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pcw · Jun 17, 2006, 06:49 AM

I've recently migrated from the PC world to the Mac world. On the PC I used to use a codec called FFDSHOW and all the movies would run perfectly.

Now on the Mac what kind of codecs should I download to be able to watch all the movies? And please don't tell me to get VLC because I like to use QuickTime player and get the whole "integrated" look of the OS.

Grrr · Jun 17, 2006, 07:10 AM

Well theres the DIVX codecs for a start.. Flip4Mac is a codec of sorts.. Very useful and well worth the install.
But even these 2 don't cater for everything.. I don't know about everyone else, but once in a while i still come across files that QT wont play properly.. So rather than juggle plugins and codecs and what not, i just give up and take the lazy option of using VLC. I realise you don't like it, but I think you'll find yourself using it sooner or later anyway.

TETENAL · Jun 17, 2006, 08:22 AM

DivX or 3ivx for DivX-movies.
Flip4Mac for Windows Media movies.

With these two codecs installed I have not yet encountered a movie that QuickTime couldn't play but VLC could.

Apfhex · Jun 17, 2006, 02:35 PM

Divx is pretty much the one codec you need. But why not VLC? There's nothing to be gained by using QuickTime Player over VLC.

Horsepoo!!! · 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by Apfhex

Divx is pretty much the one codec you need. But why not VLC? There's nothing to be gained by using QuickTime Player over VLC.

Better integration...*BOOM*.

edit: My bad...you *did* say QuickTime Player. VLC is much better than QT Player in terms of features. The advantage of going with QuickTime codecs though is that if you don't use QuickTime Player and use another QT-based player, you'll still be able to play the media formats handled by the codecs which is a big +.

wataru · Jun 17, 2006, 03:40 PM

VLC and MPlayer better handle malformed files, such as partially finished downloads. Also, they both have a playlist/queue system, whereas QuickTime Player does not.

plastiqueusa · Jun 17, 2006, 04:04 PM

There's also an AC3 codec for Quicktime (which finally works well on Intel Macs):

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/27300

TETENAL · Jun 17, 2006, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by Horsepoo!!!

VLC is much better than QT Player in terms of features.

What?

Multiple open videos: QuickTime Yes, VLC loses
Fullscreen onscreen controls: QuickTime Yes, VLC loses
Live scrubbing: QuickTime Yes, VLC loses
Browser Plug-In: QuickTime Yes, VLC crashes
Window controls: QuickTime intuitive, VLC scattered through two different windows
Video editing: QuickTime Yes, VLC loses
Recording: QuickTime Yes, VLC loses
Obscure codecs: QuickTime with third party codecs, VLC breaking patent laws

It's VLC that loses in terms of features here.

pcw · Jun 17, 2006, 05:35 PM

Alright, thanks for your input I guess I'll go with VLC for less hassle although I'd prefer to use QuickTime for the "integrated" look and feel

angelmb · Jun 17, 2006, 05:55 PM

Are able any of them to play obsolete and retarded MS MPEG4v2 movies ?

I had found this codec but it seems to be MIA…

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/11164

-I can not check if VLC, QT or MPlayer do it since I am not the one trying to get them playing-

Salty · Jun 17, 2006, 06:47 PM

I keep VLC around for AVI files and NicePlayer for quicktime stuff.

Uncle Skeleton · Jun 17, 2006, 06:48 PM

http://homepage.mac.com/hmason/mac-ms-mpeg4v2/
http://homepage.mac.com/hmason/mac-ms-mpeg4v1/

Uncle Skeleton · Jun 17, 2006, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by TETENAL

Recording: QuickTime Yes, VLC loses

VLC actually can record too, but predicting when it will work and when it won't is less reliable than QT, which can say ourtright when it won't be working for you.

Another plus for QT is pitch-corrected speed changes. Those things are way cool.

angelmb · Jun 18, 2006, 06:24 AM

Originally Posted by Uncle Skeleton

http://homepage.mac.com/hmason/mac-ms-mpeg4v2/
http://homepage.mac.com/hmason/mac-ms-mpeg4v1/

Thank you very much.

pheonixash · Jun 26, 2006, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by TETENAL

What?

Multiple open videos: QuickTime Yes, VLC loses
Fullscreen onscreen controls: QuickTime Yes, VLC loses
Live scrubbing: QuickTime Yes, VLC loses
Browser Plug-In: QuickTime Yes, VLC crashes
Window controls: QuickTime intuitive, VLC scattered through two different windows
Video editing: QuickTime Yes, VLC loses
Recording: QuickTime Yes, VLC loses
Obscure codecs: QuickTime with third party codecs, VLC breaking patent laws

It's VLC that loses in terms of features here.

Dude your listing features of QT Pro, which you have to pay for, while VLC is free. Heck, you can't make your video fullscreen in QT, what's the use of the controls?

headbirth · Jun 28, 2006, 09:49 AM

Here's one I found for flac:

http://damien.drix.free.fr/qtflac/

I think they're out there, but just not advertised.

amru · Jul 3, 2006, 02:03 AM

ok, im also a new mac user and this thread has been really helpful. thnx guys.

i dled divx and 3ivx and the ac3 filter.

my question is do i need both ivx and 3ivx? [and if i dont, how do i uninstall the latter]

also i was having problems w/ audio [no sound but great quality video] and finally dled the ac3 filter which only solved half of the problems.. since they are still more .avi files that dont have any audio

any help would be much appreciated to wht i should now do. [also i want to stick to quicktime]

TETENAL · Jul 3, 2006, 04:46 AM

DivX and 3ivx do the same thing. They provide the DivX video codec for QuickTime. I don't think you can even install them at the same time without issues. It's one or the other. The installers should have come with an uninstall option. You should use that when possible. If you can't for some reason, you can look into /Library/QuickTime and ~/Library/QuickTime and trash the codec from there. But some codecs install stuff elsewhere too, like /Library/Framework, so it's best to use the uninstaller option of the installer.

Movies that don't play sound are usually .avis with an mp3 sound track, which is out of spec for the .avi container so QuickTime doesn't like it. Look up at Window->Info in QuickTime what the audio codec is. I think the DivX codec can take care of mp3 in .avi, but there also used to be a program called "DivX Doctor" that convert those into something playable. If that's not it look up the audio codec in the info window. If it's a Windows Media thing you might need Flip4Mac (not yet Intel-compatible). Or it might not be playable at all on a Mac.

TETENAL · Jul 3, 2006, 04:48 AM

Originally Posted by pheonixash

Dude your listing features of QT Pro, which you have to pay for, while VLC is free. Heck, you can't make your video fullscreen in QT, what's the use of the controls?

Pro features were 2 of the 8 I mentioned. QuickTime Player still wins on features.

amru · Jul 3, 2006, 05:18 AM

hey TETENAL, thnks for your reply. i found the uninstaller and uninstalled 3ivx.

also, to see the codec i open up the file in quicktime>window>show movie info?

whn i do that i get this, heres a screenshot:

i dont see anything about 'audio codec' unless its the MPEG part under FORMAT? [sorry, im not to computer savvy.. specially w/ macs

]

TETENAL · Jul 3, 2006, 11:22 AM

Yes, where it says Unknown MPEG it means the audio track it seems. I can't say why it says that. Try VLC. It might be able to play it and it also has an Info window that might better tell you what codec the audio track uses.

frates · Jul 3, 2006, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by plastiqueusa

There's also an AC3 codec for Quicktime (which finally works well on Intel Macs):

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/27300

wow, thanks, little gem here