avi, mpeg and mov problems

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avi, mpeg and mov problems

I`m having no luck playing streamed .avi, mpg and .mov ( all video) files.
The avi and mpeg video files freeze up upon start up and only show the first second of the video for the first 5-10 minutes. After that they play fine although with no sound. They also play and sound fine after being downloaded and then opened.

The mov files only show the sliding bar or , after being saved , the blank QT screen with the bar sliding and no sound.

Also , the QT "intro" on apple.com/quicktime (the timberlake video) refuses to play properly, it just comes in very "blocky" with only occasional sound bits getting through. The same can be said about some avi files, when they do work.

I have flip4mac , divix, 3vix, xvid installed. Tried perian but that completely killed all streaming avi playback , just a Q with ? mark. Downloaded AC3 codec and put in the QT folder. no luck.
These are the sites in question.
http://www.justintimberlake.com/QuickTime/justintimberlakeqt.html
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/1568/videos/riki_discovers.mov
Couldn`t find any avi movies to use as an example.
Last question. Is there a way to automaticaly stream avi and mpg files in the same QT screen as wmv and asf files?
thank you and sorry about the long post.

imac intel core2duo Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Dec 12, 2006 8:20 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 12, 2006 8:53 PM in response to lestine

Try VLC media player regarding playing .avi files.
===============

I had no problems playing the Timberlake video. However, when I tried to play your second link (.mov) all I got was the bar, no audio or video.

Regarding your 1st link, have you tried repairing permissions & restarting?

Regarding your 2nd link: Apparently, it's a bad video link & no fault of yours or your computer.
====================

"Is there a way to automaticaly stream avi and mpg files in the same QT screen as wmv and asf files?"
The following is a work-around for .avi files. Not sure if it will also work for .mpg files.

Open the file with QuickTime Player.
Open the Movie Info window (Command-i).
Note the name of the video codec used in the file.
Do a Google.com search for codec name +Mac and download one appropriate for your OS and computer.
Quit and relaunch QuickTime after installing the new codec.
Try the file again.

Thanks to QuickTimeKirk for the above info.
================

Regarding no audio sometimes................

If repairing permissions does not work, then try the following:
KB article - No sound from some applications, but system alert sounds play (Mac OS X 10.3, 10.4)

Another trick: If you have GarageBand installed, open it and then quit.

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Answer 2

Dec 12, 2006 9:00 PM in response to lestine

The first movie is possibly compressed with DivX. It's a reference file. So I cannot be 100% sure since I cannot download it. I can watch it maybe because I have a DivX decoder.

The compressor of the second movie is iv32. I do not know if there are QT plug-ins for this one. What you can do is to download the movie and play it with VLC from VideoLAN.

Whatever the problem is with QuickTime, you have to first identify the video and audio compressors used in the video clip. As for AVI movies, use VLC as well since QuickTime isn't necessarily designed to play back AVI clips.

Good luck.

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Answer 3

lestine Author

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Dec 12, 2006 10:13 PM in response to Baby-Boomer-USofA

Thanks for the suggestions.
I tried to open the Timberlake video by clicking on the "Q" logo in the dock and then clicking on the video. No luck. I also tried copying and pasting the link to the video in the URL for QT. The message was " the URL is not valid". BTW , it`s not just the Timberlake video that I`m having problem with. Anything in the QT screen produces the same results.
While I`m on the subject. Some avi downloads somehow "convert" into documents while being downloaded, thus making them unwatchable. The same`s not the case on PCs. Is that normal?

imac intel core2duo Mac OS X (10.4.8)

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Answer 4

lestine Author

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Dec 12, 2006 10:44 PM in response to lestine

Update.
Tried the videos from an alternate account. same results. Could it be that my QT is 'broken'? Do I re-download it and ,If yes , would all the add ons(divx, 3vix etc) need to be re-installed as well?

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Answer 5

Dec 13, 2006 2:30 AM in response to Horror in Oklahoma

The compressor of the second movie is iv32.<<</div>

IV32 indicates an Indeo 3.2 compressed file and cannot be played in OS X as the codecs have not been ported to it. Other players, like VLC, also will not play that format. Only those that can run the Classic environment can play Indeo videos and then only if they install the old Indeo codecs for Classic. Of course, those with Intel Macs could play them if they install Windows.

