How to find Codec's on my Macintosh

[Mark V]

How do i find out what codec'c are installed on my Macintosh?

Mark V

[qshartle]

For quicktime? If so go to macintoshHD/library/quicktime/


Q

[SERBIAN]

They are ususally in /Library/QuickTime/ folder...Also when you choose "Export" from QuickTime PRO you will get the exporting dialog where you can see all the codecs you have installed...

[Case]

Except for Apple's own stuff, that's located in /System/Library/QuickTime/, and some may be in the user's directory, ~Library/QuickTime/.
And of course the Export doesn't mention the decoders-only.

[Mark V]

Also when you choose "Export" from QuickTime PRO you will get the exporting dialog where you can see all the codecs you have installed...

I dont see and codec's when i do this. It just askes me what kind of file i want to make.

I want to find the actual codec names like "MPGA" for example.

[terryj]

Seriban forgot to take it a step further...
He just got you to the EXPORT OPTIONS, not the codecs.
in QT Pro,
go to File-->Export

select Quicktime to Quicktime Movie, click "Options".
When the Movie options window opens, select "options"
on the Video selection. this will emable a dialog drop down, from
which you can select all your codecs.

see the picture here.

[Mark V]

Apple Intermediate Codec is the only thing i dont have, where do you get that from?

[Mark V]

See my problem is when i download video clips off the internet somtimes Quicktime says it cant play that type of file so i use Forty-TwoDVD-VXPlus or another program to convert it to something i can watch. I can see what codec the video is using but i cant see what codec is installed in Quicktime.

like "MPGA" for example is a codec in a video file i have but my list is the same as yours except Apple Intermediate Codec is the only thing i dont have but this really doesnt list the codec's by file or name or type or whatever MPGA is.

Do you understand what i am trying to explain?

[terryj]

Yes I do ( to both Questions)!

First Question:
Apple Intermediate Codec is installed as part of iMovie HD,
part of iLife '05.
http://lists.apple.com/archives/quicktime-users/2005/Jan/msg00111.html
among others.....
it allows for any QT Spec based app ( DVDSP3, iMovieHD, FCP 4.5) to import and possibly export back to HDV.
I say supposedly, because I haven't test this yet...

Second Question: MPGA is defined here:
http://www.globalmusicresource.com/basics/basics2.html

It simply means MPEG Audio, a generic term used to define
Audio that isn't AIFF or AC3, whatever that means....

[Mark V]

Yeah i dont have iLife so that explains why i dont have that Codec.

I am assuming that i can instal these Codecs on my Mac, please tell me if i am wrong or they will hurt my Quicktime Pro?

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/products/qt/components/

[terryj]

They will not hurt your Quicktime Pro,
but many of these codecs aren't for
commonplace video, but for specific
applications (on2, pulse, ipix, Axel)
and some are obsolete and have been replaced
by Apple's own h.264 codec (on2, zygovideo, microcosm)

[sjk]

And why install extra codecs if you don't need them?

[Mark V]

The reason is that i download video clips and sometimes i get messages that say...

"Quicktime is missing important whatever bla bla bla that is necessary to vew this document or whatever, unfortunantly they are not available on this server or whatever"

You get the point.

[sjk]

Seems you're willing to randomly install components hoping one of them will be what QuickTime is needing and missing for playback of a particular video.

[Mark V]

No i dont want to randomly install components, i wanted to know what codecs and the files they will open but i still havent found what i am looking for yet.

[terryj]

The reason is that i download video clips and sometimes i get messages that say...

"Quicktime is missing important whatever bla bla bla that is necessary to vew this document or whatever, unfortunantly they are not available on this server or whatever"

You get the point.

These I take it happen to be more often than not, Internet downloaded files?
And I take it, more often than not, these are .avi files?

Welcome to our world here at Videohelp.com!!
Search the forums much?

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=235849&highlight=quicktime+avi+files

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=219848&highlight=quicktime+error
among others...

Your best bet is to follow the steps listed here and try to
get files converted over to QT spec, or
simply play the files in VLC.
With an infinite number of codecs that can be used to
create AVis on a PC, there is NO WAY you can get
codecs for every file you will EVER encounter, period.

Many codecs on the PC side are like 5 to 10 years old, and
have NEVER been ported to the mac, ever.
(ex.: Indeo is a BIG one you will still encounter, that is NEVER
going to be ported over to Mac OS X.)

You should adopt these simple rules of thumb:
1. if it doesn't play in QT, play it in VLC.
2, if it doesn't play in VLC, trash it.
3. If you need it in QT, to edit it or convert for use in a QT Spec app,
then try processing it with ffmpegx or DIVX DOCTOR II.
5. if ffmpegx can't handle it, trash it.

[Mark V]

After reading that post i guess i will just have to live with what i got.

Most of the time VLC works, some files are just garbage i guess.

Thanks everyone for all of your help on this subject and all of my others i have posted too, i appreciate all of the help i have got from this forum.

[sjk]

I wish VLC handled more WMV files, like those my brother sends me links to (but now he understands I prefer a QT version when it's available). Too often it just plays the audio.

[Mark V]

Forty-TwoDVD-VXPlus will convert it (WMV file) to a file Quicktime can use. Get the latest issue of MacAddict May 2005 and it comes with a disc and instructions in the magazine on how to convert the file.

[terryj]

But if you read the article CAREFULLY, it says the WMV files must be:

1. Version 9 of Windows Media Player or lower compatible.
2. Must not contain any of the Windows DRM, so VERY
prevelant with today's WMV and AVI files.

the fact you are getting audio and NOT video in VLC playing
these files points to the fact that these are encoded in WMP 10.
VLC will not support or more importantly decode, the Windows DRM.
Believe me, I asked....!

[sjk]

Yep, I understand WMV playback issues with VLC but was wishing anyway just for convenience's sake.

[terryj]

Same here, sjk!
hopefully, Gates and Co. will eventually
make a WMP10 for OSX that can
at least "dial home" to get autherntication
for the DRM.

or just get out of video altogther....