JimInAnnArbor

Q: Quick Look doesn't work for .mov files in 10.9

I can no longer view .mov files in Quick Look mode after installing 10.9. Can anyone verify this?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Oct 24, 2013 3:17 PM

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Q: Quick Look doesn't work for .mov files in 10.9

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  • by DanTheMan000,

    DanTheMan000 DanTheMan000 Feb 20, 2015 9:34 AM in response to Jon Walker
    Level 1 (12 points)
    iPhone
    Feb 20, 2015 9:34 AM in response to Jon Walker

    Jon Walker wrote:

    ...

     

    Unfortunately, I do not have an external Mavericks boot-configured drive currently available for testing my hypothesis working in the opposite direction. Therefore, suggest you perform a quick test on your Mavericks system and report back. That is, I suggest you take one of your DV/PCM files with a DV file extension and simply change the "DV" extension to "MOV" and see if the file is then compatible with both QT X v10.3 and QL playback under Mavericks. ...

     

     

    No, it isn't.

     

    I have selected a *.dv file imported using iMovie '09. "mediainfo" tells the following about this file:

     

    Video

    Format                                   : DV

    Commercial name                          : DVCPRO

    Frame rate                               : 25.000 fps

    Standard                                 : PAL

    Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0

    Bit depth                                : 8 bits

    Scan type                                : Interlaced

    Audio

    ID                                       : 0

    Format                                   : PCM

    Duration                                 : 41mn 30s

    Bit rate mode                            : Constant

    Bit rate                                 : 1 536 Kbps

    Encoded bit rate                         : 0 bps

    Channel(s)                               : 2 channels

    Sampling rate                            : 48.0 KHz

    Bit depth                                : 16 bits

    Stream size                              : 456 MiB (5%)

     

    This *.dv file does not play in QT 10.3 - even if I rename it to *.mov. QT 10.3 wants to convert it. The file does, however, play fine in QT 7 independent of the suffix. I can rename it *.txt for example and it still plays in QT 7.

     

    I also selected a *.mov file imported using iMovie 10. If I rename it to *.dv, QT 10.3 does not play any more and rather wants to convert it.

     

    By the way, what is a DV/DV file?

  • by Jon Walker,

    Jon Walker Jon Walker Feb 20, 2015 11:47 AM in response to DanTheMan000
    Level 6 (18,620 points)
    Feb 20, 2015 11:47 AM in response to DanTheMan000

    By the way, what is a DV/DV file?

    I am referring to a DV file container in which the audio and video data are multiplexed within the same data stream. This was always a source of confusion when evaluating statistics with the QT 7 "Inspector" since QT 7 reads the same DV track twice—once as compressed audio and a second time as compressed video as seen here:

     

    Screen Shot 2015-02-20 at 1.11.14 PM.png

     

    You will note that the above image for my test DV-25 file indicates a total data rate on the order of 57 Mbps (about 28.5 for DV audio + another 28.5 for DV video) and a total file size of 272.83 MBs. However, if you check the actual file size according to the Mac OS Finder—the DV file container only takes up about 143 MBs of actual hard drive space as seen below.

     

    Screen Shot 2015-02-20 at 1.12.17 PM.png

     

    Older (pre=QT X) versions of iMovie even had an option to demux the audio to separate audio and video data streams for editing. In a similar manner, DV content can also be stored in an MOV container as multiplexed DV audio and video or as demultiplexed DV video and PCM audio. This brings up another point of possible confusion. The DV/DV multiplexed data stream contains DV video and DV (PCM) audio. Unfortunately, there are many PCM formats—DV, WAV, AIFF, Big Endian Integer, Little Endian Integer, etc. When I refer to a DV/PCM MOV file, I am really referring to an MOV file containing demultiplexed DV video along with one of the "standalone" PCM compression formats as seen here:


    Screen Shot 2015-02-20 at 1.13.35 PM.png


    You will also note in the above image, the save DV video track plus demultiplexed Big Endian Integer PCM audio track together now provide a total data rate of only 29.80 Mbps for a file size on the order of only 141 MBs—which is more realistic in terms of the space required for file storage. In any case, this brings up the question of whether your MOV file contains multiplexed or demultiplexed DV video and PCM audio since multiplexed DV file data can be be copied to/stored in an MOV file container. In my tests, the data was always multiplexed when referring to a DV sourced file container and demultiplexed when referring to an MOV sourced file container.


