Audio (and other) problems noted with Keynote version 4.0.1

Question

Since installing Keynote 4 and the 4.0.1 update, I have noted the following situations and/or problems:
1) When doing a "save-as" the filename is appended with the suffix ".key" but when I subsequently "save" this file, the suffix disappears. The file seems to open and operate OK nonetheless, but this puzzles and somewhat concerns me that someday Keynote may not recognize the file. This happens whenever I "save" a slideshow after I have made any changes to it.
2) When playing back a "soundtrack," the audio "glitches" frequently at slide transitions: this occurs repeatedly on my G5 desktop system but not on my MacBook Pro-17. The "glitches" always seem to occur at the same places in the track - which, of course, is also at the same slide transitions. (This problem has spawned several similar questions and threads in this forum.)
3) Related to #2 above, the "glitches" also interrupt or corrupt the "recording" of that soundtrack, so that the synchronization is off when the slideshow is played back.
4) If I want to have an audio track play under a series of slides, the only way I have found to accomplish this is to create a separate slideshow with the audio track running as a "soundtrack" and "record" the Builds and Transitions in sync with the audio. If I want to incorporate several of these shows together, I can create a "master" slideshow and Hyperlink each segment to the next. HOWEVER...
5) When I "record" a "soundtrack" and "synchronize" the Builds and Transitions within the slideshow, everything plays back properly in sync ONLY when the slideshow is played as a stand-alone presentation (i.e. a cold start from the desktop). If I initiate playback of the slideshow via a Hyperlink from another presentation, the soundtrack plays but NONE of the synchronization works at all.
6) The only way I have found to have an audio track "fade-in" or "fade-out" is to use off-line editing software to record these fades prior to importing the tracks into Keynote. The "Start Audio" Build function is simply a hard "cut" in, and the end of the track is a hard "cut" out.
These problems are consistent and repeatable facts. Whether they are "bugs" in the software or "design shortcomings" is uncertain. Nonethtless ...
At the risk of offending the moderators of this forum, I feel compelled to comment that these problems render the audio operations of Keynote less than satisfactory and should be addressed as soon as possible with another update to this visually stunning but audio-challenged application.

Answer 1

Well Ron S, I re-confirmed why I prefer not to look to tech support for support.
It seems to me that support's main function is to deflect any critical comments and push the blame back to the user.
Frankly, I have better things to do with my time and money than try to help a multi-billion dollar enterprise learn about itself.
So, for the benefit of you and the nearly 400 who have followed this thread, I offer you my latest and probably last attempt to have Apple acknowledge in some small way that "Houston, we have a problem".
I expect this reply will result in this thread being yanked as well, since I'm expressing negative thoughts about Apple's product and wishing they would do better, which is a non-technical gasp of utter frustration and disappointment. Note that "product" is singular, defining Keynote. My other Apple products serve me loyally and superbly, which is why my huge disappointment with Keynote.
So here is my correspondence with Tech Support. I've removed names except mine.
I think it speaks for itself. They have notes from my conversations with them that I have current Apple computers, including a MacBookPro, not an old PowerBook, nevertheless, they have told me that the problem is mine because the fabulous hyper-performing Keynote software is choking my poor old machine (paraphrased muchly).:
Hi (support),
That's disappointing news, especially since this test was done on 3 machines: an old G4 400, a 2.0G Dual G5 and an Intel core duo MacBookPro which yielded identical results.
It is not a hardware issue.
I do not accept a brush-off that it is my hardware that is causing Keynote to be problematic.
I will assume that Apple is not interested in addressing these issues in public and that Keynote is substandard software that is in need of re-authoring.
Sorry to be so blunt, but Apple has set this tone with Keynote, and used its considerable reputation as a leading a/v technology innovator to imply that Keynote will deliver the excellence we Mac users have come to expect.
I have been a loyal mac user since the SE series and have enjoyed success with the machines and software offered by Apple, and depend on them for my livelihood. I'm currently using FC Studio6 and know that Apple is capable of maintaining its high standards.
However, Keynote fails to do that, instead behaving like a product that was invented in a teenager's basement and is in beta. I realize that it's not designed as a FCP level product, but it fails at the basic tasks that you advertise it will complete.
A version 4 product should work as advertised. Keynote certainly does not.
I'm deeply saddened that Apple seems to have become an iPod entertainment company, interested mainly in profits from entertainment rather than serious useful technology.
On 2007-Oct-19, at 10:14 AM, (tech support) wrote:
Hello Sir,
Unfortunately, this does look like it's mostly a case of some of the new Keynote features slowing down the performance on the PowerBook.
At this point, there isn't much else we can do in the way of troubleshooting.
If you are not satisfied with the performance on the PowerBook, using the previous version of Keynote is probably his best option at this point.
We will continue to research this issue, but at this point it's unlikely I'll be able to find additional suggestions for improving performance, as it looks like it is is reproducible and limited to older models.
On Oct 16, 2007, at 11:27 PM, Ron Tucker wrote:
Hi (support),
Thanks for your recent followup calls. I'm directing a video shoot so am a bit preoccupied.
Here are the tests I mentioned.
These are as simple as it gets, and I think highlights the synchronization problem with Keynote.
Test 1 is straightforward, and demonstrates that a single unedited recorded audio track will maintain mouse click synchronization.
Test 2 is the same file, but with audio modifications applied to each slide in succession.
This demonstrates a dramatic synchronization slippage.
The visuals occur before the click (and audio) markers. Keynote seems to be create delay in audio at each "record and replace" point. This accumulates as the audio is revised in successive slides.
These tests demonstrate that there is a fundamental flaw in how Keynote handles audio in its most basic application.
This does not address the slim toolset available, such as lack of insert capability and other basic audio tools, which is a separate design issue, and I suppose subject to "request for enhancement" feedback.
I've reluctantly abandoned Keynote for my project work at present until these basic issues are addressed and it can be demonstrated that Keynote can successfully execute its feature set.
<TuckerKeynoteTest.zip>
Message was edited by: Ron Tucker1