Can't play Mpeg-1 in Quicktime; Can't play MPEG-1 on MPEG Streamclip

This is happening on new 15" MacBook Pro with Snow Leopard. I am preparing to edit the converted MPEGs in FCP 5.14. In Quicktime, when I click to open the MPEG-1 file in Finder, I get the error message:
"The document “M2U00090.MPG” could not be opened. The movie is not in a format that QuickTime Player understands."
In MPEG Streamclip on the otherhand, when you drag the video on to app, it doesn't appear as an image. Just a status bar. The disclaimer in Mpeg Streeamclip says you should be able work with MPEG-1's without the MPEG2 component, which it recognized as being absent.

When I loaded the MPEG file into MPEG Streamclip, it prompted me to go to Apple's website and purchase the MPEG-2 component for $19.99. I went ahead and did this and I am set now on MPEG Streamclip. However, Quicktime still can't play them But what I really want to do is convert the files right away to DV on MPSTRMCLP. So I'm good. Unless anyone can answer the QT side of this problem.

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Can't play mpeg-2 on Quicktime v10.2, why?

I converted vhs home video to mpeg-2 files, they will not play on my new IMAC running OSX 10.8.4, Quicktime version 10.2. What am I doing wrong?

You need to convert the VOB files in the TS-Folder of the DVD back to DV which iMovie is designed to handle. For that you need mpegStreamclip:
http://www.squared5.com/svideo/mpeg-streamclip-mac.html
which is free, but you must also have the Apple mpeg2 plugin :
http://store.apple.com/us/product/D2187Z/A/quicktime-mpeg-2-playback-component-f or-mac-os-x
(unless you are running Lion in which case see below))
which is a mere $20.
Another possibility is to use DVDxDV:
http://www.dvdxdv.com/NewFolderLookSite/Products/DVDxDV.overview.htm
which costs $25.
For the benefit of others who may read this thread:
Obviously the foregoing only applies to DVDs you have made yourself, or other home-made DVDs that have been given to you. It will NOT work on copy-protected commercial DVDs, which in any case would be illegal.
And from the TOU of these forums:
Keep within the Law
No material may be submitted that is intended to promote or commit an illegal act.
Do not submit software or descriptions of processes that break or otherwise ‘work around’ digital rights management software or hardware. This includes conversations about ‘ripping’ DVDs or working around FairPlay software used on the iTunes Store.
If you are running Lion:
From the MPEG Streamclip homepage
The installer of the MPEG-2 Playback Component may refuse to install the component in Lion. Apple states the component is unnecessary in Lion onwards, however MPEG Streamclip still needs it. See this:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3381
To install the component in Lion, please download MPEG Streamclip 1.9.3b7 beta above; inside the disk image you will find the Utility MPEG2 Component Lion: use it to install the MPEG-2 Playback Component in Lion. The original installer's disk image (QuickTimeMPEG2.dmg) is required.
The current versions of MPEG Streamclip cannot take advantage of the built-in MPEG-2 functionality of Lion. For MPEG-2 files you still need to install the QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback Component, which is not preinstalled in Lion. You don't have to install QuickTime 7.

HT3775 So, How do I get a MacBook Pro to play mpeg video? I don't need answers detailing what it won't play. I know it won't play everything I've tried. Can anyone tell me what Apple software is necessary to play files?

I've given up, time and time again on trying to play various video's whether from an online community or via CD/DVD file. Searches offer countless non-Apple software solutions that all have inconsistent functionality. Is there an Apple product that will actually work? I have this problem with all my Apple Mac products, even the newest iMac which according to the salesman would work "no problem". Friends indicate they have never experienced this problem, but based on all the returns on internet searches I suspect I'm not the only one.
I am not a computer savy person. I just need to plug in and have the machine do what it should do.
Anyone?
thanks,
Gunpilot

I am not a computer savy person. I just need to plug in and have the machine do what it should do.
Not a problem, but that indicates you have a lot to learn.
File extensions like mpeg, mp4., avi, wmv, etc. are just wrappers. It is like a box the audio or video content is placed inside. The audio and video content must be encoded with a codec before it is placed in the box. There are thousands of codecs. Not all are installed on your Mac. You must have the same codec installed that encoded the video in order to play it. So, while Quicktime does support mpeg wrapper, it may not have the codecs to decode the internal video.
Some programs have lots of the codecs available to them, like VLC, Niceplayer, MPlayerX, etc.
You can also get "plug-ins" for Quicktime that add codecs to Quicktime, like Perian. Although it is no longer being developed, Perian still works well.
Why is it so difficult? Probably because they are always working on ways to compress the video to get better playback.

I recently purchased QuickTime 7 Pro to convert avi files to mov files for editing on Imovie. However, QuickTime won't play the files. How can I get them to play and how can I convert them to mov files?

I recently purchased QuickTime 7 Pro to convert avi files to mov files for editing on Imovie. However, QuickTime won't play the files. How can I get them to play and how can I convert them to mov files?

