how do I play .avi files on itunes
I am having trouble getting .avi files to play on QT. Any suggestions?
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)
Free.
121 replies
Just so it's clear, Perian enables you to play .avi in Quicktime but I don't think it extends to iTunes. Nothing enables .avi in iTunes.
Just so it's clear, Perian enables you to play .avi in Quicktime but I don't think it extends to iTunes. Nothing enables .avi in iTunes.
Lets make it a bit clearer. The Perian component package allows QT 7 based applications play many common AVI A/V compression format combinations. Such apps may include the QT 7 Player, GarageBand, and iTunes. In the case of iTunes, whether or not the AVI compressed data will play depends on two things— the file container and the operating system.
For instance, Leopard and Snow Leopard will play the data if you can get the files to import to iTunes. This usually means the data must be re-wrapped to an MOV file container before import. Unfortunately, iTunes on Lion will not import most common AVI compressed data compression formats in either the AVI or the MOV file container type.
To avoid getting bogged down I figured we were sticking to Mac OS since that is what the OP is using.
Re-wrappping AVI into MOV means it is no longer AVI -- it's the wrapper that makes it an AVI. I'm mean that's fine as a workaround, but if we talking about getting iTunes to accept a file ending in AVI and it is in an AVI package then it isn't doing it (or I haven't heard of it with hanging out on the iTunes for Mac forum for ages).
Basically, iTunes won't look at AVI because it isn't programmed to. If, as you said, you repackage the components into a MOV format (making it now a MOV instead of an AVI) it may play as long as the codecs are there (e.g., from Perian) tto handle the contents of the old AVI data now reidentified as a MOV.
To avoid getting bogged down I figured we were sticking to Mac OS since that is what the OP is using.
The Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Lion OSs mentioned above are all Mac OS X operating systems so I fail to see the point your are attemnpting to make here.
Re-wrappping AVI into MOV means it is no longer AVI -- it's the wrapper that makes it an AVI. I'm mean that's fine as a workaround, but if we talking about getting iTunes to accept a file ending in AVI and it is in an AVI package then it isn't doing it (or I haven't heard of it with hanging out on the iTunes for Mac forum for ages).
AVI is actually a generic file container in which the audio and video frames are interleaved to maintain frame synchronization spatially. MOV files are also generic file containers but which employ temporal syncronization that can be used to maintain frame to frame or interleaved synchronization between the audio and video data frames. Using your argument one might state that Windows Media compressed files are no longer Windows Media compressed files when the data is encapsulated in an MOV file container or the GOP "muxed" MPEG-2/AC3 files should be edit compatible in QT when re-wrapped in an MOV file container. If you are saying that AVI compressed data is no longer synchronized spatially when the data is placed in an MOV file container then I would have to agree with you. However, if you are saying the data frames are no longer playing back in an interleaved manner with respect to frames synchronized to a common time reference, then I would have to disagree with you.
Basically, iTunes won't look at AVI because it isn't programmed to. If, as you said, you repackage the components into a MOV format (making it now a MOV instead of an AVI) it may play as long as the codecs are there (e.g., from Perian) tto handle the contents of the old AVI data now reidentified as a MOV.
That actually brings up an interesting question which I have yet to bother testing to date. If you re-read the tech specs for the A5 chipped devices, you may note the following statement:
Video formats supported: ...; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo in .avi file format
which, since iTunes is normally used to manage both the iPhone 4S and iPad2 media content synchronization, would seem to imply that iTunes is supposed, at least in theory, to be "import compatible" with AVI file containers (or files with that extension) which seems to be contrary to fact.
In any case, based on the long standing fact that playback of media is ultimately dependent in the compression formats contained in the file container and not the file container itself, my interpretation of the OP's question was how to play the AVI data without having to recompress the data to a different compression format and possibly degrading the video quality. Placing the data in an MOV file container (BTW, iTunes does check the file container type—not the extension here) does allow common AVI legacy compression formats to play in iTunes (assuming QT codec support is available) even if these files cannot be sync'd to other devices for playback.
On the system thing, I was limiting the discussion to iTunes for Mac, not Windows (snce you left "operating system" open). I know for some things such as .wma the rules are different on Windows iTunes. I have no firsthand experience about AVI on Windows iTunes (somehow I still doubt it) so I was just limiting it to Mac.
whether or not the AVI compressed data will play
My point here was re-packaging the data won't make the AVI play, but it may make the data playable. For that matter you can make pretty much any AVI playable if you are desperate enough to transcode it all to something itunes likes, but then it is no longer an AVI.
