MPEG-2 Video, .m2v, Transport-Streams

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Level 1

5 points

MPEG-2 Video, .m2v, Transport-Streams

I have searched through all of the Forum but still no solution.

Like many people here I have QT PRO (on Leopard) and the MPEG-2 Playback Codec (Version 6.4.1) installed. When I record from TV via Cable or DVB-T I always get a MPEG-2 Transport Stream. I know how to handle these and I know how to convert them. My question is regarding the Finder Preview Issue.

When you have selected in Finder to show the Preview of a file it will go for a long cup of coffee when it comes to selecting a .m2v or MPEG Transport Stream file, i.e. the Finder crashes. This is a phenomina since QT 7. Apple promised a better handling of .m2v for the 10.3.9 Update but I cannot see any changes.

I don't need to preview those files if it is not supported. This would be nice to have but I don't really need to. Is there anyone out there who can tell me how to

1) prevent Finder Preview from crashing or
2) get this to work

I tried some hints from here like re-associating .m2v with the Quicktime Player but it didn't resolve my Issue. Is there maybe someone from Apple reading this and being able to help out?

Many thanks in advance.

iMac G5, Mac OS X (10.5)

Posted on Oct 30, 2007 4:57 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 31, 2007 5:23 AM in response to mwill

Some Finder issues are best fixed by avoiding them in the first place. For QuickTime files I avoid using the Finder Get Info window on them. I also have folders with lots of QuickTime content to show in "icon" or "list" view to avoid the Finder preview.
Not a fix but it keeps me from banging my head while the QuickTime content tries to load.

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Answer 2

mwill Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 31, 2007 4:56 PM in response to QuickTimeKirk

Sure, good idea. The best idea is to prevent having such files ;-))

Honestly, I mostly try not to create them but when recording from DVB-T you always have data breaks in the streams. To repair them, the Data stream has to be demuxed, i.e. you must separate the Video (m2v) and Audio (AIFF, M1a or whatever) into two files. Then you multiplex them, i.e. you put them together again and get a MPEG-2 Stream without breaks.

The big trouble is even when you create them and prevent opening them from Finder, Finder wants to demonstrate it's Preview-Power by showing it in the File Dialog. The result is two hanging apps, Finder and your Multiplexer.

Wouldn't it be better, if Apple promised to support those files better to disable the Finder Preview on those files? If someone has an idea how to do it, that would really solve my Issues.

By the way, it worked till QT7. With QT6 I was even able to play those files. Not very good and don't try to do a fast forward, but it was slightly working.

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Answer 3

Nov 1, 2007 2:27 AM in response to mwill

Have your tried to use MPEG Streamclip to fix the data breaks? No need for de/re-multiplexing there, just export the fixed file as MPEG.

m2v files must be parsed before opening them and MPEG Streamclip should do that more robust than QT Player.

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Answer 4

mwill Author

Level 1

5 points

Nov 1, 2007 8:54 AM in response to Matti Haveri

Sure, I am using MPEG Streamclip. But the data breaks are not repaired without demuxing them. I tried it and it didn't work. Believe me. I tried to export, I tried to convert...the movies stopped or stumbled.

First when I demux them the data breaks are really repaired. Don't really know why.

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Answer 5

gilbert

Level 1

4 points

Nov 26, 2007 11:15 AM in response to mwill

Very good question!
Today, on 10.4.7, I still have the same problem.
Disabling a not-working-preview would not be to much to ask, would it? Please, Apple!!!!
Does anyone have another solution???
I mean I try to avoid to select these files, but when mastering a DVD you have to use then, and sometimes e.g. change the name - I can't drink a coffee each time!

=>> how to disable these preview????

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Answer 6

Dec 4, 2007 8:38 PM in response to mwill

I was searching for a solution too...glad to see someone else is just as aggravated.

Just a quick tip in case you didn't know. You can avoid the caffeine overload by pressing Cmd OptionEsc, select Finder and "Relaunch".

