Quicktime .mov files not working any more

rmack350 wrote on 4/18/2013, 1:50 PM

Check to see if other MOV files that you know were good still play.

Mov is a container. All sorts of stuff could be inside it and it's likely the client gave you something for which you don't have the codec. Usually when audio plays and video doesn't it's a sign that you have the right audio codec but are missing the video codec.

You can find out about the Quicktime file either by loading it in Quicktime and pressing <CTRL+i> or by inspecting the file with MediaInfo. Either method should start to give you a clue as to what's inside the MOV file and what codec you might need.

Or you could ask the client.

Rob

Kazzy wrote on 4/18/2013, 2:18 PM

Here is the media info below. I am not sure it is a codec problem as quicktime will now not open any quicktime file. The client said that it plays on their pc with quicktime 7.7.

Complete name : A:\Military appreciation\Military Appreciation Concert.mov.mov
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : QuickTime
Codec ID : qt
File size : 175 GiB
Duration : 3h 31mn
Overall bit rate mode : Variable
Overall bit rate : 118 Mbps
Encoded date : UTC 2013-04-14 21:19:32
Tagged date : UTC 2013-04-14 21:19:32

Video
ID : 1
Format : MPEG Video
Format version : Version 2
Format profile : High@High
Format settings, BVOP : No
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Format settings, GOP : N=1
Codec ID : xd5f
Duration : 3h 31mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 115 Mbps
Maximum bit rate : 100.0 Mbps
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Standard : NTSC
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:2
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Compression mode : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 1.852
Time code of first frame : 13:47:36;07
Time code source : Group of pictures header
Stream size : 170 GiB (97%)
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2013-04-14 21:19:32
Tagged date : UTC 2013-04-14 21:19:32

Audio #1
ID : 2
Format : PCM
Format settings, Endianness : Little
Format settings, Sign : Signed
Codec ID : sowt
Duration : 3h 31mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 1 536 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Stream size : 2.27 GiB (1%)
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2013-04-14 21:19:32
Tagged date : UTC 2013-04-14 21:19:32

Audio #2
ID : 3
Format : PCM
Format settings, Endianness : Little
Format settings, Sign : Signed
Codec ID : sowt
Duration : 3h 31mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 1 536 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Bit depth : 16 bits
Stream size : 2.27 GiB (1%)
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2013-04-14 21:19:32
Tagged date : UTC 2013-04-14 21:19:32

Other
ID : 4
Type : Time code
Format : QuickTime TC
Duration : 3h 31mn
Time code of first frame : 13:47:37;08
Time code settings : Striped
Language : English
Encoded date : UTC 2013-04-14 21:19:32
Tagged date : UTC 2013-04-14 21:19:32

videoITguy wrote on 4/18/2013, 2:44 PM

Not certain of your media-info stats read...but it is possible if you have an Mpeg2 codec wrapped in a .mov container...that file type can only be opened in Quiktime apps by having an add-on to Quicktime that must be paid for...it is not expensive, but it is not free.

Kazzy wrote on 4/18/2013, 3:05 PM

HMM, interesting. I noticed the codec id matches the XDCAM EX codec but not sure if vegas has that one and how to install the codec even if I found it online. I should mention that the computer asks for permission every time I want to open quicktime.

rmack350 wrote on 4/18/2013, 3:35 PM

I should mention that the computer asks for permission every time I want to open quicktime.

Has it always done that or is this something new?

XDCAM EX wouldn't normally be in a Mov file in Vegas's normal habitat. But it makes some sense since (I think) XDCAM EX is mpeg2, and FCP would wrap it in a quicktime wrapper. FCP is notorious for making media unusable outside of FCP.

I assume you've rebooted the computer at some point. Maybe this media is just hanging quicktime and leaving the process running in the background. You'd see Quicktime running if you looked at task manager.

rmack350 wrote on 4/18/2013, 3:44 PM

Here's a conversation about this. I don't know if it solves your problem but it might help:
http://forums.creativecow.net/thread/142/861285

Basically, when FCP imports XDCAM EX it wraps them in Quicktime wrappers. These aren't easily readable on the PC unless you buy a codec (Maybe someone has a better answer. I know this has been discussed here before.)

The better answer would be to ask your client to export in another format. For example, you could read, but not write, a ProRes file. Or they might be able to export an XDCAM EX .MXF file, which Vegas should have no problem with.

Rob

musicvid10 wrote on 4/19/2013, 12:01 PM

Quicktime-wrapped MPEG-2 can't be opened in Windows except by purchasing their plugin iirc.

Laurence wrote on 4/19/2013, 12:44 PM

>Quicktime-wrapped MPEG-2 can't be opened in Windows except by purchasing their plugin iirc.

That's how I do it.