    Please clarify they type of content actually stored in your MOV file containers.


    I also selected a *.mov file imported using iMovie 10. If I rename it to *.dv, QT 10.3 does not play any more and rather wants to convert it.

    As implied above, results would likely depend on whether the MOV file contains multiplexed or demultiplexed DV data which I also cannot test under Mavericks at this time. Also, can you clarify what you mean by "file imported using iMovie 10?" I tend to think of adding a file to iMovie from the Finder as an "imported file" but still consider a file "imported" from a camcorder to be a "file capture." The specific workflow used can affect iMovie stored file results.

     

    SJAUG.png

  • by DanTheMan000,

    DanTheMan000 DanTheMan000 Mar 12, 2015 2:41 PM in response to Jon Walker
    Level 1 (12 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 12, 2015 2:41 PM in response to Jon Walker

    First, I'd like to correct my original posting with respect to the following sentence:

      " I remuxed my *.mov files into *.dv using ffmpeg and also tried *.mov   *.dv  files  imported   captured through iMovie '09. "

    (i.e. while iMovie '09 captures video from a DV camera into *.dv files, iMovie 10 writes captured video into *.mov files.)

     

    Regarding your question about the type of multiplexing used in the *.mov files, I can't really tell. Running mediainfo on one of the *.mov clips gives:

     

    $ mediainfo 2004-02-28\ 17_51_57.mov
    General
    Complete name                            : 2004-02-28 17_51_57.mov
    Format                                   : MPEG-4
    Commercial name                          : DVCPRO
    Format profile                           : QuickTime
    Codec ID                                 : qt 
    File size                                : 444 MiB
    Duration                                 : 2mn 2s
    Overall bit rate                         : 30.4 Mbps
    Encoded date                             : UTC 2015-02-16 19:30:31
    Tagged date                              : UTC 2015-02-16 19:32:33
    Writing library                          : Apple QuickTime
    com.apple.proapps.manufacturer           : Sony
    com.apple.proapps.modelname              : DV-VCR
    com.apple.proapps.cameraName             : Sony DV-VCR
    com.apple.proapps.ingestDate.description : 2015-02-16 20:30:31 +0100
    com.apple.proapps.originalFormat         : DV - PAL
    com.apple.proapps.mediaRate              : Unknown kind of value!
    com.apple.proapps.timecodeFormat         : Non-Drop
    com.apple.quicktime.creationdate         : 2004-02-28T17:51:57+0100
    com.apple.quicktime.make                 : Apple
    com.apple.quicktime.software             : Mac OS X 10.9.5 (13F34)

    Video
    ID                                       : 1
    Format                                   : DV
    Commercial name                          : DVCPRO
    Codec ID                                 : dvcp
    Duration                                 : 2mn 2s
    Source duration                          : 2mn 2s
    Bit rate mode                            : Constant
    Bit rate                                 : 24.4 Mbps
    Encoded bit rate                         : 28.8 Mbps
    Width                                    : 703 pixels
    Original width                           : 720 pixels
    Height                                   : 576 pixels
    Display aspect ratio                     : 4:3
    Frame rate mode                          : Constant
    Frame rate                               : 25.000 fps
    Standard                                 : PAL
    Color space                              : YUV
    Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
    [...]