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Answer 6

Dec 13, 2006 3:29 AM in response to Dick Napoli

Other players, like VLC, also will not play that format.

Dick, I was able to play it with VLC 0.8.6.

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Answer 7

Dec 13, 2006 3:36 AM in response to lestine

It turns out that the compressor of the first Timberlake video is H.264, not DivX.

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Answer 8

Dec 13, 2006 1:27 PM in response to lestine

Are you by any chance using Safari as your main browser when viewing videos? If so.................
To fix a QT related problem w/Safari, quit Safari & look in the /Library/Internet Plug-Ins folder (this is the Library folder at the root level of your HD, not the one inside your Users/user name folder).
Try removing the VLC Plugin.plugin (if you have it) & QT Plugin.plugin files from this folder, & then relaunch Safari. If the problem isn’t fixed, a different plug-in may be to blame. Keep removing files from this folder (start with any third-party plug-ins that are present) until the problem disappears.
Replace the plug-ins that don’t cause any problems.

MacAddict Magazine...12/06

=======================

Rosetta

If you have an Intel-based Mac, running Safari in Rosetta can also resolve some QT plug-in issues.
First quit the app if it’s open & then, in your Applications folder, select Safari & press Command+I.
In the General area of the Safari Info dialog that appears (click the disclosure triangle if this area is not already expanded), select Open Using Rosetta, & then close the Safari Info dialog.
Relaunch Safari.

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Answer 9

lestine Author

Level 1

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Dec 14, 2006 10:50 AM in response to lestine

Follow up
The videos still come in very blocky and/or freeze up and only play after 10 mins or so. Could that have something to do with connection speed? If yes , then why would the wmv or asx streams not be affected?
Also, there`re two sets of plugins in the safari info screen.Two flip4macs, two QT. and so on. Is that normal or Could they be affecting each other? If yes , how does one remove unnedded plugins?
Is it normal to have download speeds to drop dramatically within the first few minutes of starting the download?

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Answer 10

Dec 14, 2006 7:24 PM in response to lestine

"If yes , how does one remove unnedded plugins?"
Just drag them from the folder(s) onto your desktop. If necessary, make a new folder & place the unneeded plug-ins inside the new folder, name the new folder to something you'll remember (duplicate plug-ins?) & place this folder inside your HD for safe keeping in case the plug-ins are needed in the future.

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Answer 11

Dec 14, 2006 10:09 PM in response to Baby-Boomer-USofA

Not to muddy the waters. The first video played fine even on my g-4. I didn't think I would have a problem.

The second movie did play fine in VLC.....

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Answer 12

lestine Author

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Dec 15, 2006 12:09 AM in response to Baby-Boomer-USofA

The double plugins are in the help section of safari. They`re in the help/instelled plugins section.

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Answer 13

Dec 15, 2006 11:27 AM in response to lestine

Sorry, I thought you were talking about the plug-ins mentioned in my Dec 13 post.

I do not use Safari & do not know how to troubleshoot same. Therefore, until a Safari user comes along to help you out, suggest that you cross-post your plug-in issues over in the Safari Forums where the Safari users hang out.

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Answer 14

tmsj-1

Level 1

65 points

Dec 25, 2006 1:51 AM in response to Horror in Oklahoma

Dick, I was able to play it with VLC 0.8.6.

You might try this then, using VLC 0.8.6:

1. Choose File > Streaming/Exporting Wizard.
2. Click the Transcode/Save to File radio button and hit Next
3. Choose your video file (test.AVI) and hit Next
4. Tick the Audio checkbox, and under codec choose Uncompressed, integer and hit Next (you can leave video unchecked)
5. On the Encapsulation Format page, WAV will be the only thing available. Hit Next
6. Hit Choose, next to Select the file to save to. Give it a nice name (w/a ".wav" extension), hit Next.
7. Click Finish.

8. Open the original .avi file and your new .WAV file in Quicktime Pro.
9. Copy the .WAV file.
10. Set the cursor to the beginning of the Quicktime movie and selected " Edit/Add to Movie" on the Quicktime file.
11. Export the movie to .mov or .dv format --

(This procedure was found here: http://forums.3ivx.com/lofiversion/index.php?t84297.html)

iMac G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

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