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AVI movies in QT player ?

post #1 of 27
5/15/10 at 12:00pm
Thread Starter 
I'm unable to play AVI movies in the QT player that comes with Snow Leopard.

Is there a QT plug-in somewhere which adds the capability to play AVI movies (with sound), in the standard QT player from Apple ?

Mac mini 2.53 GHz, 4 GB, NVidia's 9400M.
13" MacBook Pro 2.66 GHz, 8 GB, NVidia's 320M.
OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8

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Mac mini 2.53 GHz, 4 GB, NVidia's 9400M.
13" MacBook Pro 2.66 GHz, 8 GB, NVidia's 320M.
OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8

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post #2 of 27
5/15/10 at 2:48pm
You probably don't have Perian installed-

Code:

http://perian.org/
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post #3 of 27
5/15/10 at 6:05pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stevegmu View Post

You probably don't have Perian installed-

Code:

http://perian.org/

Well, I installed the module and restarted the session. No change at all ! The AVI file (which is working great with some non-Apple app), isn't recognized by the QuickTime player. What gives ?

Mac mini 2.53 GHz, 4 GB, NVidia's 9400M.
13" MacBook Pro 2.66 GHz, 8 GB, NVidia's 320M.
OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8

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Mac mini 2.53 GHz, 4 GB, NVidia's 9400M.
13" MacBook Pro 2.66 GHz, 8 GB, NVidia's 320M.
OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8

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post #4 of 27
5/15/10 at 6:30pm
Thread Starter 
Now I'm confused. Apple says on their site that QT recognise AVI. I have QT 10, which came as default with OS 10.6.3 on my new Mac mini, and yet I can't play AVI movies using the QT player. What the ... ?

Mac mini 2.53 GHz, 4 GB, NVidia's 9400M.
13" MacBook Pro 2.66 GHz, 8 GB, NVidia's 320M.
OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8

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Mac mini 2.53 GHz, 4 GB, NVidia's 9400M.
13" MacBook Pro 2.66 GHz, 8 GB, NVidia's 320M.
OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8

Reply
post #5 of 27
5/15/10 at 7:15pm
The problem you are running into is that these files are not real AVIs, but rather are a bastardized version of H.264 (or something else) wrapped in something that might resemble an AVI wrapper, but mainly uses the .avi name in order to get Windows Media Player on Windows to grab and play it. It is probably (but not certainly) one of the many bastard children (remarkably accurate imagery, since Microsoft does not acknowledge them) of Microsoft's attempt to persuade the MPEG trade group tio adopt the AVI format as the bases for MPEG4 (they chose a variation on the QuickTime format instead).

QuickTime does play actual AVI's, but that format has basically been abandoned by its creator as it does not allow for any of the tricks that moden codecs do. It is alive only because of the bastard children of the Divx project.
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post #6 of 27
5/15/10 at 7:30pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Karl Kuehn View Post

The problem you are running into is that these files are not real AVIs, but rather are a bastardized version of H.264 (or something else) wrapped in something that might resemble an AVI wrapper, but mainly uses the .avi name in order to get Windows Media Player on Windows to grab and play it. It is probably (but not certainly) one of the many bastard children (remarkably accurate imagery, since Microsoft does not acknowledge them) of Microsoft's attempt to persuade the MPEG trade group tio adopt the AVI format as the bases for MPEG4 (they chose a variation on the QuickTime format instead).

QuickTime does play actual AVI's, but that format has basically been abandoned by its creator as it does not allow for any of the tricks that moden codecs do. It is alive only because of the bastard children of the Divx project.

So can we turn the bastard "fake AVI" files into something QT Player recognize, just by changing its file extension ? I guess not.

Mac mini 2.53 GHz, 4 GB, NVidia's 9400M.
13" MacBook Pro 2.66 GHz, 8 GB, NVidia's 320M.
OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8

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Mac mini 2.53 GHz, 4 GB, NVidia's 9400M.
13" MacBook Pro 2.66 GHz, 8 GB, NVidia's 320M.
OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8

Reply
post #7 of 27
5/16/10 at 7:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kali View Post

So can we turn the bastard "fake AVI" files into something QT Player recognize, just by changing its file extension ? I guess not.

