HT202884: QuickTime Player converts certain files before playing them

Learn about QuickTime Player converts certain files before playing them
bethanyangelstar

Q: Is there a way to make it not convert my files when I open a .mov file?

I use .MOV for all my school projects, since that's the required format. But, whenever I open .MOV in Quicktime, it takes like five seconds to load a ONE second video, because it's converting it. Is there any way to make it NOT convert? I don't want to constantly 'convert' all my files, even if they're supposed to be Quicktime friendly file formats.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Apr 28, 2015 12:40 AM

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Q: Is there a way to make it not convert my files when I open a .mov file?

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  • by petermac87,

    petermac87 petermac87 Apr 28, 2015 12:53 AM in response to bethanyangelstar
    Level 5 (7,402 points)
    Apr 28, 2015 12:53 AM in response to bethanyangelstar

    Annoying isn't it? I chose 'Get Info' and changed the default player to VLC Player

     

    Cheers

     

    Pete

  • by C9000,

    C9000 C9000 Feb 22, 2016 1:58 AM in response to bethanyangelstar
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 22, 2016 1:58 AM in response to bethanyangelstar

    There should be a way of turning it off, I work in visual effects and we need to see the QuickTimes in the codec that was intended, not the one Apple has decided we should use.

  • by Jon Walker,Apple recommended

    Jon Walker Jon Walker Feb 22, 2016 8:26 AM in response to bethanyangelstar
    Level 6 (18,620 points)
    Feb 22, 2016 8:26 AM in response to bethanyangelstar

    I use .MOV for all my school projects, since that's the required format. But, whenever I open .MOV in Quicktime, it takes like five seconds to load a ONE second video, because it's converting it. Is there any way to make it NOT convert? I don't want to constantly 'convert' all my files, even if they're supposed to be Quicktime friendly file formats.

    The MOV file extension only refers to the file container—in this case, the QuickTime file container. Unfortunately, this file container is generic in nature and may contain any combination of compressed data that is/was compatible with the codec configuration of the device on which it was initially created. This just means that the MOV file may contain data that is not playback compatible with the media player you are using—which I assume is the newer QT X-based QT Player app rather than the older QT 7-based QT Player app on your Yosemite OS system.

     

    Since the files are converting automatically when you attempt to play them, this means that the compressed data in the MOV files are supported by your system's current codec configuration but are not compatible with the QT AVFoundation structure embedding in the Yosemite OS and used by the newer QT Player app. This implies that the problem codecs are either legacy codecs that are no longer playback supported under Mavericks, Yosemite, or El Capitan or they are third-party codecs you have installed for use under pre-Mavericks operating systems and which are still available to the Convert structure embedded in your Yosemite OS. In either case, you have two basic options here—either use a media player that can play your MOV files as they are (as suggested by another responder) or convert your files to compression formats that are compatible with your system's current default QT Player app. (E.g., H.264/AAC MOV files are playback compatible with all QT and most third-party media player apps commonly used on current platforms.)

     

    The only way to positively prevent conversion of a file is to ensure that the file is already playback compatible with the QT Player app when you load it. Since you have not described your workflow in detail, it is impossible to know what option might be best here. For instance, if the MOV files are being imported directly from a digital camera, then batch conversion by the Yosemite Finder "Encode" service might be the best solution. On the other hand, if the files are being "saved" as MOV files in their original compression format after editing by another app, then export to a QT Player compatible compression format would be a better solution . And if either of these options are more trouble than you think they are worth and the files are acceptable for school in their original form, then simply playing the files in a "standalone" player (i.e., one having its own built-in codec support) like VLC, MPlayerX, or NicePlayer might be the best option for you or use the classic QT Player 7 app which allows the use of system codecs not available to the QT X player for direct playback.

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  • by C9000,

    C9000 C9000 Feb 23, 2016 1:51 AM in response to Jon Walker
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 23, 2016 1:51 AM in response to Jon Walker

    Thanks for the reply Jon.

     

    We are indeed using a 3rd party codec, Avid DNxHD, as this is the current requirement for the show we are working on, and indeed is one of the more commonly used in the film industry.

     

    We are using the workaround of the QT 7 player, but I guess I just don't really understand why this feature exists if there's a codec available to do the conversion on the fly?  I guess it's a way of getting to a point where the OS only supports certain formats and finally closing the door to the pro market for all that lovely consumer cash (it is a business after all).

     

    Cheers

     

    Craig