MAC/PC compatible video file?

Question

MAC/PC compatible video file?

Longtime MAC user and FCS 2 user. With all the video work we do, what is a good MAC/PC video file format? I used to create MPEG 1 files a lot, but thats not used so much these days. Is there a new file type that will work on a PC with Windows Media Player? As I've come to realize, not to many people have quicktime on there PC, especially clients. And asking them to install it is like pulling teeth.

I also have the pro version of Flip-For-Mac to create WMV files. But thats sometimes a pain to create both a H.264 file for MACs and a WMV for PCs. Whats a good, high compression format that will work on MACs and PCs? MP4? AVI? I've tried some, but get errors on PCs with WMV player says you need to install the proper codec to play video back. Any thoughts?

Mac Pro 2 x 3GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon, Mac OS X (10.5.5), 9 Gb RAM

Posted on Sep 11, 2009 12:43 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Sep 11, 2009 1:22 PM in response to Matt Campbell1

You're wrong about the install base of QuickTime for Windows. The iPhone and iPods have added hundreds of millions. iTunes requires it.
WMP will not open QuickTime formats. Real Player can as well as many other third party software apps (VLC).
If your PC visitors must use WMP then you must make a different file for it (WMV).

Reply

Answer 2

Sep 14, 2009 5:53 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

Sorry but I think you're missing my point. Our clients with older machines don't have quicktime nor do they use it. I'm looking for a format other than WMV file that I can create to eliminate having to create 2 files for MACs and PCs. MPEG 1 used to work with both WMP and Quicktime on MACs. Is there another good codec that would work well.

I'm trying to avoid 3rd party apps and trying to find a codec that the average user can open on both platforms. Thanks for your help.

Reply

Answer 3

Sep 14, 2009 6:11 AM in response to Matt Campbell1

"Older machines"? No QuickTime? PC's and Mac's?
Then MPEG-1 files (circa 1991) could still be your best option.
WMP and Microsoft keep fighting the "rules" found in MPEG-4. Add to that the confusion found in html page code (calls a browser plug-in) and you see the bigger picture.
Flash Player may be a better option as most codecs are supported by both OS's.
I find most Flash videos poorly encoded (YouTube style) but the video quality wouldn't be any worse than the MPEG-1 export and the total file size makes them "Web" friendly.

Reply

Answer 4

Limnos

Level 10

411,007 points

Sep 14, 2009 6:49 AM in response to Matt Campbell1

Another item to take into consideration if you are trying to include as many computers as possible is H264 requires a relatively powerful computer. I know even on my dual 800 MHz G4 some YouTube videos in HD H264 are stuttering.

You could try a MP4 format. If you can find one that will work on a PC then stick with that configuration. I have successfully played XVID MP4 with AAC audio in MP4 wrapper on PCs, but those were made on a PC in the first place (and worked fine on a Mac too).

Reply