Playback of MPEG-2 files...

[dvdguy24]

A friend of mine sent me an MPEG-2 file, but it doesn't open with Quicktime or WMP - I see that I can purchase an extra to make Quicktime play it - but is there any good freeware? that's maybe even better? also, from what i've been reading - do I need that to use iDVD as well? if my capture card were to create MPEG-2's than I would correct?

(I'm a MAJOR beginner here) i'm starting all over again with the MAC.

[Frobozz]

Give VLC Media Player a try. It is freeware.

[dvdguy24]

I just tried that one - which seemed to work fine, however, it only played about 3 seconds of the video - then it froze.

[dvdguy24]

this is what he told me -

in order to play these files,it's necessary to have a software player (or at least it's codecs) installed,which can handle mpeg2 files (something you can watch i.e. SVCD videos or DVD files (*.vob) with,too...like WinDVD or PowerDVD,these 2 are the most common ones)...i dunno if quicktime will do the job,sorry.

this is what I'm about ready to download:

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/mpeg2/

it costs money but if that will do the trick....i'll go for it.

[macuser25]

you *could* purchase that... but instead of spending money for apple's mpeg2 component... spend a bit more for toast 7, which includes an mpeg2 decoder... you could then convert that file to standard quicktime with the video export function.

buy.com has it for $69... but you can bring it down to $49 if you have an ilife or mac os x disc with the rebate.

[dvdguy24]

I just don't want to purchase it and have THAT not work - how do you tell what kind of file it is? I was told it was an Mpeg2, but the extention is just .mpg - is there a way to see the properties of it?

I've been sitting here for hours looking...Finder just says "Mpeg movie"...but I thought Quicktime could play that.

[dvdguy24]

also, if I were to burn them to dvd using iMovie/iDVD - I would need this anyway correct? because I can't open it in either application if quicktime doesn't recognize it - so it seems - because they won't open them either.

[londor]

macuser25, do you work for Roxio??? You seem to only post to recommend Toast 7 to anyone even for jobs that can only handle on paper and not in reality.

Toast 7 may have a mpeg2 decoder but it is not for viewing files and when you export the mpeg2 file to other format the result is interlaced since Toast can not de-interlace making the resulting file unwatchable on a computer.

[dvdguy24]

well I bought the Mpeg2 download - and keep receiving an error everytime I try and download it - i'm now waiting for an e-mail respose from Apple - I hope I didn't get ripped off - I went into my account but everytime I hit the download button - I get the same error message and to try again.

[aersloat]

There is an application called "MPEG Info X 0.2.app" that you can drop an mpg file on and it will give you fairly detailed info. It might be hard to find. In addition to vlc, you can also try mplayer. The advantage to having Apple's mpeg2 component is better playback control (IMHO) over vlc or mplayer. The other great thing about the apple component is that mpeg streamclip relies on it for some conversions.

[dvdguy24]

I'll have to look for that app. thanks.

actually, I download "Mplayer" which did the trick. now, I just have to contact someone at Apple to let me know why my download didn't work. If I have that, I can use Quicktime.

So, iMovieHD can't import an Mpeg2 huh? I also downloaded an .Avi file and only got audio. So, I take it that whatever Quicktime can't play, iMovie can't import - is that right?

I really hate bugging everyone with all of these small questions, but there are no good handbooks you know?

I knew so much about my PC and all the media, but with this new computer i'm clueless. I can't wait until i'm a pro at this.

thanks to everyone for their patience and help.

[terryj]

I'll have to look for that app. thanks.

actually, I download "Mplayer" which did the trick. now, I just have to contact someone at Apple to let me know why my download didn't work. If I have that, I can use Quicktime.

So, iMovieHD can't import an Mpeg2 huh? I also downloaded an .Avi file and only got audio. So, I take it that whatever Quicktime can't play, iMovie can't import - is that right?

That's a rule good of thumb.
Q.R.E.A.M. ( Quicktime Rules Everything on A Mac)
holds true in ALOT of what you
want to do on your new platform,
just keep that in mind.

If the AVI's video doesn't display, and the audio does play,
then you are missing a codec ( a compressor/decoder plugin)
for Quicktime.