    Audio #1
    ID                                       : 2
    Format                                   : PCM
    Format settings, Endianness              : Little
    Format settings, Sign                    : Signed
    Codec ID                                 : sowt
    Duration                                 : 2mn 2s
    Source duration                          : 2mn 2s
    Bit rate mode                            : Constant
    Bit rate                                 : 1 536 Kbps
    Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
    Channel positions                        : Front: L R
    Sampling rate                            : 48.0 KHz
    Bit depth                                : 16 bits
    Stream size                              : 22.4 MiB (5%)
    Source stream size                       : 22.4 MiB (5%)
    Title                                    : Core Media Audio
    Encoded date                             : UTC 2015-02-16 19:30:31
    Tagged date                              : UTC 2015-02-16 19:32:33

    Audio #2
    ID                                       : 1-0
    Format                                   : PCM
    Muxing mode                              : DV
    Muxing mode, more info                   : Muxed in Video #1
    Duration                                 : 2mn 2s
    Bit rate mode                            : Constant
    Bit rate                                 : 1 536 Kbps
    Encoded bit rate                         : 0 bps
    Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
    Sampling rate                            : 48.0 KHz
    Bit depth                                : 16 bits
    Stream size                              : 22.4 MiB (5%)
    Encoded stream size                      : 0.00 Byte (0%)

    Other
    ID                                       : 3
    Type                                     : Time code
    Format                                   : QuickTime TC
    Duration                                 : 2mn 2s
    Time code of first frame                 : 00:03:13:18
    Time code, striped                       : Yes
    Title                                    : Core Media Time Code
    Encoded date                             : UTC 2015-02-16 19:30:31
    Tagged date                              : UTC 2015-02-16 19:32:33

  • by DanTheMan000,

    DanTheMan000 DanTheMan000 Mar 12, 2015 3:06 PM in response to DanTheMan000
    Level 1 (12 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 12, 2015 3:06 PM in response to DanTheMan000

    DanTheMan000 wrote:

     

     

    Running Mavericks (10.9.5) on my newer MBP (retina),  "Quick Look" and "Quick Time Player" (10.3) do not play DV/PCM in *.dv files. Only after I installed QT7 (as suggested by Apple for support of older codecs), I can play these files using QT 7 on this MBP. "Quick Look" still is not playing these dv-video files:

     

    I just updated this newer MBP to Yosemite and now "Quick Look" plays these *.dv video files.

  • by Jon Walker,

    Jon Walker Jon Walker Mar 12, 2015 3:54 PM in response to DanTheMan000
    Level 6 (18,620 points)
    Mar 12, 2015 3:54 PM in response to DanTheMan000

    Regarding your question about the type of multiplexing used in the *.mov files, I can't really tell. Running mediainfo on one of the *.mov clips gives:..

    According to the MediaInfo data you provided, track 1 contains DV video, track 2 contains little endian PCM audio, and the track 3 refers to DV audio which is actually multiplexed with the video previously referenced in track 1. In short the file actually contains both multiplexed and demultiplexed audio.

     

    General

    Complete name                            : 2004-02-28 17_51_57.mov

    Format                                   : MPEG-4

    Commercial name                          : DVCPRO

    This may or may not be the heart of your problem. According to the statements above, MediaInfo is interpreting the file as an MPEG-4 file containing DV/DV compressed audio and video compressed data with a separate track containing PCM compressed audio. Unfortunately, QT considers these data types to be incompatible with the MPEG-4 file type—i.e., QT expects MPEG-4/AAC or H.264/AAC compressed data to be encapsulated in an MPEG-4 file type. This may imply that either your Mac operating system or the QT player was corrupted. (Either that or the FFMPEG "muxing" operation to which you previously referred incorrectly placed the compressed data into an incorrect file container.) In any case, updating your operating appears to have corrected whatever was wrong with the original installation.

     

    SJAUG.png

  • by DanTheMan000,

    DanTheMan000 DanTheMan000 Mar 13, 2015 1:05 AM in response to Jon Walker
    Level 1 (12 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 13, 2015 1:05 AM in response to Jon Walker

    Jon,

     

    Thanks for you reply. You analysis is very reasonable.