Changing the extension changes the name and nothing else. I have no problem playing any video with the .avi extension. If you don't have QuickTime Player 7, then you should download it from Apple and install it. You can worry about getting your videos to work in QT X later.
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post #8 of 27
5/16/10 at 8:03am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Me View Post

Changing the extension changes the name and nothing else. I have no problem playing any video with the .avi extension. If you don't have QuickTime Player 7, then you should download it from Apple and install it. You can worry about getting your videos to work in QT X later.

This is what confuses me. I have QT Player version 10.0 (113). What the ... ?!?

Mac mini 2.53 GHz, 4 GB, NVidia's 9400M.
13" MacBook Pro 2.66 GHz, 8 GB, NVidia's 320M.
OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8

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Mac mini 2.53 GHz, 4 GB, NVidia's 9400M.
13" MacBook Pro 2.66 GHz, 8 GB, NVidia's 320M.
OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8

Reply
post #9 of 27
5/16/10 at 9:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Me View Post

Changing the extension changes the name and nothing else. I have no problem playing any video with the .avi extension. If you don't have QuickTime Player 7, then you should download it from Apple and install it. You can worry about getting your videos to work in QT X later.

Having the QuickTime 7 player or not does not make any difference here at all sine the QuickTime X Player will use the QuickTime 7 framework when it is needed, and it is alway installed. The QuickTime 7 plater is only needed when you need to edit movies with a QuickTime 7 Pro license.

The problem is in finding a pluggin that can work for those non-standard (broken) video files in question.
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post #10 of 27
5/16/10 at 10:57am
There are other players out there. Try, for example, VLC Media Player.
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post #11 of 27
5/17/10 at 3:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by WPLJ42 View Post

There are other players out there. Try, for example, VLC Media Player.

Exactly, VLC Media Player and also Movist. Both very nice.
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post #12 of 27
5/17/10 at 3:49am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by PB View Post

Exactly, VLC Media Player and also Movist. Both very nice.

Movist is very nice, thanks for that one !

But I'm still very surprised that all these codecs aren't integrated into the default QuickTime and its player, under Snow Leopard.

Mac mini 2.53 GHz, 4 GB, NVidia's 9400M.
13" MacBook Pro 2.66 GHz, 8 GB, NVidia's 320M.
OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8

Reply

Mac mini 2.53 GHz, 4 GB, NVidia's 9400M.
13" MacBook Pro 2.66 GHz, 8 GB, NVidia's 320M.
OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8

Reply
post #13 of 27
8/19/10 at 4:03pm
I cannot get Perian to install. Using newest version (1.2.1) in Snow Leopard (10.6.4). Trying to install for all users. It hangs up after entering password every time, and locks up System Preferences.
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post #14 of 27
8/19/10 at 4:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by WPLJ42 View Post

I cannot get Perian to install. Using newest version (1.2.1) in Snow Leopard (10.6.4). Trying to install for all users. It hangs up after entering password every time, and locks up System Preferences.

This is unusual. Everyday, Mac users happily download, install, and use Perian with nary a problem. If you want sympathy, then you have it. If you want help, then you must give at least a hint of something unusual in your situation.

BTW, are you using an Administrative account?
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post #15 of 27
8/19/10 at 5:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Me View Post

This is unusual. Everyday, Mac users happily download, install, and use Perian with nary a problem. If you want sympathy, then you have it. If you want help, then you must give at least a hint of something unusual in your situation.

BTW, are you using an Administrative account?