Go get these two, most common to .AVI files, and install
them into your Library/Quicktime folder.


3ivx D 4.51
Divx 5.21

follow the install instructions that come with each.
After installing, test the .avi file again.


Once you have these, then you will be able to export the .avi into
a DV ( digital Video) stream, which iMovie like best. Or if your
short on space, you could import as a Quicktime Movie
( second best for iMovie).


also, you should be able to log into Appple.com, and
check your recent purchases, and possibly re-download the
most recent purchases.

I really hate bugging everyone with all of these small questions, but there are no good handbooks you know?

I knew so much about my PC and all the media, but with this new computer i'm clueless. I can't wait until i'm a pro at this.

thanks to everyone for their patience and help.

There ARE several good books, as well as websites, depending
on what you want to do. I highly reccommend the following:

iMovie Missing Manual from David Pouge
DVDSP3 ( or 4) Visual Quick Start Guide by Martin Sitter
Jerry Hoffman on Final Cut Pro
Dan's iMovie FAQ website
Ken Stone's FCP website
David Nagel's CreativeMac.com website

these are just starters.

[dvdguy24]

wow! thanks so much for the info - this stuff should make my transition from PC to MAC a little smoother.

I tried downloading the purchase again, but I keep getting the same error message - I posted on the apple support board, and 4 other people said that their's won't work either so i'm not alone with that - and the errror is on their end.

but, again, you've been a big help - i'll let you know how things work out for me in the future.

[terryj]

dvdguy,
you're welcome.

[dvdguy24]

well, the 3ivx worked fine - and is now downloaded and in my Quicktime folder - the Divx one wouldn't download properly - I kept getting errors - and then I found this:

"DivX 5 does not support Mac OS X 10.4 or QuickTime 7. We are working with Apple to resolve several compatibility issues"

I'm using both 10.4, and QuickTime 7.

and i'm guessing I need both to see that .AVI - right? because just one didn't do it.

[londor]

dvdguy24,

What browser are you using? What error do you get when trying to download the Apple mpeg2 component and the codec from DivX?

I do not have any problems downloading the DivX 5 codec. As for incompatibility problems with 10.4 and QT 7 I have never experienced any trouble until I updated QT to 7.0.2. This update is buggy and Apple has released a QT 7.0.1 reinstaller for QT 7.0.2 and since going back to 7.0.1 I have not had a problem with the codec.

[dvdguy24]

I did the re-installer - and that went fine - but my download from Apple still won't work. I go into "My Account" and click the download button - right away it says "An error occured - please go back into your account and try your download again." - I tried again after doing the re-install and the same thing happens. I'm using Safari as my browser.

When I download the Divx codec, it goes into the downloads box, and mounts on my desktop, but when I open it, it says "An error has occured" Maybe i'm not downloading it properly?? although, I don't see how - but it could be.

[dvdguy24]

I decided to do a little more exploring and I went into "harddrive/library/quicktime and look in the folder, it says "appleintermediatecodec.component" and the symbol was something i'd never seen before - so I clicked it but it just turned into a paper symbol.

what is that? could that have anything to do with my error?

[londor]

I go into "My Account" and click the download button - right away it says "An error occured - please go back into your account and try your download again." - I tried again after doing the re-install and the same thing happens. I'm using Safari as my browser.

Reset Safari (Click on Safari in the menu bar and select Reset Safari) and try again.

When I download the Divx codec, it goes into the downloads box, and mounts on my desktop, but when I open it, it says "An error has occured" Maybe i'm not downloading it properly?? although, I don't see how - but it could be

The download is a .sit file and you need Stuffit Expander to open it. If you get an error when trying to open it with Stuffit I would repair permissions in the HD (Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility) and if the problem persists I would contact Allume for support.

I decided to do a little more exploring and I went into "harddrive/library/quicktime and look in the folder, it says "appleintermediatecodec.component" and the symbol was something i'd never seen before

That component has to be there and its icon looks like a Lego block.

