HDV

Question

Level 1

8 points

HDV

I just bought a CANON HV20 Camcorder for its HDV features. While I can download the tapes in my G5 with iMovie in HDV format, playing the corresponding files seems to be a problem : the image stalls after a few moments while the sound continues... I assume the problem is QT but I am not sure as I tried to open the file with RealPlayer and had the same problem...

Being an absolute novice in this area, I checked the QT hardware specifications for 1920x1080 (1080p) playback and I believe to meet these with my G5...
I then tried to find and understand some discussions on this forum... they often mention CODECs that are missing... Is this also true in my case?

Power Mac G5, Mac OS X (10.4.10), 2*2 GHz, 1 GB

Posted on Nov 10, 2007 2:53 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 10, 2007 5:01 AM in response to evde

Viewing 1080 HD QuickTime formats requires a minimum of a dual processor G5 at 2 GHz:
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/player/specs.html
You may be able to view the file by reducing the dimensions display size.

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Answer 2

evde Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 10, 2007 5:10 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

Thanks for reacting...
As I have a G5 dual processor I meet the hardware specifications for QT to be able to view normally HDV (1080).
I tried to view the clips at half size with the same result... the movie stalls after a few moments...

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Answer 3

Nov 10, 2007 5:22 AM in response to evde

With the file open in QuickTime Player use the Movie Inspector window to note the video codec used in the file.
HD Video should be converted by iMovie to use the Apple Intermediate Codec. If yours is not AIC then it could be H.264. What is the data rate of the file?

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Answer 4

evde Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 10, 2007 5:44 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

The Movie Inspector indicates that the Format is Apple Intermediate Codec, 1440 x 1080 (1888 x 1062), the Data Rate is 99.41 mbits/s...

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Answer 5

Nov 10, 2007 6:13 AM in response to evde

Very high data rate and that is why your G5 is having trouble.
QuickTime is designed to drop frames during playback and your dual CPU's are just having too much trouble keeping up.
If you can export to .mov or .mp4 you can use the H.264 Video codec and cut that data rate in half (or even lower) and the file should play at 30fps with minimal frame dropping.

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Answer 6

evde Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 10, 2007 6:48 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

Thanks once more for your reaction...
I understand I have to give up the present HDV format files and convert them into some other coding...

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