iWeb converts mp3 files to mov

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iWeb converts mp3 files to mov

I am using iWeb 08 and just recently, when I export to a folder, the application converts my mp3 podcast files into .mov files. Anybody else had this problem? Know how to fix it?

I am using mp3 format so that PC users can easily import to WMP.

Thanks,

Dave

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Apr 5, 2008 7:24 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 5, 2008 8:41 PM in response to dpdiaz

I'm all of a sudden having the same problem...going from Garage Band to iWeb, publishing to .Mac. When iTunes downloads the podcast, it's doing so as a QT file. Even got a QT file when I exported to desktop.

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Answer 2

dpdiaz Author

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Apr 5, 2008 9:04 PM in response to briancpearl

Yes, and even though I don't use .Mac, iWeb still exports the mp3 file as a .mov file when I export to a folder.

I just recently updated to the newest version of iTunes and, since I change the AAC file from Garage Band into an MP3 file, perhaps its the way that iTunes is encoding the MP3(?)

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Answer 3

Apr 6, 2008 5:30 AM in response to dpdiaz

iWeb does not change your file from .mp3 to .mov
iWeb uses QuickTime and writes page code to call the QuickTime browser plug-in so your .mp3 file plays via QuickTime.

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Answer 4

Apr 6, 2008 10:46 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

That seems to make sense...any ideas why it would all of a sudden start doing that?

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Answer 5

dpdiaz Author

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Apr 6, 2008 11:20 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

Oh how I WISH that was the solution. You are right, indeed plays back .mp3, .mov, or .m4a files using QuickTime on the web page. However, one look in my Media folder after a Publish to Folder reveals that those .mp3 files are now .mov files. Worse, they download in that same format through iTunes and other podcatchers.

While I can live with a user having to employ QuickTime for listening to the podcast on the web site, it makes no sense to convert those files so they download in a different format. This is a bad glitch in the software, me thinks.

Anybody else have any experience with this?

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Answer 6

Apr 6, 2008 11:45 AM in response to dpdiaz

I did figure out that if you use AAC instead of MP3 when 'sharing' the Podcast, it solves this problem. Although, then you only have AAC files...

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Answer 7

dpdiaz Author

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Apr 6, 2008 11:49 AM in response to briancpearl

Yes, that's true, using AAC solves the problem somewhat. However, you have to be using iTunes for the PC users to listen without a glitch. If they are using a podcatcher like Juice, or whatever, and try to import the files into Windows Media Player, they won't work. Neither will the .MOV files work.

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Answer 8

canaries

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Apr 6, 2008 2:16 PM in response to QuickTimeKirk

This is not a helpful change in the software for me. Presumably this changed in the last software update. None of my media files now play on my website so I had to re-upload all my media files with the new extension - only about half a gig - but I was doing a quick update of the site which is now going to be a slower update.

Quicktimekirk - iWeb certainly does appear to have changed the file from mp3 to mov - all the files in the media folder are mov - or are you suggesting this just a "cosmetic" extension? The files also come through in feedburner as movie files and I cant find a way to change this.

Is there an option not to have this new feature or suggestions how people without iPods can download the files as .mp3?

Message was edited by: canaries

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Answer 9

Apr 6, 2008 2:26 PM in response to dpdiaz

iWeb does not change the file format from .mp3 to .mov at any time. It uploads your .mp3 file without any alteration.
The page code uses QuickTime browser plug-in to play the .mp3 file (qtsrc="blah.mp3") and a right click (requires QuickTime Pro upgrade) could download this file as "source" (.mp3) or QuickTime movie (.mov).
The file is not altered and it will still play on an iPod or iPhone with the .mov extension.

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Answer 10

canaries

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Apr 6, 2008 2:41 PM in response to QuickTimeKirk

QTK - I get what you're trying to say but all the files in the Media folder are now .mov (having originally been transferred in as .mp3) and all the files in all the RSS readers that I've had chance to check are all .mov files.

So what I guess you're saying is that the base file is still a .mp3 file but can only be played by if quicktime is installed because it has a .mov extension.

Question remains: how do people without quicktime get to listen or want to download as an mp3 file to play on older style players?

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Answer 11

dpdiaz Author

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Apr 6, 2008 2:48 PM in response to canaries

EXACTLY! If it is simply a change in the extension from .mp3 to .mov, any media player will still treat that file as a .mov file. Thus, anyone who is using a media player that doesn't handle .mov files will not be able to import and play that file in their player. (Though I still doubt it is completely unaltered intrinsically, as QTK suggests)

Thus, for those of us who have listeners to our podcasts in the PC world who use Windows Media Player via Juice, etc., will still have problems. In my estimation this is a forced feature by Apple and I won't be able to continue using iWeb if it doesn't allow the flexibility to use mp3. Using AAC does not solve the problem, as Windows MEdia Player does not support that file type either.

I won't argue that m4a is a better file format and yet I stand to lose listeners for my podcast if they all have to install and use QuickTime or iTunes.

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Answer 12

Apr 6, 2008 2:51 PM in response to canaries

iWeb writes page code that only uses the QuickTime browser plug-in. Your files are not changed at upload. If you upload an .mp3 file that's what will be used in the page.
These pages will require QuickTime Player be installed on the viewing machine.
Don't know why any RSS feed would read the plug-in instead of the file extension or append .mov to the file.

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Answer 13

canaries

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Apr 6, 2008 3:00 PM in response to QuickTimeKirk

QTK - yes, a couple of weeks ago that was the case - .mp3 files were uploaded in exactly the way you suggest and the files not changed on upload.

However, since the last iWeb update, all .mp3 files in the podcast placeholder are stored as a .mov file. This is a new feature. And not a great one imho. As dpdiaz says WM users cannot now read podcasts created in iWeb - I would prefer not to see this as a cynical move by Apple to get everyone using QT/iTunes, but simply as a bit of an oversight somewhere.

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Answer 14

Apr 6, 2008 3:03 PM in response to canaries

I did a "test" page before posting here. An .mp3 file was used and an .mp3 file is what was published.

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Answer 15

dpdiaz Author

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Apr 6, 2008 3:07 PM in response to QuickTimeKirk

You are right, the files are not changed during upload,the problem is when you choose Publish to Folder in iWeb. When it saves your files to a folder on your hard drive (BEFORE you upload), that is where it makes the conversion. So now the files are in .mov format and they get uploaded in that very same format.

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