     

    However, my issues were not directed to *.mov files. Rather, my issues were associated with *.dv files. Please see my first posting dated

  • by Jon Walker,

    Jon Walker Jon Walker Mar 13, 2015 8:26 AM in response to DanTheMan000
    Level 6 (18,620 points)
    Mar 13, 2015 8:26 AM in response to DanTheMan000

    However, my issues were not directed to *.mov files. The *.mov files play perfectly in QuickTime 10.4 although "mediainfo" reports this strange assemblage of multimedia streams.

    Sorry, my fault here. Current forum settings display your initial post on one web page and your latest postings on another. It didn't occur to me to review your first post as I mistakenly assumed you were posting stats for the non-playing DV content rather than a plying file.

     

    I see no reason why QT would fail as these files have been created through Apple programs.

    Actually, there are a number of possibilities that might explain why such a file might not play. Normally these would include missing codec support, file/compression type inconsistencies/incompatibilities, corruption of system or QT player application, and/or QT player programming problems. Here is a quick history associated with just the last four Mac OS X operating systems:

     

    1) By default, Lion deactivated the "active" (encoding) use of "legacy" codecs. (If you wish to use these codes, you have to manually turn them back on under Lion or layer operating systems and use a QT 7 based or third-party software. And, while this did not affect "passive" (playback) support of most legacy compression formats, it did signal significant changes for later operating system. In addition, a general update to core audio support was begun under Lion.

     

    2) Mountain Lion saw the completion of changes to core audio support in preparation later A/V QTX/QL structure changes to be embedded OS in Mavericks and Yosemite. Some third-party software providers were caught by the audio changes and had to scramble to rewrite/reconfigure support for their audio and/or video apps.

     

    3) Mavericks officially dropped legacy codec support for QTX/QL employing the newly added system-wide structure embeds for playback, "modernization," and encoding of content at the Finder level. While the general lack of support for most "legacy" codecs was to be expected based on changes initiated under Lion, most iMovie and FCP users were very upset by the lack of Apple QTX/QL programmer foresight in programing the new structures to recognize and support codecs that continued to be supported by iMovie and FCP video editors under Mavericks. This forced the Apple programmers to scramble to reprogram the new structures ASAP as so-called "minor" updates to Mac OS X v10.9 (which were not so minor to many QTX/QL users).

     

    4) Yosemite continues to update/evolve the QTX/QL support but most changes are now in areas to better recognize/support file/compression type combinations that remain "overlooked" by the QTX/QL programmers.

     

    Rather, my issues were associated with *.dv files. Please see my first posting dated Feb 20, 2015. I provided the information about *.mov files as a response to your question.

    Since major OS updates install as a completely new operating systems, I doubt that a platform can "inherit" an ability to play DV files going from Lion to Mountain Lion to Mavericks to Yosemite. On the other hand, it is entirely possible that the system that came with Mavericks pre-installed missed a specific incremental Mavericks update that did include the changes required to recognize and play certain files. As discussed elsewhere in the QT forum, the initial Mavericks release omitted the ability to play several compression formats (to include DV, AIC and most of the "pro" codecs) that were supported in video editing apps in use at that time requiring users to wait for Apple to issue later updates to Mavericks in order to support such content in QT X and QL. When you upgraded this Mavericks system to Yosemite, you effectively by-passed the problem when the new OS was installed. This seems more likely than assuming your Mavericks OS and/or QTX/QL software was corrupted with regard to the playback of a single file type or that FFMPEG might have "re-muxed" both the muxed and demuxed audio MOV content to a DV file container (although I was considering this as a possibility since FFMPEG does not always adhere to media standards and QT often traps on such inconsistencies as potential security issues).

     

    So maybe I have to apologize that I "hijacked" this thread and steered it away from the original issues with *.mov files.

