How Can I Fix A QuickTime Codec Error?

How Can I Fix A QuickTime Codec Error?

The basic work flow is to determine which codecs were used to create the non-playing file and then check to see if these formats are supported by your current system codec component configuration.

If the files will open in one of the QT player app, the open the inspector window to see which codecs were used to create the original file as seen here...

or here in the "Format" entry...

Or, if you have QT 7 keyed for "Pro" use, you can open the "Properties" window to gain even more information as demonstrated here...

if you file will not open in either of the QT Player apps, then you can try opening the Finder "Get Info" window for the file,

use a third-party media player that will open the file, or

use a dedicated media information utility to learn this information....

Once you know what codecs were used to create the file, post back with this information so we can deterine if the file should be natively supported by your Mac OS X install, requires an Apple Pro editing codec normally installed by the editor app, or requires a third-party codec which the user must supply.

These movies ran in QuickTime just fine until about a month ago.

All the folders in which these movies were stored in 4 folders in 2 folders in one folder. All folders at each level were encrypted with Stuffit Deluxe a version circa 2008 and decrypted with a newer Stuffit Deluxe 10.x. Other movies that are NOT .mov and in with the .mov movies still run.

Your information does not indicate whether or not the files actually played on the current system or were transferred from a different system which was properly configured for playbac, whether or not you recently upgraded your operating system/modified your codec component configuration by adding or deleting any codecs, whether your compound "Stuffing" of the files created corruption, etc.

As to MOV files the selves, this extension just implies the data was placed in the QT generic file container and the actually data could be of any compression format thathat was compatible with the codec component configuration for the system on which the files were created and could include natively supported system codecs, pro editing codecs, and/or third-party proprietary or hybrid codecs. (I.e., this is why we may need more information regarding the individual non-playing files.)

If I click on the Thumbnail Preview "It" runs.

f you are referring to QuickLook (QL) then the technology is different than QuickTime (QT). In the former case, the system is playing representative data but not actually opening the file as QT does. Thus, there is always the possibility that the problem is in the file structure (atom) information. For instance, suppose someone merely changed the MOV file extension in the Finder rather than actually copying data to a real MOV file container. Then it is possible that the QT player app may be searching for a codec that is not supposed or expected to be supported in the MOV file container and, not finding it, issues the erroneous codec error message—especially since you did not inticate the source of the file you are trying to play or, in some cases, which QT player is now not playing the file.

In short, there are several possibilities here and not enough specific information.

The codec shown in the Get Info window is " m1s ". Does this help?

From what I can find on the internet, M1S is normally associated with MPG files so one might assume this is an MPEG-1 audio layer compression format. Whould normally try using QT 7 v7.6.6 player, MPEG Streamclip, or VLC and see if the file plays with audio. If it does, would then try converting the audio to a QT native compatible format.

My copy of QT-7.6.6 Pro, which I owned and used has vanished.....

This may be your problem. Another forum discussion (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3211012?start=0&tstart=0) indicated QT 7 Pro could play/convert M1S to playable format but did not indicate if any other codec support was required. If you still have your QT key, download QT 7 v7.6.6 from Apple (http://support.apple.com/kb/DL923) and re-enter your registration key. If you can't find your key at this time, try installing the free MPEG Streamclip app and see if it works with this file.

I'm using 10.8.2 now would it run in that anyway.

QT X v10.2 does not seem to like MPG content in an MOV or VOB file container. BTW: what is the video codec?

Apple´s Qukick Time Player (v. 10.2) is unable to decode .m4v movies I have created using Handbrake (Normal Preset); although when imported into iTunes they play without error message. As this player does not only lacks codecs to play these movies but also other functions one would expect I reinstalled QuickTime Player 7 and set to open all similar documents with this application.

Apple´s Qukick Time Player (v. 10.2) is unable to decode .m4v movies I have created using Handbrake (Normal Preset); although when imported into iTunes they play without error message.

Files created using the "Normal" preset play fine in both QT X v10.2 and QT 7 v7.6.6 on my system. Since the "Normal" preset creates an MP4 file type, if you are ending up with and M4V file I would suspect that you are either customizing the base settings or are not using the the latest preset update.

As this player does not only lacks codecs to play these movies but also other functions one would expect I reinstalled QuickTime Player 7 and set to open all similar documents with this application.

Can you post a non-playing sample file so I can check your statement regarding missing codecs?

This message simply indicates that either

a) the file was encoded using a codec that is not natively supported by your system or

b) the file was encoded with a supported codec that is not compatible with the M4V file container.

Unfortunately, posting this screen shot does not tell us how your non-playing file was actually encoded—only that the "Normal" default preset is an available option on your system. Using this option I would normally expect the file to be encoded as an MP4 file containing MPEG4/AAC compressed data unless you encode a chapter track, AC3 audio, MPEG-2 video, or modify some other "default" setting to force the data to be wrapped in an M4V file container. That is why it is better to post a screen shot detailing the compressed data actually contained in the file. Depending on the file container and content, this may be accomplished using the Finder "Info" window, a media information window if the file will load/play in a particular player app, or the use of a dedicated media information utility. Failing all of these, you would probably have to post a sample file.

Thank you for your efforts.

The point though is, that QT 7 Pro has no problem encoding the file (which is far too big to post it).

Never mind - I am not using Quick Time anymore - it can´t "compete" with QT7

The point though is, that QT 7 Pro has no problem encoding the file (which is far too big to post it).

Never mind - I am not using Quick Time anymore - it can´t "compete" with QT7

Although an older application, QT 7 has a more "open" architecture that allows the use of many third-party codec components that cannot currently be hosted by the QT X player app. For this reason, as well as, the lack many of QT 7 Pro's editing (compositing, layering, masking, etc.) features, most serious QT users continue to use QT 7 as their primary player/editing utility. So you are not alone in you assessment.