MOV files won't play on Windows computers

Question

Level 1

36 points

MOV files won't play on Windows computers

I have a number of MOV files (shot in full 1080 resolution) that won't play on a Windows PC. When I attempt to open them I get a warning stating that Quicktime may need extra files (or plugins?) in order to play the file. When I select the link it takes me to a page with all sorts of other providers such as DivX. With that said, what is the best format to enable smooth playback on a Windows machine?

MacPro (Tower), Mac OS X (10.6.2), Final Cut Studio

Posted on Jan 10, 2010 3:26 PM

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Answer 1

Andy Drefs Author

Level 1

36 points

Jan 10, 2010 5:30 PM in response to Captain Mench

As I said they're MOV files (my JVC records to SDHC cards in the MOV format) and then I export them as Quicktime movies (still MOV files) and they won't play on a Windows machine. So no, they're not raw, these are finished projects that I need to somehow be able to show to clients for them to review.

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Answer 2

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Jan 10, 2010 6:43 PM in response to Andy Drefs

Complain to the people who are the avaricious controllers of the os that runs on the "worlds most common type of computer". They license those codecs.

Or, send the users the link on the Apple website so that they can download and run the windows version of the QT player. It's free.

x

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Answer 3

h4rdy

Level 1

1 points

Jan 11, 2010 4:46 AM in response to Andy Drefs

I am in the same boat. I need to view AVCHD files that were converted to .mov by iMovie on a PC.

I think it is mainly because iMovie isn't really compatible with AVCHD so it converts it to .mov.

But it is not a normal .mov!

Apple loves to help you go from PC to MAC but when you try to go back again, God help you.

I refused to pay the price for a new MacBook so bought a core i7 laptop for less than the cheapest MacBook(white)!

I am starting to believe that Apple suck!

Don't even get me started on the iPhoto and iTunes issues to change back!

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Answer 4

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,777 points

Jan 11, 2010 5:18 AM in response to h4rdy

iMovie converts the media to the Apple Intermediate Codec, which is not available on the PC. You can use Compressor to convert your media to a QuickTime codec that's compatibe with your software on the PC.

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Answer 5

Andy Drefs Author

Level 1

36 points

Jan 11, 2010 5:47 AM in response to Studio X

Thanks for the ongoing suggestions Studio X. Trouble is I do have the Windows version of QT on my laptop. What I am trying to do is get these files to play on my Dell laptop so that I can save them to a thumb drive off the Mac, transfer to the laptop and then review with a client. Ultimately the client(s) will be using these pieces for their websites and/or e-mail distribution (I produce customer testimonials, product demos and the like). With that said, how should I be saving these so that even a lowly Windows user can view them, and with good resolution?

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Answer 6

Andy Drefs Author

Level 1

36 points

Jan 11, 2010 5:49 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Thanks for the input Tom. Could you share which of the many output settings would work best? There are so darn many to choose from and it's not immediately obvious to me which I ought to utilize.

Thanks!

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Answer 7

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Jan 11, 2010 6:49 AM in response to Andy Drefs

If you are headed to the web, what about flash movies? They are about as universal as anything gets these days. Though (again) it is necessary for people to have current technology (flash 9 players).

If Flash might be the answer, simply encode as H.264 files and change then suffix from mov or mp4 to FLV.

x

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Answer 8

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Jan 11, 2010 8:50 AM in response to Andy Drefs

Yes, you will lose resolution. The only way you won't, is to export something using the exact same settings as the original material. And that won't work on the web.

H.264 does a good job but, like all things involving compression, is a bit of a dark art. If the material is headed to the web, you are dealing with three things - image size, data rate and image quality - with data rate the most restrictive. Only you can find the balance between the three that works for your clients.

x

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Answer 9

Jan 10, 2010 3:30 PM in response to Andy Drefs

Are they raw out of the camera? Probably mpeg-2 -- you need an additional qt component:

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/mpeg2/

CaptM

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Answer 10

Studio X

Level 7

27,229 points

Jan 10, 2010 5:35 PM in response to Andy Drefs

Get a copy of flip4mac studio and convert the files to wmv.

x

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Answer 11

Andy Drefs Author

Level 1

36 points

Jan 10, 2010 6:33 PM in response to Studio X

A $3,000+ Mac Pro, plus $1,000 FCP software and I still need more in order to get a file to play on the worlds most common type of computer...perfect.

Thanks for the help though...

Andy

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Answer 12

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Jan 11, 2010 5:53 AM in response to Andy Drefs

Get a copy of [Flip4Mac|http://www.telestream.net/flip4mac-wmv/overview.htm] and convert the files to .wmv. You need a paid version -the free one is playback only.

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Answer 13

h4rdy

Level 1

1 points

Jan 11, 2010 6:01 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Is compressor a program?

I know I sound dumb?

Where can I get it if it is?

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Answer 14

Nick Holmes

Level 7

30,018 points

Jan 11, 2010 6:17 AM in response to h4rdy

It is included as part of *Final Cut Studio* or *Production Suite* if you are using a really old version.

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Answer 15

Tom Wolsky

Level 10

152,777 points

Jan 11, 2010 6:45 AM in response to Andy Drefs

I have no idea what you're going to do with thus video. H.264 will play on a PC. ProRes will play on a PC. You can get DiVX codecs that will work and with Flip4Mac you can convert to WMV.

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