This article suggest that QuickTime should open and play avi containers. It does not. Why?
MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)
Because it doesn't have a codec capable of handling the audio or video inside; this may be different with each AVI. Try installing Perian or VLC.
(84308)
Likely the codec used to encode the video is not supported by Quicktime. Try VLC or install the Perian plugin for Quicktime.
As you rightly noted, avi is a "container," not a video encoding. You can wrap just about any encoding with any container, avi, mpeg, wmv, etc.
More choices, plus a link to one of the ones Niel and Barney suggested.
I have installed vlc and am having problems with it as well!! As below - all formats, mkv, mp4 etc play like this
although all fine on other machines (windows8, WD TV Live box) etc. Points about codec contained in avi container is helpful except that QT won't play anyone of a very large number of avi files so presimably is very sensitive to codec.....
Looks like Perian has folded and from their announcement am not sure that the version they have currently works for 10.8. DIVX does play most avis and I have actuallt found one that QT opens...! Thanks to all of you for yopur help and suggestions.. I now have three media players (if I can get vlc working!!) - hoepfully I should be able to watch most video formats... I really do wonder why it all has to be so complicated. Must say, this is one area where windows excels.....
QuickTime on OS X 10.8.4 and avi containers
