I cannot play GoPro 11 files on my MacBook.

Hi Tom and Luis, it seems 2018 MacBook Pro with core i7 and 32 gb RAM can play H.265 files. Mine is core i5 and 16gb and cannot play H.265 files (unless converted).

I got rid of the GoPro 11 and deleted the files, but I really want the new GoPro 12 but only if I can play the files on MacBook/FCPX, preferably without having to convert. So I got a test H.265 file from here.

*My MacBook QuickTime will not play it. I get error that says "The document “h265.mp4” could not be opened. The file isn’t compatible with QuickTime Player."

*Final cut Pro won't import it saying "No importable files"

*BUT VCL PLAYER CAN PLAY IT.

Info on the file hitting "command I" says "Lavf57.83.100"

& "Codec: MPEG-H Part2/HEVC (H.265) (hev1)

Video Resolution & Buffer Dimensions 4112x3008

Frame rate 2"

My iPhone 13 Pro can't open it either.

Although Mac support H.265 I cannot play it (if it's encoded hev1)with QuickTime player or Final Cut Pro (only VLC will play it), unless I transcode file. I wish I didn't have to transcode but if I did I don't want HUMUNGOUS ProRes files just to keep the quality. I guess I have to transcode to H264 (or HEVC or MOV) but I lose quality (but if can increase bitrate to 80% it's not so bad I read).

*But Apple's Compressor App wouldn't open the sample H.265 file.

*Handbrake doesn't seem to have ProRes options but I could convert to H.264 (but I didn't seem an option how to increase bitrate to 80% to not lose too much quality). And the converted file could play in QuickTime Player and be open and played in FCPX.

*MPEG StreamCip is said to be able to convert to ProRes but it has not been updated to work with the latest Mac OS Venture 13.3.1.

THEN CAME FFMPEG (which intimidated me at first).

*I downloaded it from the ffmpeg site but my mac won't open it stating: “ffmpeg” cannot be opened because it is from an unidentified developer: macOS cannot verify that this app is free from malware."

*I came across this video using Terminal to install ffmpeg and it installed (and it taught how to use it in general)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nbuqYw2OCw

*Then I used this command line from this Reddit (I had to change it to direct to my file on the desktop, as explained in the video above, [ex. ffmpeg -i h265.mp4 -c:v copy -tag:v hvc1 -c:a copy output-hvc1.mp4]) and it worked. It made a video QuickTime can play and FCPX can add and edit.

https://www.reddit.com/r/finalcutpro/comments/11xn6qi/h265_the_

https://youtu.be/MPV7JXTWPWI

I opened this newly tagged file in VLC and it says:

"Codec MPEG-H Part2/HEVC (H.265) (hvc1)

Video Resolution & Buffer Dimensions 4112x3008

Frame rate 2"

BUT IS THERE AN EASIER WAY TO DO ALL THIS?

I mean, if I buy the new GoPro 12 and have 100 files do I have to go through all this everytime?

Is there anyway to just get my files into FCPX (or is there another good enough video editor that will be able to do it) or do I have to by a new MacBook (and what specifications am I looking for)?

I hope this can help someone and I am thankful for all the help I got here too.

I read Tom and Luis's older post replies here that helped a lot too.

I am a bit OCD but a bit clueless what's going on.

P.S. Oh my, Chrome is that bad?! Ok I will contemplate getting rid of it but I've used so many browsers and it's just my type of browser. But maybe that's why my MacBook battery drains after a few hours of browsing. What's closest to Chrome, Safari? THANK YOU!

[Link Edited by Moderator]

The problem with older 2018 MacBook pro and playing the newer GoPro 11 h.265 files is addressed here

https://nofilmschool.com/new-13-macbook-pro-filmmakers

I'm just wondering if I can use the thunderbolt to connect some other hardware to be able to play the files without having to convert or do I need

Or is there a way to convert in handbrake without losing much quality.

I am sorry I am not super tech savvy.

Thank you.

P.S. UPDATE: I just spoke with GoPro and they're aware of the over several month issue and are working on it and not sure if the new GoPro 12 will work on my system and have escalated the issue.

They had me send a Dxdiag of my Laptop and told me they will go ahead and crate a ticket with the Internals team to check this then they will just send me an email for the follow-up to know what we should add or do for the files of GoPro can play.

Hi Tom, it wont play anything, it won’t play in Quicktime Or VLC pr in Final Cut Pro X unless files are converted in Handbrake app. I got rid of the GoPro 11 but I want to get GoPro 12 if I can fix this issue. It was just standard video from Gopro (1080 30 fps). Sorry I’m not tech savvy but really want a new GoPro to work on my MacBook Pro.

Thank you.

Hi Luis, Macbook and VLC can play the converted file but is there a way I can play the file from GoPro 11 without having to convert it? A way to skip the added step and not lose any quality?

I don't have the files now, as I sold the GoPro and deleted the files. But I see a new GoPro is coming out and I had read in some forums that this is a known problem that Macbook Pro 2018 with Graphics Intel Iris Plus Graphics 1536 MB cannot play GoPro 11 footage without converting. Someone said you had to have a MacBook with a special graphics card installed and I was trying to see if I can get an external one and how that works.

I guess I will chance getting a new GoPro and when it won't play, be able to come back here with the file codec.

Thank you so much I will check the link you sent me and try to remedy that!

Thank you kindly!

Yup after digging for hours, I came across a lot of that info. I wonder if I got a brand new powerful MacBook what I still have this issue or if I switched to Windows. Maybe I just need to convert the videos or add that tag in ffmpeg. I hope it won’t be a pain when I have 100 files or something from the GoPro 12. Thank you very much.