I have a black macbook and a 27" iMac and a video camera that shoots to .MOV files. I had been able to view the movie files on both computers as well as edit them in iMovie. After a software update from Apple I was unable to view the files any more. I can hear the audio, but the screen is black.
I reformatted the macbook and restored leopard (was running snow leopard) and could view the files. When I installed the necessary software updates and iLife I could no longer view the files.
Kicker: I can view the .MOV files on a PC. I can convert them from .MOV to .MOV (yes, I said that right) on said PC then view them just fine on the macs. Does anyone have any suggestions to view the files? Apple insisted it was my camera, but that is obviously not it.
Thank you for any suggestions! (Also, I can upload the .MOV clips to youtube from the mac and youtube will play them, but I can't play them on the mac)
Thanks again!
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Answers (4)
0
Votes
That just sounds like the software update broke something
I'd try another video player until that's fixed (unless the video won't play in any player). Something like VLC Media Player or MPlayer
Replies
I tried that and it works (VLC Player) but I'm more concerned about using iMovie. Because it won't read my files. And this has been a few months now... And Apple Support said the camera manufacturer needs to write a new codec
So I don't know how helpful that is gonna be... or if it will ever happen
So I don't know how helpful that is gonna be... or if it will ever happen
cpowers15
12th Aug 2010
download the AVC1 decoder from here:
http://mac.wareseeker.com/Multimedia-Design/avc1decoder-0.6.7.zip/338507
follow the instructions in the readme file. and you should be good to go after that.
http://mac.wareseeker.com/Multimedia-Design/avc1decoder-0.6.7.zip/338507
follow the instructions in the readme file. and you should be good to go after that.
whatdiga
20th Dec 2010
I will give it a shot when I get home today, thanks! I've since resorted to using a buddy's camera lately (which doesn't hurt since it's 1080p and mines 480)
But hopefully this will solve my problem and I won't have to be back and forth between multiple computers
But hopefully this will solve my problem and I won't have to be back and forth between multiple computers
cpowers15
21st Dec 2010
0
Votes
Get a PC...
Ok ok sorry, couldn't resist 
Can you uninstall and reinstall quicktime on a MAC? I will admit that I am not the most MAC savvy individual but it would seem to me as though the underlining app that plays your .MOV files is now corrupt.
Can you uninstall and reinstall quicktime on a MAC? I will admit that I am not the most MAC savvy individual but it would seem to me as though the underlining app that plays your .MOV files is now corrupt.
12th Aug 2010
Replies
I have deleted and re-installed the downloadable version of QuickTime from Apple, but unfortunately that still doesn't allow me to view the files (just see the black screen with audio behind it)
I would have included more details in the original post but there are a lot of them. Apple thought the card was corrupt, thought my software wasn't up to date, thought a lens cover was left on the camera, too nearly an infinite array of items.
not gonna lie jimmy-jam, it sucks converting files on a PC to use them on a mac when "everything works" --> And I'm not a PC hater by any means, have one, I just prefer macs
I would have included more details in the original post but there are a lot of them. Apple thought the card was corrupt, thought my software wasn't up to date, thought a lens cover was left on the camera, too nearly an infinite array of items.
not gonna lie jimmy-jam, it sucks converting files on a PC to use them on a mac when "everything works" --> And I'm not a PC hater by any means, have one, I just prefer macs
cpowers15
12th Aug 2010
but there is just too much I need Windoze for
jimmy-jam
12th Aug 2010
0
Votes
Codecs
I don't have any Mac to play with these things, but what you're describing indicates that you lack a s.c. codec for the specific file format you get from your camera.
mov, avi, mkv etc. are "containers", inside which different encodings can be used. It's possible that you got a codec update together with your camera and installed it. Now, when software was updated, all old codecs were thrown away.
So:
Easy way: reinstall the software that came with the camera.
Better way: Open the file where you get a black screen, somehow try to find information about the "Video codec" used in the file (I would have right-clicked, but you don't do that on a mac
) Then go hunting for an updated codec driver for said video format and your computer type. Tip: go to your camera vendors support pages.
Good luck!
mov, avi, mkv etc. are "containers", inside which different encodings can be used. It's possible that you got a codec update together with your camera and installed it. Now, when software was updated, all old codecs were thrown away.
So:
Easy way: reinstall the software that came with the camera.
Better way: Open the file where you get a black screen, somehow try to find information about the "Video codec" used in the file (I would have right-clicked, but you don't do that on a mac
) Then go hunting for an updated codec driver for said video format and your computer type. Tip: go to your camera vendors support pages.Good luck!
12th Aug 2010
Replies
thanks for the suggestion and when I get home tonight I'll give it a shot then let ya know how it goes. Thanks again!
cpowers15
16th Aug 2010
So I am able to convert the video to a viewable file (.avi has been the best but can also do mp4) but then iMovie still won't allow me to import the files.
