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Level 2

250 points

Any Fix For Video Stuttering?

I have not been able to get video to play without the stuttering. This includes newly downloaded music videos from ITMS and existing videos I've had for years. Also, this includes the .mov, .DV, MPEG2, and other formats. I know it occurs during a write to the disk, but my searching these forums hasn't found a resolution. This also occurs in iTunes. But I assume iTunes uses Quicktime to play it's videos.

I have tried the suggestions using BatChmod, and that didn't help. This is really annoying that I have to use my old G4 running Panther in order to view any kind of videos. Panther also wrote to the disk during video playback, but apparently in Panther, there is some kind of (or enough) cache that prevented the stuttering.

If a resolution has been posted, could someone please point me to that posting. Thank you for any help with this.

G5 2.0 Dual, 2.5Gb RAM, Mac OS X (10.4.5), ATI Radeon 9600 (OEM)

Posted on Feb 21, 2006 9:24 AM

26 replies

Feb 25, 2006 4:40 PM in response to Don MacIver

Something is getting in the way of your viewing experience but it is not QuickTime Player.
These files work for millions of computer users without issue.
If a new user account didn't "isolate" the problem (home folder) then I don't know what else to suggest but the standard "PC" answer.
Re-install.
The serial ATA drives are not a "suspect" (IMO).
You've got some other (maybe graphics card or RAM) issue but I doubt that also.
Third party software or components is my guess. Something setting (or changing settings) on your Mac. This is why I thought a new user account may show the error. This doesn't always work if the components are installed for all users as this "trick" usually involves .plist files and user access to components.
Sorry. I'm out of ideas.
And the software works fine on both my Mac's and my very old PC.

Don MacIver Author

Level 2

250 points

Feb 25, 2006 4:59 PM in response to Don MacIver

As I've mentioned above, I have done an archive and install of 10.4, then upgraded to 10.4.5. It didn't help. And, I believe there are many more with this problem than you may think. Some I've talked to simply aren't interested in watching videos on their computer. But when they check, they see the stuttering problem, too. Other's have the problem, even on G4's with the Tiger update and QT 7. (MDD 1.25 G4, 1.5Gb Ram) None have problems with Panther, or QT 6.

Maybe I'll try an archive and install with my wifes 10.4.3 Retail disk rather than the 10.4 disk that came with my G5.

If I come up with a resolution, I will post it to this thread.

Feb 25, 2006 5:21 PM in response to Don MacIver

I hope you sort it out and report back.
It may have been caused by the "archive and install" as this install carries many third party components to the new system.
But I really suspect some third party software conflict.
QuickTime works just fine for millions of users. Just not you.
You'll sort it out.

d_boy

Level 1

10 points

Feb 26, 2006 6:58 AM in response to Don MacIver

I have the stuttering issue too. I'm using QuickTime 7.0.4 Pro and it's impossible to smoothly playback MOV, AVI, MPEG-4 or any other video format with higher resolution. I've got some trailers that are 2-3 years old that played perfectly before, but with the latest QT it is impossible to play video without stuttering. Videos with smaller resolution play normally though.
With VLC I experience no stutter and in RealPlayer it also occurs, but not as much as in QT.

I thought I was the only one with this ridiculous problem which made me change my mind about QuickTime Player.

PowerBook G4 (15-inch Aluminum) Mac OS X (10.4.5) 1.5 GHz, 1 GB RAM, ATI Mobility Radeon 9700, Combo, Mighty Mouse, iPod with video 30 GB (white)

Mar 9, 2006 5:07 AM in response to Don MacIver

When I went to the quicktime support page I noticed they'd listed a QuickTime 7.0.1 reinstaller.

Because I was at the end of my rope with this problem, I tried that. And lo and behold, most of my old movies now play pretty much as well as they used to.

I'm not sure what apple did to make the newer version of QT give less functionality to some users -- but I guess I will stick with a slightly older version of QT until apple makes some fixes.

Hopefully some other users may find this helpful.

Oh, and something I discovered along the way ...
Flip4Mac will allow .wmv playback on QuickTime – and it works MUCH better than Windows Media Player for Mac.
Free download http://www.flip4mac.com/

iBook G3 Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Villon

Level 1

9 points

Mar 11, 2006 10:09 PM in response to Kevin Daniels1

Ahhh- you are correct, that fixes my quicktime movies- thank you! However, now that I open iTunes, none of my purchased songs will play. iTunes wants me to "upgrade" to QT 7.0.4. What a disaster...

Powerbook Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Mar 14, 2006 8:50 AM in response to Don MacIver

Yep, I've got this issue as well on my 2GHz iMac with 1.5GB RAM and 10.4.5.

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,547 points

Mar 18, 2006 10:53 AM in response to Don MacIver

Security Update 2006-002 v1.1 seems to have solved my video playback problems.

Dual G5 2.5 Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Mar 18, 2006 2:00 PM in response to Don MacIver

Hi All,
Just got this from Version Tracker news, maybe it will be of help to you all:
( http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/14266?utmsource=VTAutoMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_term=24914&utm_content=moreinfo&utmcampaign=VTAutoMailing)

Cheers

iMac DV SE Sage 450Mhz. w/1G ram + 500MHZ Cube Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Mar 25, 2006 4:35 AM in response to Don MacIver

I installed Windows Media 9 on MacPro 2.2 gig Intel. When Idownload thefollowing happens: An AOl blank screen appears followed by a download file. The Windows Media Player buffers to 549KBS then starts to play for about 20 seconds. Then it stops and starts every 1 to 2 seconds. I tried buffering to 15 seconds etc. Nothing helps. This appearsto happen only when I use WiFi. Anu suggestions? Thanks

Apr 4, 2006 7:47 AM in response to Don MacIver

I have had similar QT stutterring problems for several months. (See http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=278078&tstart=0.) However, I was finally able to solve the problem by deleting all QT preference files from my user account (~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.*).
I think you have likely already deleted those files because you seem to have put a lot of effort into this problem. But thought I would mention how I was able to solve my problem in case it might help others viewing this discussion.
By the way, the problem only occurred on my PBG4--not on my iBookG4 or iBookG3 or eMac, all of which run on the same OS and QT versions. Strange.
--DL

PB G4, iBook G4, iBook G3, eMac Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Any Fix For Video Stuttering?