MPEG Codec for Quicktime and/or iMOvie?

[iPowers]

It is so weird how macs have mp4, avi, mov, 3pg, etc. and they don't have mpg.

Why don't they and is there a codec I can install to get it?

 

[dolphin842]

The MPEG-2 codec is a separate product from Apple. You can find it at their online store for ~$20. Alternatively, the codec comes bundled with Final Cut Studio, but that's just a tad more expensive 😉

If you're just looking to play back MPEG-2, give VLC or Mplayer OSX a try. If you just want to encode from MPEG-2 to a different format that the standard Quicktime codecs understand, try FFmpegX.

 

[iPowers]

So there isn't a free mpg codec out there at all?

 

[MisterMe]

So there isn't a free mpg codec out there at all?

MPEG-1 (aka *.mpg) is an ancient format.

 

[dolphin842]

If the .mpg is MPEG-1, then the Perian component should get it to play. It's only for MPEG-2 that you need Apple's $20 codec.

 

[MisterMe]

If the .mpg is MPEG-1, then the Perian component should get it to play. ...

The QuickTime Player plays MPEG-1 out of the box. However, the OP wants to encode MPEG-1. This is what QuickTime Pro cannot do. Having Perian installed, I can assure you that the codec suite does not enable MPEG-1 encoding.