silicon lol
 
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Asbow

macrumors regular
Aug 17, 2020
201
366
very helpful suggestion. I completely didn't think of that. Some people here mention some rosetta thing that could be at play - would you suggest anything I should do to hmmm.. eliminate that problem? Clearly I have no idea what I'm saying so hope you can read between the lines?
That shouldn’t be an issue. I run Motion on my 16” M1 Max in Rosetta due to some motionvfx plugins not AS native and it runs like a rocket.
 

G5isAlive

Contributor
Aug 28, 2003
2,832
4,875
Your files are the problem. Footage from smartphones tend to have a variable frame rate, and that slows down your hardware. You need to re-encode them to a more solid format and framerate, and that will cure your issues. Doesn't matter what software you use, or hardware, it's a file problem.

Thats what I think too, its some old legacy format which is why his old 2014 Mac has no problems, and why both the modern machines he tested on did have problems. Even my M1 Mac Air had no problems like he describes.
 
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Ploki

macrumors 601
Jan 21, 2008
4,324
1,560
Yep. I was agreeing with the comment that its the file format, and suggested another reason besides variable frame rate. Bottom line is, My M1 has no problems editing movies, so I reject the OP's hypothesis that its just the computer.
yeah and to be honest i don't recall my M1 having issues with iPhone footage :]

even edited some HDR from iPhone 13 (and beside being a pain in the ass to color map it in FCPX the first time around, it was normal and smooth)
 
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TechnoMonk

macrumors 68030
Oct 15, 2022
2,551
4,026
FCP is pretty spectacular, but it’s heavily optimised, mac only and costs a pretty sum. Davinci on the other hand, is also blazingly fast, is as or more feature filled, it’s just as easy to use, it’s free for everything but the most advanced usage, and it’s available on everything - including Linux and iPad. It’s pretty hard to beat in my opinion.
Years ago, i bought Apple education bundle, which included FCP. I use Davinci and FCP, but FCP is much more quicker and intutive.
 

Gogogosia

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 13, 2023
26
5
Your files are the problem. Footage from smartphones tend to have a variable frame rate, and that slows down your hardware. You need to re-encode them to a more solid format and framerate, and that will cure your issues. Doesn't matter what software you use, or hardware, it's a file problem.
Thanks. What do you mean reformat? How does one do it to match the format required for my mac?
 

Gogogosia

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 13, 2023
26
5
Just wanted to say to all kind folks who shared their perspective that after updating everything the movie editing works so far good! Smooth and efficient.
I didn't realise that the new mac had old OS and apps installed so thos who suggested it were right.
Thanks all 💜
 

e1me5

macrumors 6502a
Jun 11, 2013
503
1,085
Cyprus
Screenshot 2023-02-21 at 5.24.48 PM.png

Thanks. What do you mean reformat? How does one do it to match the format required for my mac?
Not reformat, its re-encode. It means change the codec of the video file. Best free software to use for this is Handbrake https://handbrake.fr/

Make sure you check the constant frame rate in the video tab.
 
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