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jgift · Mar 16, 2003, 04:12 AM

Hi,

DL a large AVI file and while most of them work within Quicktime this one doesn't. I get a "Pieces missing" dialogue bix, sound and no picture. Could this be DiVX. Anything else? What am I missing so i can get it?

Thanks.

RevEvs · Mar 16, 2003, 05:00 AM

get mplayer. if mplayer wont play it then nothing will

revs

Millennium · Mar 16, 2003, 07:44 AM

You probably have a DivX file. The thing is, even though DivX files are labeled as AVI files, they're not. This is a source of much confusion among Mac users, who have to deal with this when using QuickTime, which does play AVI files perfectly, but not the "fake AVI" used by DivX.

Depending on your computer, there are two ways to solve this. If you have a G3 processor (any iBook, any PowerBook that is black, any iMac that doesn't bear a vague resemblance to a desk lamp, or any Power Macintosh that is not grey) then go to http://www.divx.com and get their DivX codec. This comes with a "DivX validator" program which doesn't actually convert anything, but will ensure that DivX pseudo-AVI's play with DivX's own file-opening tool.

If, on the other hand, you have a G4 chip (any Mac other than the models I've just described), go to http://www.3ivx.com and get the 3ivx codec, and then http://doctor.3ivx.com to get their DivX Doctor II program. Run the files through DivX Doctor II, and they will be converted to .mov files, which play fine.

The only difference between these two codecs, as far as playing DivX is concerned, is that 3ivx has better AltiVec optimization than DivX (so it's better on G4 machines), but it's not as good on machines which don't have AltiVec (the G3 chip or below).

philzilla · Mar 16, 2003, 08:08 AM

or, try playing it with VLC, from www.videolan.org

SSharon · Mar 16, 2003, 01:34 PM

I would stick to VLC it does a good job and can jump to any part of the movie and fastforward better than quicktime. Also, if the divx validator and VLC don't work, try changing the extension of the file name. I know it sounds wierd but I have downloaded more than one movie where I got an error message in QT then changed it to .wma and found out it was really a mindows media file, same has happened vise versa too.

Uncle Skeleton · Mar 16, 2003, 03:22 PM

you know what's even harder to belive, is if someone has changed the filename extension between two formats that QT plays, like avi and mpeg, QT won't open it until you change it to the right extension. The QT team should be really embarassed about this blunder. I've found it easier to just look at the first page or so of each download in a hex editor, than to blindly guess filename extensions. I've posted some examples of common file types at
http://nsorscher.home.attbi.com/movieFAQ
in the case of mpeg, look at the first four hex chars, since they don't seem to code for ascii readable characters.

jgift · Mar 17, 2003, 01:18 AM

Thanks for all the help. You've given me enough to start on and it's appreciated... While on teh subject of conversions, anyway to do the same for mpg ? They play great in QT but when imported into FCP I loose all sound. A nice site with a primer on all this would be great as well...

Thanks again.