Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Screen recording won't export

Recently I got osx lion, and with it came quicktime 10.1 Today, I decided to try out the screen recording. I recorded it, cut some stuff out, and I had a pretty good recording. But when I try to export it, it refuses to work, saying the the operation is not supported for this kind of media. But when I check, I have the unedited version already there. Does anyone know what the problem is or how to fix it? Thanks!

Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Jul 25, 2011 5:51 PM

Reply
25 replies

Jul 25, 2011 6:32 PM in response to sn1pe513

I recorded it, cut some stuff out, and I had a pretty good recording. But when I try to export it, it refuses to work, saying the the operation is not supported for this kind of media.

Cannot duplicate your problem. Can you provide specifics regarding recording mode, capture size (full or partial screen), and attempted export settings? Were you making multiple trims/merges? Using QT X or a third-party application? (I.e., please provide more details regarding your work flow.)



But when I check, I have the unedited version already there.

What point are you trying to make here? That you are trying to save the trimmed file to the same location using the same file name/extension???


User uploaded file

Aug 21, 2011 8:15 AM in response to Jon Walker

I am having the same problem. I recorded my screen using Quicktime (at 1280x1024 resolution) and then edited the video by removing a portion from the middle of the recording (split, then split the second clip, then remove the middle clip). I then tried to export the result (for "Mac & PC") and got this error: "Operation Stopped The operatino is not supported for this media."


Further testing showed that I am able to trim this video and export it, and I can make a single split and export it, but if I split one of those two clips so that I have three clips, the movie cannot be exported, even if I don't actually do anything with those clips (like delete one or trim it).


This looks like a bug to me, and effectively makes it impossible to edit a screen recording with Quicktime, since one of the most common needs is to remove extraneous material from the middle.


The alternative of course is to use iMovie or Final Cut Pro, but they both force you to create re-rendered copies in an intermediate codec before editing which takes a lot of time and tons of disk space for what could be a very quick and simple process if Quicktime worked.

Aug 23, 2011 8:57 AM in response to mm1co

Same problem here. Tried to make a screen recording for class. Put together a few clips to minimize the size of the recording, and it won't export. In fact, I think I've lost a few hours' worth of work, because it's not clear that I can save it at all. Specifically:


1) Made a 10-minute recording

2) Split the clip into two

3) Trimmed one of the clips

4) Added one more clip to the end

5) Total of 13 minutes when all was done.


I have a 2.4 GHz processor with 2 GB memory. I'm running 10.7. I suspect that the recording is simply too large, and that's why my machine won't export it, but I really don't know. If this is something that can be fixed, it would be a very nice tool for me to use.

Nov 14, 2011 11:41 PM in response to coppit

Right,


Same problem here... I did a screen recording for an instruction video, cut some parts out and then tried to export. "Operation not supported by this media." Won´t close and save either...


So, what is this? Should we install Quicktime 7 next to the current version or is it another one of those tricks to make us buy something?


Because if it is, Apple can bet their life that I will buy a non-Apple product to do my screen recording.


By the way, it is kind of weird that there is no answer to this thread after september 3. Makes me just a wee bit suspicious...

Nov 15, 2011 4:04 AM in response to Senhor-Ron

So, what is this? Should we install Quicktime 7 next to the current version or is it another one of those tricks to make us buy something?

Most serious users keep QT 7 Pro installed since it stills seems more stable and reliable than QT X which continues to evolve. (Albeit somewhat more slowly than we would like.) In any case, if you don't already have a QT 7 Pro key, installing the free MPEG Streamclip application will alleviate the need to "buy something" else since MPEG Streamclip has the same linear editing capabilities as QT 7 Pro without the masking and layering features.



Because if it is, Apple can bet their life that I will buy a non-Apple product to do my screen recording.

Alternative screen capture apps may still be preferable to Apple's built-in routines. Some allow you to capture system audio along with mic/line-in aludio, allow choice of file AV compression format, capture partial screens under older OS X software, and/or edit captures with highlighted cursor, zoom-ins, etc.



By the way, it is kind of weird that there is no answer to this thread after september 3. Makes me just a wee bit suspicious...

Problem seems to affect some users but not others. Problem could be a work flow, a configuration, or a system-based issue. Am personally more concerned with security/application software upgrades that reportedly render some compression formats unviewable or trap on movie file "atoms" than make previously watchable files non-playable.


User uploaded file

Mar 11, 2012 4:18 PM in response to sn1pe513

10.7.3, and I just spent an hour editing (heavy trimming) a video recording. Does me no good to record a training session if I have to be perfect and not edit it down, and trimming is a must.


Yep -- Refuses to export. Worse, I cannot even save what I've done.


Repeat: ** THERE IS NO SAVE OTHER THAN EXPORT **. And export won't work.


There is no "Save my current work in the exact same format without any conversion, just clip out the parts I clipped out".


Gaah. What's a better, free editor? Please do not say "iMovie" -- my 10.6 macbookpro upgraded to 10.7 has lost iMovie, it cannot be downloaded from the app store (big surprise -- never mind that everything I read/found before time said that after a fresh install of lion, bundled apps could be re-downloaded), and I don't have OS disks (computer came used, with a lion upgrade installed).


What I want in an editor:

1. The ability to record both sound channels from the computer, as stero. Quicktime player records the computer sound as a single mono channel.

2. The ability to record the microphone while making the original recording.

3. The ability to add a voice/microphone track while editing, and/or replace the original microphone

4. The ability to remove / blank-out part of the original microphone track during editing.


*5*: The ability to trim and save it afterwards. Ideally with support for uploading to a video site, **even if the file is longer than 15 minutes**.


None of this seems hard or difficult. I'm not asking for special effects or anything fancy. Just simple basics: record a screencast, record audio commentary, edit the commentary, trim the junk, and save.


EDIT: Ideally it will record a *WINDOW*, not the whole screen (Java app with nothing happening outside of the window, nothing on the menu bar.)


Message was edited by: keybounce

Mar 11, 2012 4:29 PM in response to keybounce

What's a better, free editor?

Free editor? MPEG Streamclip.



What I want in an editor:

1. The ability to record both sound channels from the computer, as stero. Quicktime player records the computer sound as a single mono channel.

2. The ability to record the microphone while making the original recording.

3. The ability to add a voice/microphone track while editing, and/or replace the original microphone

4. The ability to remove / blank-out part of the original microphone track during editing.


*5*: The ability to trim and save it afterwards. Ideally with support for uploading to a video site, **even if the file is longer than 15 minutes**.


None of this seems hard or difficult. I'm not asking for special effects or anything fancy. Just simple basics: record a screencast, record audio commentary, edit the commentary, trim the junk, and save.

If you want all that (combination screen capture and editor), you can try ScreenFlow—but it's not free!


User uploaded file

Sep 17, 2012 12:15 PM in response to 7oby

In my case, the issue is not affected by the number of clips. I had edited out chunks of a video to end up with three clips. Upon reading your note that you couldn't have 2 or more, I deleted one and still could not save the file.


Out of curiosity, I then deleted the 2nd clip (ending up with one clip), and the video cannot be saved.


This seems like a major bug, I've just started investigating it. It's very un-Apple-like to have a product that produces a file that cannot be saved in any form.

Mar 27, 2013 3:51 AM in response to sn1pe513

You can play your edited material and record it again using quicktime so you have it in an unclipped savable format. Its not ideal due to sound quality degradation but a workaround.


This bug is a real pain. We were going to produce training materials but think we may have to switch to something else... Probably VirtualBox-WinXP-CamStudio

Screen recording won't export

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.