Kazzy wrote on 4/19/2013, 1:27 PM

Thanks for your help everybody! I will buy the plugin and hope for the best.
Kazzy

rmack350 wrote on 4/19/2013, 1:42 PM

You can start with a demo of the plugin to make sure it'll work.

http://www.calibratedsoftware.com/QXDDownload.asp

Rob

<Edit>I doubt it's this simple but you might try renaming one of the .mov files as .mxf before laying down the money. Just to be sure.</edit>

Kazzy wrote on 4/19/2013, 2:35 PM

I downloaded the trial of the XD codec but so far no luck. I think something is wrong with quicktime on my computer as I have reinstalled the latest version and it still will not open most of the time and when it does it will not even play MP4 or quicktime files that it used to play . ..

rmack350 wrote on 4/19/2013, 3:12 PM

Ugh, what a mess. I guess you'll have to find a way to fix quicktime before you go any further.

From that thread I linked to, it seems like it's possible for FCP to export xdcam ex as an MXF file rather than a .mov. If your client would do that then that might get you moving, at least.

rmack350 wrote on 4/19/2013, 3:14 PM

What version of Windows are you running?

Kazzy wrote on 4/19/2013, 5:15 PM

I am using Windows 7 Home Premium. It should be noted that the church that live switched this video was using a Newtek Tricaster system and recording to a pc.
I am getting ready to tell the client that they will have to edit the video since I can't seem to make it work on this end.

musicvid10 wrote on 4/19/2013, 8:21 PM

Looks like two different plugins are being recommended.
Have you tried Apple's MPEG-2 plugin for Quicktime?

rmack350 wrote on 4/19/2013, 9:05 PM

The codec i was linking to is only if the OP's .mov files are xdcam ex media. Those would be mpeg2 internally in an mpeg4 container.

Sony provides softare for fcp to import xdcam ex and wrap it in a .mov wrapper. Based on comments in the cow thread i linked to it sounds like they could export to mxf.

Really, the first thing to ask them is what they exported as. Then find out if they can give you a non quicktime file instead. Don't be shy.

john_dennis wrote on 4/20/2013, 8:46 AM

"Complete name : A:\Military appreciation\Military Appreciation Concert"

This is likely waaaaaaaay off the codec subject but having apparently redundant file extensions has caused me problems with other applications.

Kazzy wrote on 4/20/2013, 9:51 AM

Wow-this is my first experience with the Tricaster so that is very helpful information.
Thanks to all of you for your generous input and I am going to try a few more things to see if vegas can "see" it.

Kazzy wrote on 4/20/2013, 9:52 AM

I will see if I can try this plugin. Can't hurt.

rmack350 wrote on 4/20/2013, 2:01 PM

MediaInfo is definitely telling you it's xdcam ex:

"xd5f" XDCAM HD422 1080p30 CBR

And looking at it the other way, if I create an xdcam-ex file using Vegas then I get an mp4 file (or I could get an mxf) and mediainfo tells me that it's MPEG-4 format (or MXF) and the video CODEC is MPEG-2.

So it sounds like you'd be better off if they gave you an .mp4 file. Next question is whether you can convert what you have to .mp4 or .mxf?

And I think the big question is why has your quicktime installation totally died? I assume you've rebooted and then played a known good .mov file (before ever trying the .mov file that you know you can't play)?

In any case, let us know how things play out.

Rob

rmack350 wrote on 4/20/2013, 2:10 PM

I was just looking around for a converter. Maybe this will work...

http://www.convergent-design.com/Downloads.aspx#nanoFlash-7

rs170a wrote on 4/20/2013, 11:30 PM

It should be noted that the church that live switched this video was using a Newtek Tricaster system and recording to a pc.

The Tricaster I use records to a high bitrate MPEG -2 file. I bring that into Vegas and convert it to MXF format which is much easier for my Vegas system to handle.

Mike

Grazie wrote on 4/21/2013, 12:48 AM

I've read your posts twice.

1] Can you please confirm that you CAN'T read any MOV files? I may have missed your salient point on this.

2] If you CAN read MOV files, please do try John_Deniss's suggestion to remove the extra suffix ".mov.mov" from a COPY of that file.

3] Having done a bit of INTERNET research here's a possibility to try:

i] Make a NEW folder of no more than 8 characters and on a ROOT of a drive, something like :

D:\Mymovs

ii) Rename the MOV to something simple like - Test1.mov - and copy it to the new D:\Mymovs .

HTH

Grazie

mikelinton wrote on 4/22/2013, 2:43 PM

If the MOV files are XDCAM EX codec, you are SOL. Thank Apple for re-wrapping everything in to QuickTime - it's so 1995. Your only option is to bring those files into something like Compressor on a Mac and then export them to something more PC friendly. That's about your only option I'm afraid. We've tried everything under the sun here, and that's the only work around we've been able to find. Good luck!