HT201290: If QuickTime Player can't open an audio or video file

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CalleyAnne
Level 1 (10 points)
iPhone

Q: Quicktime for Swann MacPlayer - Help please.

I have a Swann security camera which I was led to believe could be played back through Mac OSX.  I have installed the Swann Mac Player c.d. that accompanied the product.  I can see the cameras on my screen, over my wifi, but I am unable to watch frames that I have copied and saved.  I bought the product believing that I could play this back through Quicktime, but in Quicktime I get an onscreen message telling me that the file cannot be opened.

I have downloaded Perian, but it has made no difference, I am still getting the same message.

 

Has anyone else been successful in playing back Swann Security clips through OSX?  If so, please tell me which program you used.

Many thanks.

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Sep 1, 2013 2:43 PM

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CalleyAnne

Q: Quicktime for Swann MacPlayer - Help please.

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  • Helpful answers

  • by khob,

    khob khob Sep 28, 2013 11:52 PM in response to CalleyAnne
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 28, 2013 11:52 PM in response to CalleyAnne

    Hi, A couple of years ago I could not access my Swann DVR from Safari. Swann support advised to update the DVR firmware which fixed the problem. So perhaps first confirm if you can access and login via safari using your ip address:[DVR port number]. If not then check the Swann website for firmware update for your model and install using USB flashdrive. Otherwise contact Swann support by phone. Calling from the UK they were pretty helpful.

     

    Recently I upgraded my router and OS X to mountain lion and discovered I can no longer access the DVR from Safari   so now hunting for a solution myself. Getting message 'cannot connect to server'. May call them again.

     

    But when I could log in from Safari it all worked perfectly. I could play back and have full control of the DVR. So I didn't need to down load the other swann apps. Hope this is some help.

  • by CalleyAnne,

    CalleyAnne CalleyAnne Sep 29, 2013 12:55 AM in response to khob
    Level 1 (10 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 29, 2013 12:55 AM in response to khob

    Thank you khob,

    Yes, I was able to log in via Safari using my IP address, everything worked right up to the stage where the Swann video appeared on my monitor, but the box was empty.  Rather like looking at a blank screen inside a Youtube Clip, with the only thing inside the video window being the message from my own computer saying that the file could not be opened.  My iMac is a 2011 machine and I have kept OSX, Safari, etc updated with all new updates.

     

    I hate to admit it, but I was offered an old unwanted Windows laptop running XP, by a relative, I installed the Swann program from the cd provided, and it worked instantly and perfectly well through an older version of Windows Media Player, so now this ugly old Windows laptop is dedicated to my Swann DVR which is obviously more compatible with old Windows software than new OSX software.

     

    To be fair, it is probably too much to expect Apple to build new operating systems that take account of the needs of older versions of Active X (which I am guessing the Swann DVR is built on).  It is just a pity that Swann claim a level of compatibility with the latest OSX that without the user jumping through circus hoops, is nigh on false. 

     

    No doubt, had I persevered with getting the DVR to work on Mountain Lion, I would be back to square one when I download Mavericks.  I will stick with the old Windows machine and the DVR as life partners and keep my Apple products for the important things in life like communicating with real people not crappy systems.

  • by khob,

    khob khob Sep 29, 2013 12:01 PM in response to CalleyAnne
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 29, 2013 12:01 PM in response to CalleyAnne

    Yes that is a sad state of affairs. I upgraded my pc to windows vista recently which was a pleasant surprise but I am dreading doing the tweaks to get swann to work with it. You are right. it should just work with latest OSx and windows. That should not be a surprise to anyone. Hope swann are monitoring chat rooms but I have to agree the product seems to be fickle for internet/LAN access. When it worked for me in the past it was really good. Also latest iphone app works quiet well compared to the previous version. At one point I had a similar problem to you and I played with portforwarding thinking that was the problem. Masive waste of time back and forth with swann support. In the end my ISP coincidently upgraded my router and all worked perfectly after that!

     

    Phone support is reasonable but I think they are improving from a low point. shame.  Anyway I am stuck with Swann DVR so going todo my best to figure out the kinks.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Sep 29, 2013 2:00 PM in response to CalleyAnne
    Level 9 (74,074 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 29, 2013 2:00 PM in response to CalleyAnne

    Here are some other video players you can try. VLC has a fairly good reputation.

     

    Video Player - Divx

     

    Video Player – Flip4Mac

     

    Video Player - VLC

  • by Aphotic,

    Aphotic Aphotic Oct 7, 2013 9:21 PM in response to CalleyAnne
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 7, 2013 9:21 PM in response to CalleyAnne

    One of the best things Swann offers is their tech support.  You should really call them (1-800-627-2799,2,2 in US).  I called with your exact question and for my Swann sytem they had me download their  'LocalPlayback.app' (from http://www.swann.com/downloads/drivers/DVR_4000/GA1.9/Player_Mac_v1.0.1.1.pkg).  Don't know if that'll work with your Swann system though.  My only complaint is that it doesn't decode the imbeded audio very well.  So I hope your cameras don't record audio.  I've looked at 6 other video converter programs and still haven't found one that can detect the audio channel from the .h264 Swann files.  I guess they encrypted it so well their own program has a difficult time finding all of it.  It just sounds like a VOIP conversation on an extremely slow connection; very choppy!

     

    At this time their is no solution (that's how I came across your post).

     

    G'luck, CalleyAnne!