Watching AVI on mac

[jcmcb]

I feel somewhat embarassed at asking this (as I used to be very up on Mac video software and what not) but here goes...
I am trying to watch some .avi files on my Powerbook with Quicktime 5 pro.....however it tells me that it does not have the right compression files...and I cannot d'l them.

So what to do? Is there another program I can use to either convert these files to .mov or .mpg (.mov prefered), or to view them? I am running 9.2.2, but I have OS X, does that make a difference? I don't think it should, but maybe it does.

Thanks

[TQEHRheum]

Interesting - I have the same thing in Mac OS X. Perhaps there is something that Apple aren't telling us about the "AVI" decompression? My AVI was created using a PC quickcam video clip.

I haven't found a solution yet.

[MrLinus]

In regards to AVI on mac, you often would convert it as AVI (audio/video interleaving) is a Windows specifically spec rather than an industry spec like MPEG or RealAudio/RealVideo. (a dated but informative blurb at http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/...?tw=multimedia gives a little more insight)

For OS X, I don't know of any specific decoders but http://swiki.cc.gatech.edu:8080/dvfx2000/91.history might be helpful. Given there is a decoder for Linux there must be one for BSD/Unix?

Hope this helps.

[TQEHRheum]

I had a bit more of a look around..

John McGowan's site had a couple of converters (http://www.jmcgowan.com/aviconvert.html) - so far the converters I've tried had either left out the sound or the video.

Nope - didn't work - apparently the avi is encoded with newer codecs than those available to the converter. Might have to look at multiple steps. Haven't checked the *nix stuff out yet. Still trying to get my head around Project Builder to put front ends on stuff.

Thanks for the help though.

[jcmcb]

I hear that there was a version of DivX for mac, and that it would play avi's in OS X. cnet.com had it in there d/l section, but I could never get it to d/l to my hard drive. Anyone have any experience with that?

cnet also has a converter, but it wouldn't convert audio or video either.

PS - I bought Quicktime Pro (still not sure if this was a waste or not) and it will not play avi either. Oh well

[firefemme]

this site might help as well..........

http://www.macdivx.com



codec for OS X which was released january 2nd 2002:

http://divx.jamby.net/

[jcmcb]

Thanks, I d/led Mac DivX, and it works! I had to use DivX Doctor to get the Audio and Video working right, but it does work under 9.2.2.

Thanks again for all your help, AO wins again!

[Louie]

MAC users are able to view their porn once again

[jcmcb]

You say that like its a bad thing....