Can't open Sd2f file; is a Unix Executable File

Question

Level 2

217 points

Can't open Sd2f file; is a Unix Executable File

Hello,

I have a studio friend who moved some ProTools audio files to a DOS formated external firewire hard drive, and now all the Sd2f (Sound Designer II File) files have turned into "Unix Executable File" formats and are unusable.

I have tried adding the ".sd2f" and ".sd2" extensions onto their filenames, but that didn't work.

I tried the "chmod -R a-x" Terminal commands, and that helped do what that does, and now I can add the ".sd2" extension to their filenames - and now Quicktime will at least recognize them - BUT - Quicktime will not open them.

QT just keeps throwing up a box that says "Error opening movie. The movie could not be opened." - very uninformative.

I've checked the Get Info box and everything seems to be as it should be (permissions, open with, etc). And 'no' - he didn't keep a backup; so recovering these would mean not having to re-record all of them - which would be VERY helpful.

I'm stumped. I've searched these forums, macosxhints, and google to no avail.
Any thoughts?
thanx.

Posted on Feb 6, 2007 3:15 PM

Reply

Answer 1

varjak paw

Level 10

170,200 points

Feb 7, 2007 7:47 AM in response to syberknight

From what I can tell, QuickTime for Mac OS X doesn't support Sound Designer II files. Support for those apparently never made it past the Mac OS 9 version of QuickTime. Sound Converter says it can open SD2 files, so you could use that to convert your files to a format QuickTime can import (there are probably other utilities that will as well).

Regards.

Message was edited by: Dave Sawyer

Reply

Answer 2

syberknight Author

Level 2

217 points

Feb 7, 2007 12:20 PM in response to varjak paw

hmmm,
thanks for your reply, but QT must support it because i have other files that he never transfered to that drive that 'does' open in QT. they are the same protools sd2f audio files as the corrupted ones.

Reply

Answer 3

Feb 7, 2007 12:29 PM in response to syberknight

What corrupted ones?

Go here:
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/player/specs.html

Those are the supported formats...looks like SD2 is only support if the SD2 is made in OS9 or windows...

Reply

Answer 4

varjak paw

Level 10

170,200 points

Feb 7, 2007 12:52 PM in response to syberknight

QT must support it because i have other files that he never transfered to that drive that 'does' open in QT. they are the same protools sd2f audio files as the corrupted ones.

All I can tell you is that Apple doesn't list SD2 support in the Mac OS X version of QuickTime. Their list of supported formats say that SD2 support was available only in the Mac OS 9 version of QuickTime. Are you sure that these files weren't perhaps opening in the Classic version of QuickTime rather than the Mac OS X version?

Reply

Answer 5

syberknight Author

Level 2

217 points

Feb 7, 2007 1:05 PM in response to varjak paw

ah - hmmm, not sure, but good point.
i will check with my friend and see if that's a possibility.
thanx.

Reply

Answer 6

Feb 7, 2007 1:18 PM in response to varjak paw

Dave there is no qt7 for OS 9...and I know you know this..If there is no support for SD2 for Quicktime 7. Apple would have just dropped it all together in their specs. They wouldn't be posting specs for earlier versions of Qt. Right?

To be honest they need to either dropped the OS 9 stuff from the specs...Or just plainly state that these formats only play in OS 9...

Reply

Answer 7

varjak paw

Level 10

170,200 points

Feb 7, 2007 1:38 PM in response to David M Brewer

Or just plainly state that these formats only play in OS 9...

They do say that, right on the QuickTime specs page:

Supported Formats

SD2 (Mac OS 9 & Windows)

Dave there is no qt7 for OS 9

Not sure what that's referring to. Yes, I'm well aware that there is no QT 7 for Mac OS 9, but QT7, per se, isn't at issue, but rather QuickTime for Mac OS X in general. You and I have basically said exactly the same thing, so I'm not clear on what your point is, David.

Regards.

Reply

Answer 8

Kyn Drake

Level 7

21,585 points

Feb 7, 2007 1:46 PM in response to syberknight

I've created and opened these sorts of files with Toast. It was a way to create a full copy of a CD for archival purposes, so I've got a bunch of those on one of my HD's. When I mount them with Toast, they show up as CD's ready to be ripped (and boy, do they rip fast! 🙂

Not sure if this can help you, but just wanted you to know that I've been able to use them under Mac OSX, maybe you will be able to as well (though it'll require a purchase of Toast).

Reply