I recently purchased QuickTime 7 Pro to convert avi files to mov files for editing on Imovie. However, QuickTime won't play the files. How can I get them to play and how can I convert them to mov files?
Both the AVI and the MOV file extensions refer to the file container and not the compressed data the file contains. Both are generic file containers in that each may contain any valid combination of audio and/or video data that is compatible with the codec component configuration of the system on which the file was created. On the other hand, whether a file is playback compatible, conversion compatible, and/or edit compatible depends on the data actually contained in the file container. So, you are basically dealing with two separate issues here—the container and what is inside it.
Basically, if you want to make your files ediit compatible with iMovie, you must change your file container to one that is acceptable to iMovie and convert the data to edit compatible audio and/or video compression formats as may be necessary. The best approach is to determine what codecs were actually used to create the original AVI files and add them to your system if possible. In most cases a codec package like Perian can be added to your system's codec component configuration to may the AVI file playable. Once they are playable, in the QT 7 app then they can be chnged or converted to file types and compression formats that can be edited in iMovie. (While Perian handles most codecs commonly used to create AVI files, it does not handle all possibilities and, while the Perian codec package still works under cureent Mac OS versions, its development group has decided to drop further development/support of the package.)
Background: AVI is a file container originally developed by Microsoft back in 1992 but for which official support was discontinued about 11 years. Despite its limitations, Windows users still tend to use this file based on its open source ease of use and generic nature, thus, making its use so popular that most users are unwilling to switch to more modern but less generic file types. Since some AVI legacy compression formats have never been transcoded for the Mac or use beyond OS 9 or OS X PPC platforms, it is often important to know what specific compression formats are contained in the AVI file to know which codecs to add to your system and which not to add in order to avoid possible codec conflicts.
You can use many different converters to convert AVI files to iMovie edit compatible files. Most third-party apps contain their own buit-in codecs which do not relay on the Mac codec component configuration. Free ones, like HandBrake, usually have limited conversion capabilities while those that have more varied outputs are usually commercial in nature and will cost you additional cash. QT 7 Pro or the free MPEG Streamclip app allow you to access you own system's component configuration and use any available codec component like DV, AIC, MPEG-4, H.264, Photo JPEG, etc.—all of which are iMovie compatible for editing purposes—but only after making the AVI file QT 7 player compatible.
In order to determine what compression formats wewre used in your AVI files you can
1) Try checking the Finder "Info" window,
2) Use the "Inspector", "Media Info", or "Properties" window of any player app that will open the file, or
3) Use a general media utility app like "MediaInfo" to read the file characteristics.

My QuickTime player us not playing .avi files and says I need a codec I can't play no .avi files on QuickTime. How could I fix this because I want to play these files with QuickTime.

My QuickTime player us not playing .avi files and says I need a codec I can't play no .avi files on QuickTime. How could I fix this because I want to play these files with QuickTime.

Hmm . . . comes with a Utility MPEG2 Component ML app with no explanation of what it's for?
The utility app is an "assistant PKG installer." It allows Lion and Mountain Lion users to install the older QT MPEG-2 Playback Component installer PKG file which is not allowed to run on its own under Lion or Mountain Lion since these operating systems already have a QT X only MPEG-2 component embedded in the QT embedded structure. Without this utility you would have to either copy the component from an older system to your Lion or Mountain Lion system, use Pacifist for installation, or manually open the PKG contents and transfer the component to the appropriate component folder.
As to your "discussion" regarding the playback of AVI file types, there are really only two strategies here:
1) You can add component support so that QT can play the files natively or
2) You can convert the file contents to compression formats that are natively compatible with the unmodified QT component configuration.
Each user should decide for his or her own self which approach best suits their needs for a particular source file. In most cases, conforming the system's codec component configuration to play the source file directly results in higher video quality since no transcoding takes place but this strategy will not work if a codec which is required is not available for the user's operating system. On the other hand, converter utilities tend to support more built-in codecs and are easier to use since the user does not have to concern him or herself with the nature of the particular source compression formats but at the risk of some potential loss in visual quality. As to what converter to use, once again this is a matter of personal choice. In the case of commercial converters like iSkysoft, the codecs are built in while MPEG Streamclip accesses the host operating system's QT codec component configuration. I personally prefer the free HandBrake app for AVI, MKV, TS, MTS, and M2TS conversions since it has an exceptionally full-featured X.264 GUI with some user options that 97% of users are likely to never use.

Mpeg4 file format that QuickTime can play

Hi:
I got one file that was encoded by the MPEG-4 format
(Video: MPEG-4, Audio: MPEG-4 AAC) using the Advanced
Simple Profile. I could play it smoothly through the VLC
player. However, the QuickTime Player couldn't recognize it
and returned with the 2010 error code. Could anyone tell
me how to find the reason why the QuickTime couldn't play
this file? Do I need to download any extra module to make
it work?
Thanks.
Pentium 4 Windows XP Pro

That helps. I DID find something that said QuickTime six had a problem with ASP and I think that's true for 7 as well. Actually, I don't think it's so much of a problem as it is not-supported for MPEG-4 (it is for H.264). If what I'm saying sounds odd, it's because I don't know exactly what I'm talking about, but I know that one reason why MPEG-4 on the Mac looks worse than H.264 is because MPEG-4 was only designed to create "Simple Profile".
I'll do some more searching to see if I can verify that QuickTime 7 wouldn't be able to play back ASP. (Which version are you using for playback?)