[terryj]

When I download the Divx codec, it goes into the downloads box, and mounts on my desktop, but when I open it, it says "An error has occured" Maybe i'm not downloading it properly?? although, I don't see how - but it could be

The download is a .sit file and you need Stuffit Expander to open it. If you get an error when trying to open it with Stuffit I would repair permissions in the HD (Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility) and if the problem persists I would contact Allume for support.

[/quote]

Stuffit doesn't come with Tiger, another big boo-boo by Apple.
( Graphic Converter being the other one they hosed users on)
In fact, on the machines I did updates on ( from 10.39) that had
Stuffit on them, The Tiger installer removed it from the machine!

go to stuffit.com and
download the free Stuffit Expander for mac.
It will download as an .hqx, and the system should
natively expand that ( through Safari). Then double click the installer,
and your set.

[londor]

terryj,

Why do you think i bother to create a link to the exact location where he can download stuffit expander for mac on my previous post?


As for Graphic Converter, why do you need it when you can do it all with Preview?

[dvdguy24]

Here's an update on what's going on with me:

I FINALLY was able to get my mpeg component from Apple - I have NO idea why it wasn't working for me - but tonight, it magically downloaded and I can now watch the file I wanted with Quicktime - it looked great .

I still have to download divx though -- The Stuffit expander huh? Ok - I actually had to use that to download the Windows Media Player - I wanted that on my computer also - long story. I really don't get why I would need that - but if it works it works - why isn't that built in the computer? *not saying it's your fault - but it's strange Apple didn't have that application on the computer already since you probably need it for quite a few things - and there's nothing in any manual about it - thank god for this place*

Now, I tried to import that mpeg2 file into iMovie so that I could play around with it and then maybe burn my first dvd with a Mac tonight but iMovie doesn't want to import it. It brings down the "Import" box and then closes up right away. Actually, the first time it said "Quicktime couldn't parse it" - whatever that means. When I go to create the project, it asks me for "video type" - I chose DV - but does that matter when you are just importing something from your hard drive or is that just for camcorder importing?

thanks londor and terryj.

.

I'm learning a lot coming here .

[aersloat]

iMovie was designed to work with DV directly from digital video cameras. It can work with other kinds of clips as well but not mpeg2. Mpeg 2 is really meant for final product kind of stuff. It is not a format that is easy to edit or otherwise work with (compared to the other formats out there). If you want to work with the mpeg2 in iMovie you will have to go through the step of ripping it to another format, like mpeg4. Apple's mpeg 2 component is a playback component. Note that you cannot save as mpeg2 out of QT.

[terryj]

terryj,

Why do you think i bother to create a link to the exact location where he can download stuffit expander for mac on my previous post?

Londor, give it up and chill out dude.
Didn't see your link, responded at the same time you did.

As for Graphic Converter, why do you need it when you can do it all with Preview?

Have you ever tried to convert TARGA, DXF, old CompuServer Gif format, batch convert high res tiffs to 100, 300, and 600 dpi jpegs,
create animated gifs from SWF files to reposition on low bandwidth
websites, AND handle Corel Photo Paint graphics to a useable format,
ALL FROM PREVIEW?

thinking not....

Preview is like Macpaint under System 7. Noobs may dig it,
but Graphic Artists use Graphic Converter.....

[londor]

Londor, give it up and chill out dude.
Didn't see your link, responded at the same time you did.

Hello, did you bump your head? It seems that things are a little bit messed up inside it. You quoted my reply but still you claim to not have seen the link on it because we responded at the same time. LOL. You should apply your recommendation to give up an chill out to yourself.

As for Graphic Converter, point taken.

[terryj]

[quote="londor"]

LOL. You should apply your recommendation to give up an chill out to yourself.

As for Graphic Converter, point taken.

and this from a man who's greatest worry is that someone
pointed out a [similar] thing he said? aah, if only
I my life was so simple I could be just as foolish...

we could debate this all day, but it would still get us no
where, when we could be more constructive in other threads.

let's move on....

[londor]

Oops, sorry for thinking that you may have bumped your head lately. It seems that is not a temporal state and that you were born that way. No wonder why your grammar is so bad when you can not even recall what you typed 30 minutes ago.

[terryj]

rinse, repeat, rinse, repeat.
let's MOVE on now shall we...?