    While it is always a good idea to open your own topic, I doubt anyone here will put up a fuss since the original topic was broached in October of 2013 and most QTX/QL problems under Yosemite are relegated, at this time, to the continued use of legacy or proprietary codecs by users who cannot or will not switch to more modern forms of content that are natively supported by QTX/QL under Mavericks and Yosemite. Luckily, I switched to MPEG4/H.264 video when the 5th Gen iPod was introduced and only experienced the "shock" of missing QTX/QL support in the initial release of Mavericks which has since been corrected for the most part and haven't really used DV sourced content since switching to MPEG-4 AVC camcorders/devices.

     

    SJAUG.png

  • by myrnafromalfonso,

    myrnafromalfonso myrnafromalfonso Mar 17, 2015 8:10 AM in response to zampino
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 17, 2015 8:10 AM in response to zampino

    KAkakskskslls

  • by kubo.podmanicky,

    kubo.podmanicky kubo.podmanicky Jul 1, 2015 5:45 PM in response to JimInAnnArbor
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 1, 2015 5:45 PM in response to JimInAnnArbor

    Guys, after an hour i gave up reading (not native english speaker) these long and pointless statements about why we don't simply convert thousands of our video files, or how we all should downgrade to previous OSX, or just get used to it because Apple never makes mistakes (right, Jon?). And I am also new at these forums, so I can't tell if the solution/answer has been posted already. Sorry in that case. But I made ProRes .mov files playable in Quick Look somehow. Not just still thumbnails, but playable as before.


    This weird Apple codec pack did the trick. Pro Video Formats 2.0.1. But I'll go through all the steps if plain installing didn't work.

     

    Yosemite running on mid-2011 iMac, cheapest 27-inch available, updated regularly.

     

    I uninstalled all possible video players and codec packs - not working

    Uninstalled VLC, relinked all video files to natively open in QT(10) - not

    Restarted - not

    Downloaded QT7 from Apple website, installed, relinked all video files to open in it - still not working

    Restarted - not

    Installed VLC again - not yet

    Downloaded this strange codec pack Pro Video Formats 2.0.1 from I don't know where I found it on Apple's website, installed - finally working!

     

    I am into film editing a little, and can't imagine that any of the answers like converting or going back to Lion would be acceptable for real professionals. Anyone arguing for Apple's decisions on the Quick Look feature is obviously not from this business.

  • by Jon Walker,

    Jon Walker Jon Walker Jul 1, 2015 8:36 PM in response to kubo.podmanicky
    Level 6 (18,620 points)
    Jul 1, 2015 8:36 PM in response to kubo.podmanicky

    Guys, after an hour i gave up reading (not native english speaker) these long and pointless statements about why we don't simply convert thousands of our video files, or how we all should downgrade to previous OSX, or just get used to it because Apple never makes mistakes (right, Jon?).

    Not sure what you are really trying to say here. The option to convert or not convert is a personal choice which each user must make dependent on the individual's personal situation and workflow requirements. As to what you may consider a mistake and what Apple considers to be a mistake is likely to be two very different things entirely.

     

    And I am also new at these forums, so I can't tell if the solution/answer has been posted already. Sorry in that case. But I made ProRes .mov files playable in Quick Look somehow. Not just still thumbnails, but playable as before... This weird Apple codec pack did the trick. Pro Video Formats 2.0.1. But I'll go through all the steps if plain installing didn't work.

    I fail to understand why you seem so surprised that installing the Apple Pro Video Codec package (which includes the entire Apple ProRes family of codecs and not just Apple ProRes 422 codec) would make your Apple ProRes encoded files playable in QT 7, QT X, and QL. The codecs included in the download you reference was released in September of 2011 and contains the v3.0.1 Apple ProRes codec component. Frankly, I am surprised you did not install this package sooner if you are using this family of codecs so extensively. BTW: the last version of this codec installed automatically on my Yosemite system is v3.0.6 with AppleAVCIntra updated from your v2.0 to v2.1.4, AppleHDV from v2.0.1 to v2.0.5, AppleIntermediate from v2.0 to v2.0.2, DVCPROHD from v2.0 to v2.0.2, FPC Uncompressed 422 from v2.0 to v2.0.2 and IMX from v2.0 to v2.0.2 also. Not sure if this last update is Yosemite specific but if not, you might want to look for a further update package compatible with your OS.