How can I view mpeg videos using QuickTime?

Having difficulty viewing old mpeg files on my Macbook Pro.. QuickTime won't play it... says:

Hi,
See if VLC can play the MPEG video. VLC can play most formats that QuickTime might not be able to play.
If you like QuickTime, give Perian a try. It's a plug that allows QuickTime to play more video formats.
Hope this helps.

Can't get Quicktime videos to play once uploaded - using iWeb 08

Please help. I just updated my work website and uploaded a few quicktime videos of my TV spots. These same spots were uploaded and played fine on my last website update last year. But this time around, they're not working so well. Once uploaded, if you click on the controls under the screen, they don't respond. If you double-click the actual screen, the video starts and stops playing.
How can I get my quicktime videos to play like they're supposed to on my site? I'm using iWeb 08 and my version of Safari is 5.0.2.

Thanks for the suggestion. I checked. However, it's three different videos on three different pages, and each video is pretty much the only thing on each page.
That would be great if you would take the time to access my site and see if you can find what the problem is. My URL is www.haleyturner.com. Click on the first square, the second square, and the last square to access the quicktime video pages.

QuickTime: can't move to a specific point when playing .WMA audio files

I use a lot of .WMA audio files recorded on my Olympus Digital Voice recorder. Since the latest update of QuickTime I cannot move to a specific point in a file. When I click and drag on the diamond cursor it won't move. The only way to move through the file is to play it or 'fast' forward it - which takes ages.

I have the same problem. when playing wma or wmv file, simply just cannot drag the progress bar to a specific position. Just have to progress from the very beginning to the end. Once it has been played to the end, I can move the progress bar. Very weird
I have both flip4Mac and perian installed with the latest version.
Could anybody please help.
cheers

My quicktime can't play avi file

HI everyone does someone know why my latest quicktime can't play avi file?

Let me tell you what are you doing wrong...
you just followed the wrong road try this one instead and you will love it.
*1st of all*: Dont pay attention to QuickTime, no matter what movie you want to view
just download and install VLC Media Player and your worries about formats, video codecs, audio codecs, multi zone dvd reproduction will be over in a sec!
just "open as" > VLC Media Player and you will see everything and if you have a subtitle file, just drag it into the movie

HT3775 why can't i play .wmv file in quicktime even after i download codec from windows? can anyone help me wit this please!!!!!

why can't i play .wmv file in quicktime even after i download codec from windows? can anyone help me wit this please!!!!!

Have you done the obvious things to try to fix it: quit Quicktime then start it back up again, log out then back in, reboot.
Edit: Just read one of your later posts. If VLC won't play it, this is unrelated to Quicktime and Flip4Mac. Are you sure these wmv files are okay?

QuickTime can't play H264+AAC file??

I have a H264+AAC file,
it played on VLC player is ok,
but it can't play on QuickTime,
have any tool can detect what's wrong?
is it incorrect file format?

Maybe you can learn a bit more about this mysterious movie. In quicktime (and probably VLC too) there is an Inspector (in Quicktime it's invoked by Window->Inspector or Command-I. It may provide more information about the nature of the video even if it's not playing normally.
If you can post a screen shot of an Inspector window maybe we can be more helpful.
dick glendon

HT3775 can't play wmv file on quicktime?

I can't play .wmv files on quicktime. I installed both QuickTime MPEG2 and Flip4Mac WMV hoping that this would solve the problem but it did not. When trying to play any audio .wmv file I get an error box stating "the document (filename).wmv could not be opened. The movie is not in a format the QuickTime Player understands. You may need to install additional software to open this type of file". Anyone know what I might need here?

Hmm, Perian should provide flv playback in Quicktime. Maybe you need to update Perian? I used to always use Perian but since upgrading to Lion I have not installed it and now rely on VLC for non-apple standard media playback. Deluxe can handle the flv-format.It will convert flv to mov. Hope it helps

I am using OS 10.7 Lion. Quicktime will not play avi files. One support forum gave 2 links to get them but I got a 404 error. Can anyone help?

I am using OS 10.7 Lion. Quicktime will not play avi files. One support forum gave 2 links to get the proper codecs but I got a 404 error. Can anyone help?

You can also use VLC
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-macosx.htm
It woks very well, can read almost anything, and also lets you do conversions to other formats.

I took some videos using my iPhone 5c and uploaded them to my computer. I can play the videos in iPhoto, but when I open them in QuickTime, they are dark and silent. Why can't I see them in QuickTime?

I took some videos using my iPhone 5c and uploaded them to my computer. I can play the videos in iPhoto, but when I open them in QuickTime, they are dark and silent. Why can't I see them in QuickTime?

Make a temporary, backup copy (if you don't already have a backup copy) of the library and apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Select the options identified in the screenshot.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
In the next window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
OT

Can't play Mpeg-1 in Quicktime; Can't play MPEG-1 on MPEG Streamclip

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