making .wmv file read on a mac

merkelck wrote on 8/31/2003, 7:02 PM
I have made a couple of short .wmv files for use in email. Several clients say that all they get on their mac's is the audio. Sure enough, when I play that file on my iMac, all I get is the audio. Everyone seems to be using OSX and running the latest Windows Media Player on the effected machines. Short of telling everyone to trash the mac, does any one have the answer to this problem?
Kent

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 8/31/2003, 8:23 PM
Try sending them .mov or .mpg files.
merkelck wrote on 8/31/2003, 9:38 PM
That thought had occured to me, but it is just another step and I don't think MS3.0 will output either of those. I would have to go through yet another convertor. I have a couple of other .wmv files that work fine on the mac but I don't know where or how they were generated.
Kent
Chienworks wrote on 9/1/2003, 6:47 AM
VideoFactory 2 outputs both .mov and .mpg files. I can't think of any reason why MovieStudio 3 wouldn't. You do have to install the complete QuickTime with authoring components in order to get .mov output, but this is free and rather painless.
merkelck wrote on 9/1/2003, 10:35 AM
Further investigation does reveal there are many choices for outputting various file formats.
I tried the .mov file in several resolutions. They seem to run on the mac all right. It still is a mystery as to why some .wmv files will play on the mac and those from MS3.0 will not play the video. I also found it interesting that MS3.0 can output a special file for DVD Architect. Now if I could just find that program...
You don't suppose Sony has something in mind with that do you?
Kent
discdude wrote on 9/1/2003, 4:51 PM
There is a simple answer to your question. Macs can't play Windows Media 9 files (They can only playback 8 or below). From what I hear, Movie Studio outputs Windows Media 9 files.
merkelck wrote on 9/1/2003, 8:29 PM
That would sure do it. I just checked the version on the mac and it is 7.1.3.0267. It just did an update so there isn't any thing better for the mac yet. And yes, the MS3.0 says it is making version 9 of WMP files.
Kent