Codec: MPEG-2 Video, Linear PCM doesn't function in iMac 10.8.3

Question

I have recently purchased an iMac OSX version 10.8.3 which has Quicktime v10.2.  Today while working to edit some old digitized footage I opened up some files that were shot on a Sony FX1 shot in HDV 1080i60 and digitized through FCP (Final Cut Pro) which made them into MPEG-2 Video, Linear PCM, Timecode files files.  On my older MacBook Pro 10.5.8 I can open them with Quicktime 7.6.9 and play the files without a problem (it also has FCP with Qmaster, etc).  In my research I found I can open and view the files on my iMac, if I open them with VCL.  Also note I can open them on the QT player in the iMac and hear the audio just no video. 
Now I did read some responses that include converting the footage to H.264 or some other format, however I am dealing with over 500gb of footage so that's not really a viable issue.  My assumption is that I am going to need to purchase some upgrade to QT to get this stuff to play or hopefully download a compatible software that will make this all go away with little trouble...
Does anyone know of the software that could solve this problem?  Any personal experience out there for solving this?
Thanks in advance for your time and consideration.

Answer 1

I think the answer to this in no-not that I know of, unless it was installed as part of the stock purchase.  However I am NOT getting a message from MPEG StreamClip to install it or anything for that matter.  Instead when I drag and drop the file into MPEG StreamClip I get a white screen from which I can play audio, but no video.
The QT MPEG-2 Playback component is sold by Apple so I assume you would know if you had purchased and installed it. The lack of a message from the MPEG Streamclip app would tend to indicate that either the file you are trying to open does not contain MPEG-2 compressed data or that the data is not being read/loaded to the application. Since you indicate the file opens in apps like VLC, the QT Player, and MPEG Streamclip, can you post a copy of the "Media Information", "Inspector", and "Show Stream Info" windows. (Am assuming here that the MPEG-2/PCM data is not "muxed" within the MOV container which is a separate problem.)
I reviewed the article and downloaded QT7 on this version of iMac, which I gather that it was not there before.  However the footage problem is not resolved.  I did read where the article suggests I purchase QT7 Pro...is this the next step in the trouble shooting?  Do I need to purchase this?  It this what you are referring to as the component that need be purchased or is there another?  And if no, do you know where can I find the Apple playback component?
a) If you upgrade an older operating system to Snow Leopard, Lion, or Mountain Lion and had QT 7 Pro installed on the older system, then the system installer should normally install a 32-/64-bit compatible version of QT 7 and apply the "pro" key automatically. Systems purchased with Snow Leopard, Lion, or Mountain Lion pre-installed do not have a QT 7 player installed.
b) It would be expected that QT 7 v7.6.6 would not play the file if MPEG Streamclip (which you previously tried) could not play the file. Both apps access the same embedded QT structure within the operating system and employ the same codec component configuration installed on your system.
c) It would be a waste of time and money to purchase a QT 7 "Pro" key if you cannot play the file using the standard player since the "Pro" key only adds editing features and not new playback components. Once playback is working you can consider your need for the "pro" features.
d) See http://store.apple.com/us/product/D2187Z/A/quicktime-mpeg-2-playback-component-f or-mac-os-x?fnode=62 You will note that this component is not required for/not used by QT X based apps but is still required for QT "classic" based apps such as QT 7/QT 7 Pro, GarageBand, MPEG Streamclip, etc. once you get it installed—which is another problem.
I do want to purchase and install...can I find this within this Apple site or are there other Apple supported sites I can find it?
See Apple Store link above. However, my personal recommendation at this point would be to hold off on this purchase until it is determined just what your current playback problem is. For instance, can you post a sample problem file for download in order to examine/test on my system?
I am not sure I understand how to answer this completely, however I trancoded/imported these files from tape through the capture feature in FCP5 and the files have been living and transfered from drive to drive over a series of 8 or so years.  They have never NOT played on my MacBook Pro which was not actually the computer they were created from, but since they functioned here I didn't think twice about.  However I don't think this is answering your question.  It may be best to ask how do I learn about if they are orphaned or not, so I can properly answer?
Basically, a media file consists of a container in which data is placed. In some cases only certain foms of compressed data can be contained in a specific container type. In other cases, multiple or any form of compressed data can be contained. For instance, an MOV file container may hold any form of compressed data that was compatible with the codec component configuration for the system on which the file was created. Unfortunately, this does not mean the file will be compatible with other systems. Since you indicate the files were imported or captured by FCP5, their compression format would depend on both the tape device and/or "Easy Setup" software option used to store the original digitized data which thereafter may or may not have been re-rendered to another compression format during or after your project was completed as part of the "output" process. Since there seems to be some question as to the actual compression format of the data you are trying to access, the first thing you need to do is reconfirm this information. Here are the usual medods of doing this:
a) If files do not open in any media player, use the Finder "Info" window to see what it can tell you about the file. This information may be minimal.
b) If the file opens in a media player app, then use that app's "Media Info", "Inspector", "Stream", "Properties" or similar window to see what it can tell you.
c) You can also use a dedicated utility app like MidiaInfo (free) to examine the file characteristics. These apps usually provide the most information.
(NOTE: In the case of most of these apps, it is usually best to simply screen capture the information window and post it to the forum since most users fail to provide suplementary details about the file which may or may not become significant later.)
d) "Orphaned" files usually refer to "reference" files. Reference files do not contain all of the data needed for playback. Instead, they contain a resource pointer to another file that actually contains the needed playback data, as well as, playing instructions telling how the resource data is to be played. When a reference file is moved to a different drive, the resource data must also be moved. It it isn't, then the data will become "orphaned" when the reference file tries to locate and play it. Reference files are usually very small and are handy for the passing of data from one application to another—such as when sending data from FCP to DVDSP for burning or from iMovie to iDVD. If your files play in VLC then either they are unorphaned reference files or they are standalone files. So, once again if the files play in VLC but not in QT, then we need to look at the specific compression formats involved to determine just what the problem is.
THIS IS GREAT NEWS!  This is an issue of great interest to me.  I copied FCP6 from my MacBook Pro to my iMac, but the files did not function.  I also attempted to install them from disk, but I received a message that the software is not supported.   I was under the impression FCP 6 was not compatible with this iMac and Mountain Lion, then I had heard from a friend that they corrected that but I haven't seen any change on my system and I have update my software to current at this point.  Do you have thoughts on this and/or how I can get my FCP 6 to function on my iMac?  I would love to be able to make use of it.
In my case, I migrated the everything (including the FCP Suite installation) from my Leopard system to my new iMac while it was operating under Snow Leopard and updated the iMac to Lion and later to Mountain Lion. Based on what you say, it appears the FCP installer, like the QT MPEG-2 Playback Component installer package, is not compatible with Lion or Mountain Lion. This does not mean the apps are not compatible with these systems but it does likely mean you would have to use a third-party app like Pacifist to install the FCP software package. (Pacifist can also be used to install the QT MPEG-2 Playback component instead of the "helper" intaller utility provided in the MPEG Streamclip download mentioned above.) Have not really tested this method of installing FCP on Mac OS X v10.8.3, but it does seem logical that it would work since I can still use FCP still operated under Mountain Lion.