     

    I am into film editing a little, and can't imagine that any of the answers like converting or going back to Lion would be acceptable for real professionals.

    Neither can I. But then I don't expect professionals to use unsupported codecs or continue to use "legacy" codecs for new content without having a reliable "legacy" workflow to handle their archived data. I also expect professional users to keep their systems updated with respect to the apps and codecs they use on a daily basis.

     

    Anyone arguing for Apple's decisions on the Quick Look feature is obviously not from this business.

    QL is a handy Finder feature but it is not the only way to play or preview content. Currently, anything you can view in QT X, you can view in QL—including "modern" and "legacy" Pro codecs. You seem to be overlooking the point that "legacy" compression format use on the Mac has been continuously degraded since Lion with respect to both QT X and 7 support. And, now that QT X and QT 7 support structures are separate and independent under Mavericks and Yosemite, Apple is free to phase out QT 7 use altogether any time they wish to do so—which I assume is their eventual goal here. Anyone thinking otherwise (i.e., that Apple plans to continue the long-term support of "legacy" compression formats) is deluding themselves and anyone really "in the business" is probably already looking into the potential use of the H.265 codec for the creation and distribution of 4K and 8K content in the "foreseeable" future.

    SJAUG.png

  • by MondoTV,

    MondoTV MondoTV Nov 10, 2015 4:54 PM in response to Jon Walker
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 10, 2015 4:54 PM in response to Jon Walker

    So a bit late to the party but can anyone explain why the new QT X feature does not support playback of Avid DNxHD and DNxHR encoded movie? This is a professional SMPTE approved codec being used by thousands of post houses around the world and the lack of support under QTX is frustrating to say the least.

     

    It's almost like Apple don't want competition for ProRes... which I might add is not a SMPTE approved codec.

  • by wgzn,

    wgzn wgzn Mar 11, 2016 11:53 PM in response to Jon Walker
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 11, 2016 11:53 PM in response to Jon Walker

    some good info here. but i'm another one who massively misses the ability to see QL previews of "legacy formats" in the finder.
    not because i'm reluctant to change. but because there is no other, as fast a way to identify large volumes of individual files. having to open another program defeats the convenience.

     

    QUESTION:

    i have heard of two possible solutions :
    1. download (and install) an older version of quicktime pro
    2. download (and install) the "pro codecs" from apple

     

    does anyone have any experience as to whether either will return the functionality?

  • by Jon Walker,

    Jon Walker Jon Walker Mar 12, 2016 4:59 AM in response to wgzn
    Level 6 (18,620 points)
    Mar 12, 2016 4:59 AM in response to wgzn

    QUESTION:

    i have heard of two possible solutions :

    1. download (and install) an older version of quicktime pro

    2. download (and install) the "pro codecs" from apple

     

    does anyone have any experience as to whether either will return the functionality?

    1. Installing QT 7 (Pro registration not required for playback) would not restore QuickLook functionality. It is merely a means for playing/reviewing files within the QT 7 Player which were originally encoded using codecs for which your system is/can be configured.
    2. On the other hand, installing the Pro Codec package might restore QuickLook functionality IF the file was originally encoded with one of the "Pro" codecs included in the "Pro" package AND that codec is still programmed to be "playback compatible" with the AVFoundation structure embedded in post-Mountain Lion operating systems. Otherwise, it would only make the file conversion compatible with the Convert structure embedded in theses systems.

    SJAUG.png

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