I saw the question as foremost asking, is there was a way to get an AVI as-it-is to play in iTunes for Mac? No. Are there ways to repackage it and translate components to make a movie that will play in iTunes? Yes (unless it is something really exotic).
An interesting read on tricks to get iTunes to play AVI
On the system thing, I was limiting the discussion to iTunes for Mac, not Windows (snce you left "operating system" open). I know for some things such as .wma the rules are different on Windows iTunes. I have no firsthand experience about AVI on Windows iTunes (somehow I still doubt it) so I was just limiting it to Mac.
Since the OP indicated the use of OS 10.6.8; I am a Mac OS user; Mac OS Leopard (OS before user's), Snow Leopard (user's OS), and Lion (OS after user's); and the GarageBand app were all specifically mentioned, I felt it unnecessary to speecifically exclude all other Mac, Windows, MS DOS, and Unix operating systems for which I have no experience and/or am unable to test work flows before resonding. I specifically referenced the three indicated systems only because I currently had them available on my home computers and was able to test whether or not the described work flow was indeed still viable before making any comment.
My point here was re-packaging the data won't make the AVI play, but it may make the data playable. For that matter you can make pretty much any AVI playable if you are desperate enough to transcode it all to something itunes likes, but then it is no longer an AVI.
And my point is the fact that there is no such thing as an AVI compression format. An AVI file is merely any valid combination of audio and video (or other) data compression formats compatible with the original encode user's codec component configuration which are wrapped in the generic AVI file container type. In the same manner, any data wrapped in the MOV file container type is said to be a "QuickTime" file whether or not the file can be play on a particular computer (mac or other) system. And, as I have previously mentioned, my commets were directed to the playback of the original data (i.e., original compressed formats still in an interleaved playback frame sequence) without having to re-compress any data, lose any video quality—i.e., no desperation required.
I saw the question as foremost asking, is there was a way to get an AVI as-it-is to play in iTunes for Mac? No. Are there ways to repackage it and translate components to make a movie that will play in iTunes? Yes (unless it is something really exotic).
And I agree that your interpretation of the question is just as plausible as mine. Had you added the adjective "original" to "AVI file," I could not but have agreed with you. However, your statement seemed to imply that the original unmodified AVI compressed data could not be play in iTunes and this is what I disagree with.
An interesting read on tricks to get iTunes to play AVI
I consider such work flows unnecessary since the ability to copy AVI content to an MOV file container is built into Mac OS. Simply open the original AVI file in QT 7. If it plays, then the file is playable in iTunes (as specified for systems previously indicated). If not, then the user needs to add the appropriate QT codec components to his or her system first. Once the AVI file is made playable in QT 7, the user need only use the "Save As..." option in QT 7 Pro (or free MPEG Streamclip app if QT 7 is not keyed for "Pro" use) to copy the original AVI data to a new MOV file container for import to iTunes leaving the original file untouched. (In fact, I believe I had an old droplet to do this on my Leopard system. It would create new MOV files from single or multiple files or folders of files but stopped working when I switched to Snow Leopard and I never bothered to see if it could be update for Snow Leopard/Lion use since I hardly ever used it.)
The reason why you cannot play AVI on iTunes and QuickTime is because they do not support AVI format. To import AVI file to iTunes, you will just need a detaied guide to help you.
<Link Edited By Host>
first try converting your .avi files to Apple format. you can do this with AVI to iTunes Video Converter for Mac (file>export) . then you can move all your files to itunes for new ipod or iphone. For iTunes or QT, you should select an iTunes-friendly output format, such as MOV, MP4 or M4V
<Link Edited By Host>
You are gonna have to convert them to mov then import them to Quicktime to play. Handbrake is OK
You can also import AVI files to iTunes with Quicktime. Here's how:
Step One: Open the AVI file in Quicktime
Step Two: Click the "Share" button (bottom right corner, box with arrow jumping out of it)
Step Three: Click "iTunes"
Step Four: Select which devices you plan on watching your AVI file
Step Five: Hit "Return/Enter" on your keyboard
VOILA!
If you plan on converting multiple files at once, you will need to repeat all five steps for each individual file. It takes about as long as any other file conversion program, and requires no additional purchase or download provided you have the latest version of Quicktime installed. Hope this helps!
I can't import with Quicktime 7 Pro. Why?
Couldn't tell you...I am running the latest version of Quicktime on OS X and it works for me.
how do I play .avi files on itunes