Well, I just installed it by selecting the install for a single user option. That will work since I have just one account on my iMac. Otherwise, it would "hang" according to the report sent to Apple, instantly after typing my Admin account password. System Preferences locks up and I have to do a force quit. Not sure what to tell you about unusual. I'm an odd duck, but that should not have an impact on my iMac.
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post #16 of 27
8/19/10 at 7:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by WPLJ42 View Post

Well, I just installed it by selecting the install for a single user option. That will work since I have just one account on my iMac. Otherwise, it would "hang" according to the report sent to Apple, instantly after typing my Admin account password. System Preferences locks up and I have to do a force quit. Not sure what to tell you about unusual. I'm an odd duck, but that should not have an impact on my iMac.

You have several misstatements here. However, I am not sure that they are the cause of your problems. That said, you are the first person that I can recall who has issues with Perian.

Do you have problems with software other than Perian? If so, then under what conditions to you have these problems?
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post #17 of 27
8/20/10 at 9:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Me View Post

You have several misstatements here. However, I am not sure that they are the cause of your problems. That said, you are the first person that I can recall who has issues with Perian.

Do you have problems with software other than Perian? If so, then under what conditions to you have these problems?

Well, I haven't a clue what you are saying. As for my iMac, it is not the perfect OS everyone wants to call it. I have problems from time to time, equal to what I had when using Windows 7 Beta and RC. I explore frequently and perhaps have created problems of my own.

Perian is a different sort of install, as it goes to System Preferences. I have problems with Shockwave not working, and Flash not working well, at least some of the time.

With all due respect, I seldom get help here I can actually use, even in the Genius Bar section. Using Mac OS is no better in my situation than Windows. Problems are just as frequent, and answers are just as hard to find.

Right now my text sometimes looks like smoothing has been turned off. Unfortunately, I do not have a method of putting an image into a post here.
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post #18 of 27
8/20/10 at 1:23pm
Adobe has never made a 64bit version of Shockwave for OSX... if Safari boots in 64 bit (default), then Shockwave won't work... you need to force Safari to open as a 32 bit process if you want to install Shockwave.
Flash is just flaky... again, Adobe doesn't seem to be overly concerned about upgrading/fixing/optimizing the Mac code. (still makes it a strike against Apple hardware though, if you need/like to run Flash stuff... and there's an awful lot of it on the web.)

As for your Perian problem, we just don't have enough info to troubleshoot it for you. Like someone else mentioned, I've never experienced problems with it, having installed it on half a dozen different Macs.
From out there on the moon, international politics look so petty. You want to grab a politician by the scruff of the neck and drag him a quarter of a million miles out and say, "Look at that!" -...
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From out there on the moon, international politics look so petty. You want to grab a politician by the scruff of the neck and drag him a quarter of a million miles out and say, "Look at that!" -...
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post #19 of 27
8/20/10 at 2:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by KingOfSomewhereHot View Post

Adobe has never made a 64bit version of Shockwave for OSX... if Safari boots in 64 bit (default), then Shockwave won't work... you need to force Safari to open as a 32 bit process if you want to install Shockwave.
Flash is just flaky... again, Adobe doesn't seem to be overly concerned about upgrading/fixing/optimizing the Mac code. (still makes it a strike against Apple hardware though, if you need/like to run Flash stuff... and there's an awful lot of it on the web.)

As for your Perian problem, we just don't have enough info to troubleshoot it for you. Like someone else mentioned, I've never experienced problems with it, having installed it on half a dozen different Macs.

I do know about Shockwave not working in 64-bit mode. The app even tells me so. Shockwave probably has been messed up since 10.5.2 or so. You said it right, flaky, with regard to Flash. It isn't exactly the only app that gets less attention on the Mac side.

As for Perian, I am having other troubles, and just now setup 2 partitions. The 2nd one is running Leopard. Perian installed without about any difficulties. I did have to enter my password twice, but no other issues.
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post #20 of 27
8/20/10 at 4:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by WPLJ42 View Post

Well, I haven't a clue what you are saying. As for my iMac, it is not the perfect OS everyone wants to call it. I have problems from time to time, equal to what I had when using Windows 7 Beta and RC. I explore frequently and perhaps have created problems of my own.

