Codec: FPS1

Question

Codec: FPS1

I have tried QT Player, VLC, and Windows Media Player to try to view a movie file that a customer sent to us.

VLC reports unknown codec: FPS1

Anyone know anything about this?

Thanks

G4 dual 1.25GHz, Mac OS X (10.4.3), ( London, UK )

Posted on Nov 23, 2005 4:02 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 23, 2005 4:49 AM in response to William Donelson

We also are having trouble with WMV3.

Isn't there some easy way to get a set of plug-ins for all the "fairy" codecs that Windows uses?

I thought QT was supposed to play everything these days...

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Answer 2

Nov 23, 2005 5:58 AM in response to William Donelson

The first is a Windows only codec:
http://www.fraps.com/
The second can only be viewed by Windows Media Player (Mac).
QuickTime has never supported Windows Media formats. There is third party software that allows you to view some Windows Media formats inside the QuickTime Player.
http://flip4mac.com
There is no one player (Windows or Mac) that can play every file format.

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Answer 3

Nov 23, 2005 6:03 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

I went to a QT developer presentation about 4-5 years ago (ancient) where the Apple guys said that QT could now open ALL Windows media formats. Whatever happened to that attitude?

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Answer 4

Nov 23, 2005 6:10 AM in response to William Donelson

The person misspoke. Or, they lied.
QuickTime doesn't "do" Windows Media formats. Never did.
Microsoft creates their own rules. Even the most modern (MPEG-4) files created on a Windows machine may not play on a Mac.
Microsoft has created "proprietary" codecs. They can only be decoded using their software.
Because they have such a large installed base I guess they thought they could get away with it. Apple (and QuickTime) follow standards.

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Answer 5

Nov 23, 2005 6:13 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

The person misspoke. Or, they lied.
QuickTime doesn't "do" Windows Media formats. Never
did.

Well, I saw demos of lots of Windows stuff running on Macs at this conference. Perhaps MicroShaft has WMV3 as a licensed codec which they use to maintain their monopoly. A seHles

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Answer 6

Nov 23, 2005 6:19 AM in response to William Donelson

Maybe what you saw was a Mac running Windows (Virtual PC)?
Guess who now owns and sells Virtual PC? Yep. The dark side.

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Answer 7

Nov 23, 2005 10:27 AM in response to QuickTimeKirk

I'm having problmes trying to read an .avi video, sent from a new 3G Motorola phone (via email)
The file opens in Quick Time 7 and there is sound but no image.
A message informs me that a codec is missing, but doesn't say which one.
The .avi file is classed as a MP42.

The video also opens in Real Player (but still no image) but doesn't open at all in WMP for Mac (v.9).

I've sent the video to friends with PC's operating Windows, and guess what? The video opens perfectly in WMP and Real Player.

Any suggestions?
Would buying Quick Time 7 Pro solve the problem?
How can I know which codec to get and how to get it?

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Answer 8

Nov 23, 2005 10:38 AM in response to Kester Lovelace

The "MP42" codec is Microsoft's idea of what MPEG-4 specs should be. They (MS) want to create their own "standards".
Try this link for a solution:
http://homepage.mac.com/hmason/mac-ms-mpeg4v2/
You can view what codecs are used in a file by opening it with QuickTime and then opening the "Movie Info" window. A Google search can help you find a Mac version.

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Answer 9

Nov 23, 2005 2:07 PM in response to QuickTimeKirk

many thanks for the advice...DivX Doctor II did the trick, although reading all the related topics and the tutorials, I didn't realise what a complex subject it is.
No wonder that neither Motorola (who make the phone) or Vodafone (the operator) had any idea how to help me!
As ever, the Mac discussion groups come up with the goods.

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