I do this when ever I accidentally click on an .m2v or .ac3 file in the column view.

sking

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Answer 7

Dec 22, 2007 6:55 PM in response to mwill

Wow, no solution ?!?! unbelievable. It seems to be like that for so many Apple's applications. I'm mesmerized by some of the answers here... are you telling us to not use our computer to avoid any problems. I guess that sounds like you haven't figured it out. If you answered on this thread only to get some points, then get out of here. It would be nice to be constructive here, and finally give the users some real answers. We all try as hard as we can to avoid clicking on the m2v files, but if we have m2v files, it's because we need to use them... The finder is a rather simplistic tool, with not much to offer (except coverflow... ?!?!), and we don't mind the simplicity but then please make it work even for an m2v file.

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Answer 8

Jon Walker

Level 6

19,489 points

Dec 23, 2007 12:20 PM in response to mwill

Like many people here I have QT PRO (on Leopard) and the MPEG-2 Playback Codec (Version 6.4.1) installed. When I record from TV via Cable or DVB-T I always get a MPEG-2 Transport Stream.

I may be wrong, but I don't believe "true" transport streams have ever been supported by the QT MPEG-2 Playback component and, by extension, would not be supported by either the Finder Preview or QuickLooK.

When you have selected in Finder to show the Preview of a file it will go for a long cup of coffee when it comes to selecting a .m2v or MPEG Transport Stream file, i.e. the Finder crashes.

M2V/AIFF elementary stream files, "muxed" MPEG (MPEG2/MP2 or MPEG2/MP1), and MOV (MPEG2/any compatible audio) all play fine for me in both the Finder Preview and QuickLook. The only problem are VOBs whose video content play fine in the QT Player but have to have their extension changed to MPEG to play in either the Finder Preview or QuickLook. Frankly, I am unable to duplicate your problem except for "true" MPEG-2 Transport Streams, which, as I previously said I don't believe have ever been QT compatible.

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Answer 9

Dec 24, 2007 3:21 PM in response to mwill

First when I demux them the data breaks are really repaired

Oh, I see. Anyway, I just tried this with a 3.4 GB .mv2 file: MPEG Streamclip didn't show the preview in its File/Open dialog and it could successfully remux it with a .ac3 file. Also QT Player seemed to time-out (quicklookd) any longer preview build in 10.5.1.

On the other hand, Mac OS X 10.5.1's Finder spent about 2 minutes to show the preview in the column mode or Get Info preview on my old PB. During that time the Finder showed the spinning pizza so I couldn't do anything else in the Finder during that time.

So it seems that I can do what I want in MPEG Streamclip (or QT Player) with the .m2v file. I can also set the Finder to some non-preview mode before handling a folder with .m2v, so there is no preview-induced delay there.

But you are right: it would be nice to be able to cancel the lengthy parsing of the .m2v file previews, when they are not needed.

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Answer 10

DonH49

Level 6

16,716 points

Dec 31, 2007 8:41 AM in response to mwill

Here's how I do .m2t streamed files off set top box. .m2v I never tried but should be very similar.
Record the movies through DVR set top box.
Connect Mac thru firewire and use AVCVideoCap to record to Mac while DVR does playback. Now you have .m2t file on Mac. Use VLC to transcode to mpeg4(video + audio). Once converted Use MPEGStremclip to do whatever you want.

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Answer 11

Dec 31, 2007 9:29 AM in response to mwill

Hi mwill

What I have done is selected the arrow so that Preview doesn't try to display it. When I need to see it I click the arrow. Where are these movies stored? Does the Finder info display the dimensions and durations or are there just a couple of hyphens?

Sweet Polly

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Answer 12

winksdr1

Level 1

10 points

Mar 1, 2008 9:19 AM in response to mwill

I have finalCutPro Studio 2. I am using a Princeton Server which is windows based for Programing on my station. I cannot seem to import using compressor and mpeg-2 file that will work. I have tried just about everything. It loads but at playback time it says its muxed. help

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