Perian is a different sort of install, as it goes to System Preferences. I have problems with Shockwave not working, and Flash not working well, at least some of the time.

With all due respect, I seldom get help here I can actually use, even in the Genius Bar section. Using Mac OS is no better in my situation than Windows. Problems are just as frequent, and answers are just as hard to find.

...

To use the Perian codec suite:
  1. Download Perian.
  2. Install Perian.
  3. Double-click any video file. If it is in a format supported by Perian, then the QuickTime Player will use the appropriate codec.
Perian is completely transparent to the user once it has been installed. If the three steps listed above are over your head, then your problems run deeper than the inability to play a video file or snotty AppleInsider.com members who won't help you.

The Perian preference pane enables or diables automatic updates of the suite. It can also be used to remove the suite. Minor tasks include selecting various audio options. There is no reason for you to futz around in the preference pane.
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post #21 of 27
8/21/10 at 10:43am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Me View Post

To use the Perian codec suite:
  1. Download Perian.
  2. Install Perian.
  3. Double-click any video file. If it is in a format supported by Perian, then the QuickTime Player will use the appropriate codec.
Perian is completely transparent to the user once it has been installed. If the three steps listed above are over your head, then your problems run deeper than the inability to play a video file or snotty AppleInsider.com members who won't help you.

The Perian preference pane enables or diables automatic updates of the suite. It can also be used to remove the suite. Minor tasks include selecting various audio options. There is no reason for you to futz around in the preference pane.

Perhaps Mr. Me can't read. I could not get Perian to install. How many times would you like me to tell you that?! The spinning wheel that appears while waiting for password entry, never went away. I would have to use force quit, because the installer was locked up. Follow me so far?

Yes, many people here have attitude, just like the one you are presenting. We are not on the same page. Either I am not being clear, or you are not paying attention.
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post #22 of 27
8/22/10 at 7:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by WPLJ42 View Post

Perhaps Mr. Me can't read. ....

Mr. Me is an excellent reader who read your post just fine. What he read was nonsense. There is no reason that a properly functioning system should prevent the installation of Perian. That leaves a malfunctioning system. However, a malfunctioning system will exhibit other problems. I asked you about other problems. You did not answer but to snipe instead.
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post #23 of 27
8/23/10 at 2:57pm
Yes, my iMac must not be working properly. There is a fix. ASAP, I will be returning to the PC.
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post #24 of 27
8/23/10 at 4:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by WPLJ42 View Post

Yes, my iMac must not be working properly. There is a fix. ASAP, I will be returning to the PC.

Buh-bye.
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post #25 of 27
8/23/10 at 10:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Me View Post

Buh-bye.

Won't miss any of you BoneHeads for a split-second!
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post #26 of 27
8/24/10 at 12:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by WPLJ42 View Post

I cannot get Perian to install. Using newest version (1.2.1) in Snow Leopard (10.6.4). Trying to install for all users. It hangs up after entering password every time, and locks up System Preferences.


Have you tried making a new user account and trying to install perian into that one only. Or try installing it into the main account only to see if it causes the system preferences to hang.

If it does hang when trying to install into one account only it maybe an issue with that user account.

As a test try making a new user account as a test account and then trying to install perian into it to see if anything changes.

For me it sounds like you may have some corruption or bad preferences file/s somewhere.

Lets know what the outcome of trying these things are as I can help to try and get it working for you more.
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post #27 of 27
8/24/10 at 1:36pm
Since day one, there has always been some sort of issue. Out of the box, the Tiger restore DVDs did not work. I later found they were for the mini. So Apple Care sent me a home made Leopard DVD and iLife 'O8. Leopard (10.5.0) didn't function with iMovie, and instantly required an update from Apple. So a brand new computer, and a brand new OS, already had something wrong.

I have not experienced an OS that is superior in any fashion to Windows. I am not going to worry about Perian. Thanks rob_06 for the offer.

I am 0 for 2 with Mac OS. First OS 9, now OS X. Something is always going wrong, just like it does in Windows. At least with Windows, I anticipate problems.
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