It "processes" the import but then never actually adds any files to the project. This maybe hard to diagnose without a mac, but I would love any suggestions.
Kinda frustrating not being able to use a computer that is just supposed to work...
It "processes" the import but then never actually adds any files to the project. This maybe hard to diagnose without a mac, but I would love any suggestions.
Kinda frustrating not being able to use a computer that is just supposed to work...
cpowers15
23rd Aug 2010
avi and mov are just file formats, which may contain different ways to encode video and/or sound.
So:
Step 1.
Shoot a short sample movie. One second is enough.
Step 2a.
Have someone with the vlc player installed check what codecs are used natively in your camera.
Step 2b.
Find out what codecs your favorite software already supports.
Step 3.
See if a suitable codec (or import filter) can be found for your favourite software.
Otherwise, try to find a convenient way to convert. (If you have good internet speed, there are even free online services that may help you)
EditAdd: You can download vlc for mac, to at least watch your films directly. (And check codec details)
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
So:
Step 1.
Shoot a short sample movie. One second is enough.
Step 2a.
Have someone with the vlc player installed check what codecs are used natively in your camera.
Step 2b.
Find out what codecs your favorite software already supports.
Step 3.
See if a suitable codec (or import filter) can be found for your favourite software.
Otherwise, try to find a convenient way to convert. (If you have good internet speed, there are even free online services that may help you)
EditAdd: You can download vlc for mac, to at least watch your films directly. (And check codec details)
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/
TobiF
23rd Aug 2010
which are not read by macs so unfortunately codecs don't really help... And I can view them, just not edit them.
And there are no firmware updates or anything for my camera that I have found as of late DXG 566V
And there are no firmware updates or anything for my camera that I have found as of late DXG 566V
cpowers15
23rd Aug 2010
I searched for your camera type on Google and quickly found a sample video made with such a device.
On my pc, it opened well in vlc and I got both video and sound.
But the useful part is the codec-information:
Video
H264 - MPEG-4 AVC (part 10)(avc1)
Resolution 1280x720
29.97 fps
Sound:
MPEG AAC Audio (mp4a)
Stereo
Sampling 48 khz
So now we know what we get from the camcorder.
Next, I visited apple's page about imovie.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3290
Here it's a bit harder to grasp the full situation, but it seems that different versions of mpeg4 have been added lately to imovie. Do you have the latest version?
Further, some video programs support plug-ins to deal with new codec formats. This is, of course, both convenient and dangerous. (It's popular trick to have the "codec exe file not only install a codec plugin, but also add some malware to your system.)
It seems you're right that imovie doesn't have any framwork for "import filters", so if the latest version still can't handle your films, then you need to find a converter program. Look for conversion into mpeg2, since that format seems to be well supported by imovie.
On my pc, it opened well in vlc and I got both video and sound.
But the useful part is the codec-information:
Video
H264 - MPEG-4 AVC (part 10)(avc1)
Resolution 1280x720
29.97 fps
Sound:
MPEG AAC Audio (mp4a)
Stereo
Sampling 48 khz
So now we know what we get from the camcorder.
Next, I visited apple's page about imovie.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3290
Here it's a bit harder to grasp the full situation, but it seems that different versions of mpeg4 have been added lately to imovie. Do you have the latest version?
Further, some video programs support plug-ins to deal with new codec formats. This is, of course, both convenient and dangerous. (It's popular trick to have the "codec exe file not only install a codec plugin, but also add some malware to your system.)
It seems you're right that imovie doesn't have any framwork for "import filters", so if the latest version still can't handle your films, then you need to find a converter program. Look for conversion into mpeg2, since that format seems to be well supported by imovie.
TobiF
23rd Aug 2010
I believe Perian is similar to installing video codecs, and I have that installed with the latest version, and I have the latest version of iMovie, making sure both of those were up to date were high on my list.
I'll give the mpeg2 format a shot! Thanks for the suggestion. It just seems weird that apple software wont accept a quicktime file (.MOV) that my camera shoots in... especially when it has worked in the past and I can convert it on a PC then use it. Weird
I'll give the mpeg2 format a shot! Thanks for the suggestion. It just seems weird that apple software wont accept a quicktime file (.MOV) that my camera shoots in... especially when it has worked in the past and I can convert it on a PC then use it. Weird
cpowers15
23rd Aug 2010
Sony is probably too busy enabling support for Sony cameras
EditAdd: Oops. This was apple... Do they make cameras?
EditAdd: Oops. This was apple...
Do they make cameras?
TobiF
23rd Aug 2010
0
Votes
Quicktime update?
Are you running the latest Quicktime? There was an update recently.
21st Dec 2010
