Converting .mpg movies

[baysee]

I am currently trying to convert a bunch of .mpg video files to be viewed on a Mac. The files were generated on a PC (WinXP), imported from a Medion digibox. The (Medion) included conversion program converts the program files to *.mpg, and the XP PC displays them OK. However, transferred to my Mac, QuickTime Player states that the file in question "is not a video file". Furthermore, when trying to convert on DivX it states: "The file could not be converted. It includes no recognizeable movie."

Is there a codec or a program to solve the problem?

[Case]

If you are 'only' looking for playback, then first give VLC Media Player a try.

Please confirm the video codec and audio codec in your files, so that we know what we're dealing with. A tool like MediaInfo Mac or VideoSpec will tell us this.

If these files have MPEG-2 video, then playback in QuickTime Player requires a separately purchased MPEG-2 Playback Compononent. If these files have AC3 audio in addition, then QuickTime Player still won't cut it, as QTP will only output MPEG audio from muxed MPEG files.

[pixel zombie]

also make sure you have perian...

[baysee]

If you are 'only' looking for playback, then first give VLC Media Player a try.

Please confirm the video codec and audio codec in your files, so that we know what we're dealing with. A tool like MediaInfo Mac or VideoSpec will tell us this.

If these files have MPEG-2 video, then playback in QuickTime Player requires a separately purchased MPEG-2 Playback Compononent. If these files have AC3 audio in addition, then QuickTime Player still won't cut it, as QTP will only output MPEG audio from muxed MPEG files.

Thanks for the advice! I downloaded MediaInfo, see file info below.
Also got the latest version of VLC, and it opens the file but there's no playback - VLC displays the first frame of the clip with no timeline movement.

*** MediaInfo Mac // Plain text file report
2009-09-24 00:31:46 +0300
Information for File: Alueellinen uutislähetys.mpg

General / Container Stream # 1
Total Video Streams for this File -> 1
Total Audio Streams for this File -> 1
Video Codecs Used -> MPEG-2 Video
Audio Codecs Used -> MPEG-1 Audio layer 2
File Format -> MPEG-PS
Play Time -> 12mn 0s
Total File Size -> 319 MiB
Total Stream BitRate -> 3 713 Kbps
Video Stream # 1
Codec (Human Name) -> MPEG Video
Codec Profile -> Main@Main
Frame Width -> 720 pixels
Frame Height -> 576 pixels
Frame Rate -> 25.000 fps
Total Frames -> 18011
Display Aspect Ratio -> 16/9
Video Standard -> PAL
Scan Type -> Interlaced
Scan Order -> TFF
Colorimetry -> 4:2:0
QF (like Gordian Knot) -> 0.322
Codec Settings (Matrix) -> Default
Video Stream Length -> 12mn 0s 440ms
Video Stream BitRate -> 3 341 Kbps
Video Stream BitRate (Nominal) -> 8 400 Kbps
Video Stream BitRate Mode -> VBR
Video Stream Size -> 287 MiB (90%)
Audio Stream # 1
Codec -> MPEG Audio
Audio Stream Length -> 12mn 0s 480ms
Audio Stream BitRate -> 224 Kbps
Audio Stream BitRate Mode -> CBR
Number of Audio Channels -> 2
Sampling Rate -> 48.0 KHz
Bit Depth -> 16 bits
Audio Stream Delay -> 3h 10mn
Audio Stream Size -> 19.2 MiB (6%)

[baysee]

also make sure you have perian...

Thanks, downloaded Perian but QuickTime still doesn't open the .mpg. (As I understand, Perian is providing additional tools for QuickTime Player...?)

[Case]

I downloaded MediaInfo, see file info below.

The info looks like a common DVD compliant PAL MPEG-2 Program Stream. Nothing unexpected I can see.

Also got the latest version of VLC, and it opens the file but there's no playback - VLC displays the first frame of the clip with no timeline movement.

Very odd. VLC should not have any problem with this kind of file. Not sure why the player would behave like that.

Can you get your file to play in MPlayer OSX Extended?

downloaded Perian but QuickTime still doesn't open the .mpg. (As I understand, Perian is providing additional tools for QuickTime Player...?)

Perian is a great add-on and will help QuickTime Player decode (=read) a number of formats and codecs, but it's not for MPEG files.

[baysee]

Can you get your file to play in MPlayer OSX Extended?

Thanks, the MPlayer OSX Extended displays the clip fine (after finding the proper settings). However, there's no cursor on the timeline although the clock/counter is rolling...

