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Level 1

130 points

"unsupported video format" - Aperture 3

After importing my iPhoto library into Aperture 3, many of my older mpeg video clips appear with an "unsupported video format" image. These same video clips play just fine within iPhoto. To make things worse, Aperture doesn't seem to offer any way to play the files with an external application, nor does it allow me to export or drag & drop the files to my desktop.

I'm hoping and assuming that this is some small glitch that will be corrected soon, but if by some chance it's not, I need to know now before I

1) decide whether to purchase Aperture 3 and
2) delete my old iPhoto library

What are the chances of getting an official answer from Apple before **** freezes over? I don't mean to sound bitter, but after waiting for 2 whole years for an Aperture update I'm more than a bit leery of Apple's level of support for the product.

iMac 27" i5, MacBook Pro 15" Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Feb 11, 2010 5:29 PM

43 replies

May 1, 2010 12:14 AM in response to Iamtroels

Hi, that's just too strange! I noticed that iPhoto has no problem with the same videos...so there must be something im ny Aperture configuration that's hosed...wonder what? But thx for the info...

As a workaround I am playing with creating an iphoto lib with just the videos, and importing that into Aperture. While I can create a referenced lib in iPhoto, have not figured out how to import that file into Aperture without being managed...arg.

May 1, 2010 1:01 AM in response to coocooforcocoapuffs

In reference to above, well it seems I have 1 machine that can import movs from the Canon Rebel, and one that can't. Both are at the same level of software, but the one that works is an old macbookpro, and the one that is busted is a new imac. go figure...must be a permissions or file system error of some type; that's all I can think of.

May 3, 2010 9:25 AM in response to Walter A.

the lack of common video format support in aperture 3 is very disappointing. if apple wants to enforce the migration to newer codes please provide an appropriate workflow that would convert the video in aperture 3 directly and by conserving the original metadata.

May 3, 2010 10:03 AM in response to iLikemyname

I fixed my problem of aperture not supporting even the SUPPORTED codecs, I just created an new iPhoto library of all the vids, then imported that into Aperture 3. Boom, problem solved. Now even the new videos work right. Perhaps that might help u?

May 3, 2010 2:19 PM in response to coocooforcocoapuffs

hi coocooforcocoapuffs,

the videos I can not playback in aperture have been imported from iPhoto (where they played without any problem as mentioned by others in this thread before).

The video container / codec limitation of aperture also affects new formats. I just tried to import videos from my brand new SONY DSC-HX5 camera (AVCHD videos) and aperture did not even acknowledge the existence of those videos. this is becoming very frustrating, I can not understand why a software otherwise so rich in features does not support established formats and thereby excludes a significant part of the photo enthusiasts.

May 22, 2010 6:55 AM in response to Walter A.

+1

iPhoto library containing 16k photos and videos tranferred across seamlessly... except MPEG1 MUXED clips...

If Aperture is 'iPhoto Pro', how can iPhoto support a file format that Aperture does not?

How can Aperture (£169) replace iPhoto (free with every mac) if it cannot handle every format that iPhoto does!!?? Very un-apple!!!!

wessew

Level 1

50 points

May 22, 2010 8:25 AM in response to davidabrahamovitch

I am in full agreement. With respect to Aperture videos, iMovie needs to be able to see all HD video formats in Aperture and allow transfer of same. The fact that 24fps is not compatible in iMovie is a serious issue since that is the standard frame rate for commercial movies and blu-ray. Consumers are likely to select that as the preferred format for HD taping as a consequence. With respect to iPhoto videos, Aperture should support all formats iPhoto supports. Since these products are supposed to work together via the media browser all of the file formats for stills and movies should be compatible.

May 22, 2010 8:46 AM in response to wessew

Hi wessew;

Your comments don't belong here.

This is a user to user forum. What you are suggesting here is basic design philosophy changes which can only do don't by Apple. Seeing as how Apple isn't here, you really should send this to Apple at http://www.apple.com/feedback/aperture.html

Allan

wessew

Level 1

50 points

May 22, 2010 9:00 AM in response to Allan Eckert

Allan, I do not fully agree. If you examine this thread you will find a consistent set of issues with video file format incompatibiities. Users are discovering this piecemeal and looking for solutions. General observations pertaining to these issues are appropriate here and should also be sent to Apple which I will do. But if the problem is partly in design philosphy we need to be aware of that as users!

May 23, 2010 6:12 AM in response to Allan Eckert

Allan Eckert wrote:
Hi wessew;

Your comments don't belong here.

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I also disagree. The hooks are there in Aperture and iMovie to organize and edit content, with directions given in the manual and in the tutorials, but with so many caveats that the iLife integration is something of a technical misdirection. That Aperture is marketed as an iPhoto substitute, but cannot handle the same formats as iPhoto, is a technical choice. Speculating what Aperture should be given the advertising and what it actually does is fair game because this thread is about legitimate workarounds (or warnings) trying to achieve solutions were the literature from Apple is silent.

Jun 6, 2010 7:31 AM in response to Aristophanes

I found a curious way to solve this. I selected an unsupported video, exported a master of it to my Desktop, then re-imported and hey presto it works with sound. I then delete the unsupported video.
The only difference is a slight change in picture size according to the metadata but it plays and sounds fine. My movies were taken on a Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ28 that iPhoto had no problem playing.
I'm not serious video person, preferring photos. But at least I can keep all images and videos in one place.
Now i'm just waiting for A3 to become consistently fast and reliable and then I will have a vg iPhoto replacement.
K

Jun 30, 2010 10:28 AM in response to Walter A.

Just started converting all of my iPhoto libraries over to Aperture and noticed the same thing. Tons of videos taken years ago with my camera/s, ones that played fine in iPhoto, are now "unsupported".......unbelievable that an expensive product like this would have such a BUG...yes, BUG.

Aug 31, 2010 10:04 AM in response to Jack Stenner

It would be nice if Apple give us support by creating a conversion tool to rip our muxed videos to a supported format and maintain metadata information untouched... just a thought.

"unsupported video format" - Aperture 3