[sfd101]

I'm using VLC and I still can't play some avi files. I only have sound, no video. If I use Mplayer, the same thing happens. Are there any codecs that needs to be installed?

[TETENAL]

You can try installing Flip4Mac (WMV codec for QuickTime) and try playing the videos with QuickTime Player. And then there are some codecs that simply can not be played on Mac OS X.

[sfd101]

I already have Flip4mac installed. I guess I won't be watching them.

[Uncle Skeleton]

VLC and MPlayer have no ability to read new codecs. So it could be that you just need to play those movies in QT. Otherwise, you can tell what codecs they use by getting info in VLC when they're playing. Tell us what it says and maybe there is another solution.

[chabig]

Many videos are encoded with the proprietary divx codec. Rather than paying for it, you can get the open source equivalent for free from http://www.3ivx.com. Once installed, you'll use your regular quicktime tools to view those videos. I like it a lot.

Someone jump in and correct me if I'm wrong about the proprietary/open-source thing.

Anyway, I like the 3ivx codec.

Chris

[Uncle Skeleton]

Originally Posted by chabig

Someone jump in and correct me if I'm wrong about the proprietary/open-source thing.

Yeah. Divx has a free version, and 3ivx has never been open-source nor is it any "version" of divx. Since 3ivx and Divx are both implementations of mpeg-4 (which is also not open source, but is an open standard), each decoder can play the content encoded by the other (though divx's decoder declines to do so unless you change the 4CC (four-character-code) to one of divx's own). Also, none of these codecs have anything to do with VLC because VLC only uses its in-built codecs, and it can play divx and any other mpeg-4 implementation already, so if VLC isn't playing your movies then divx and 3ivx aren't going to help with them.

But I agree that 3ivx is a good product to have installed.

[sfd101]

Error:

main: no suitable decoder module for fourcc `IV50'.
VLC probably does not support this sound or video format.

That is the error I get when I try to open it with VLC. I can't seem to find the info for file in VLC. I installed 3ivx, it didn't do anything.

[TETENAL]

Indeo Video is a proprietary codec and the company that owns it does not develop it any more. It can not be played on OS X. You need to convert the video to something else on OS 9 or Windows.

[P]

If you have a PPC Mac, the video plays nicely enough in Classic Quicktime if you have the Indeo codes installed. If you have an Intel Mac, I guess Parallells or Boot Camp are your only options. VLC does not play Indeo 5 on any platform.