Now, would there be a way to convert the file into a format suitable for editing in iMovie? I have some clips that I would need to merge into one clip...
Thanks for the effort so far

[terryj]

Case's suggestion of buying the Quicktime Mpeg-2 Component is the first step to converting the Mpeg-2 files into something useful for iMovie.
The second step is once the component is bought and installed,
to use either Quicktime Pro or MpegStreamclip to import then
export the files as DV Stream files, which iMovie ( or FCE or FCP for that matter) will recognize as a compatible, editable format for you to use.

[baysee]

Case's suggestion of buying the Quicktime Mpeg-2 Component is the first step to converting the Mpeg-2 files into something useful for iMovie.
The second step is once the component is bought and installed,
to use either Quicktime Pro or MpegStreamclip to import then
export the files as DV Stream files, which iMovie ( or FCE or FCP for that matter) will recognize as a compatible, editable format for you to use.

Wow. I purchased the mpeg-2 component only to realise I have bought a Windows application. There doesn't seem to exist a Mac one...? Or am I missing something here? Bummer.
My (wife's!) PC plays back the .mpg just fine. I would really need to find a way to get my to Mac understand the file.

[terryj]

Case's suggestion of buying the Quicktime Mpeg-2 Component is the first step to converting the Mpeg-2 files into something useful for iMovie.
The second step is once the component is bought and installed,
to use either Quicktime Pro or MpegStreamclip to import then
export the files as DV Stream files, which iMovie ( or FCE or FCP for that matter) will recognize as a compatible, editable format for you to use.

Wow. I purchased the mpeg-2 component only to realise I have bought a Windows application. There doesn't seem to exist a Mac one...? Or am I missing something here? Bummer.
My (wife's!) PC plays back the .mpg just fine. I would really need to find a way to get my to Mac understand the file.

So you bought this?
if not, sounds like you bought the windows one instead.
Call Apple Direct, give them your web order #, explain the problem,
and I'm sure they will fix it.

[Case]

Wow. I purchased the mpeg-2 component only to realise I have bought a Windows application. There doesn't seem to exist a Mac one...? Or am I missing something here?

You do read what's in your basket, right?
Apple Store FI: They're both on the software list, although not side-by-side in default "top sellers" view.
QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback Component for Windows
QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback Component for Mac OS X

My (wife's!) PC plays back the .mpg just fine.

So you've said. Out of curiosity: which app?

I would really need to find a way to get my to Mac understand the file.

You misspelled "iMovie".

[baysee]

Wow. I purchased the mpeg-2 component only to realise I have bought a Windows application. There doesn't seem to exist a Mac one...? Or am I missing something here?

You do read what's in your basket, right?
Apple Store FI: They're both on the software list, although not side-by-side in default "top sellers" view.
QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback Component for Windows
QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback Component for Mac OS X

You're right, I did not look too closely at my basket. My AppleStore view did not fit the "for Windows" part... as I said: bummer.

My (wife's!) PC plays back the .mpg just fine.

So you've said. Out of curiosity: which app?

Windows Media Player.

I would really need to find a way to get my to Mac understand the file.

You misspelled "iMovie".

I actually misspelled "QuickTime Player" as well.

[Case]

My (wife's!) PC plays back the .mpg just fine.

So you've said. Out of curiosity: which app?

Windows Media Player.

If I remember correctly, WMP on XP couldn't do MPEG-2 playback without 3rd party codec either. I think only Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate do MPEG-2 playback out-of-the-box.

[baysee]

My (wife's!) PC plays back the .mpg just fine.

So you've said. Out of curiosity: which app?

Windows Media Player.

If I remember correctly, WMP on XP couldn't do MPEG-2 playback without 3rd party codec either. I think only Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate do MPEG-2 playback out-of-the-box.

It's an XP Home Edition SP3. I might have downloaded an additional codec a couple of years back...

[baysee]

Call Apple Direct, give them your web order #, explain the problem,
and I'm sure they will fix it.

I actually bought the Mac version right away as well, I'm an anxious geezer

Still can't get QuickTime Pro to handle the clip - it states something like "the duration of the clip is false". As I look at the MediaInfo data, a line says "Audio Stream Delay -> 3h 10mn"
This reading is what VLC gives as the start time for the clip, and as I told before, the timeline stands still although the clip is playing.
Is there a way to edit the clip's resource to somehow adjust the start time and/or duration to get around this?
Haven't tried it yet with another .mpg clip, though.