MPEG Streamclip Error Message

[Eragon]

I've recently started using MPEG Streamclip to convert my JVC Everio video from MOD to DV. No problems in that conversion. I've purchased and downloaded the MPEG-2 Playback component.

I would like to use MPEG Streamclip to convert DV directly to MPEG-4. When I attempt that conversion, I get a "can't write the movie file error".

I have an Intel iMac with an external hard drive I am using to store my videos. Has anyone come across this and could recommend a solution?

 

[swiftaw]

How is your external formatted? Was it formatted on a Windows machine?

 

[Eragon]

How is your external formatted? Was it formatted on a Windows machine?

No, I've used it exclusively with the iMac out of the box. Available storage capacity is still about 430 gb. I have it connected via fire wire.

 

[bmcgonag]

No, I've used it exclusively with the iMac out of the box. Available storage capacity is still about 430 gb. I have it connected via fire wire.

I do the same thing, from MOD to DV, so I just used it to make a DV to MP4 with no issue. But i saved the mp4 straight to the desktop. Have you tried writing the file to the local drive just to see if it will work. If it does, then it is probably a formatting issue, or permission issue, if not, then you've removed one more possibility.

Brian

 

[Eragon]

I do the same thing, from MOD to DV, so I just used it to make a DV to MP4 with no issue. But i saved the mp4 straight to the desktop. Have you tried writing the file to the local drive just to see if it will work. If it does, then it is probably a formatting issue, or permission issue, if not, then you've removed one more possibility.

Brian

Thanks, Brian. I tried converting from MP4 to MOV and the converted file saved to both desktop and external hard drive. I no longer have my original DV file so I am convertng my MP4 to DV. I will then try to convert back to MP4.

I also tried to join two existing MP4 files with the desire to combine as a single MP4. I highlighted the two files I copied to the desktop, selected save as MP4 and hit save. I immediately got the can't write movie to file error message. I tried saving both as a single MOV, and the conversion worked.

The problem seems to be converting to MP4 and saving multiple MP4 files as MP4. Does this make any sense?

 

[bmcgonag]

Thanks, Brian. I tried converting from MP4 to MOV and the converted file saved to both desktop and external hard drive. I no longer have my original DV file so I am convertng my MP4 to DV. I will then try to convert back to MP4.

I also tried to join two existing MP4 files with the desire to combine as a single MP4. I highlighted the two files I copied to the desktop, selected save as MP4 and hit save. I immediately got the can't write movie to file error message. I tried saving both as a single MOV, and the conversion worked.

The problem seems to be converting to MP4 and saving multiple MP4 files as MP4. Does this make any sense?

Do you have the latest Perian Codecs (version 1 i think)? Maybe this would help.

Not sure, but glad some of it is working. BTW, converting from mp4 to dv and back is definitely going to create some loss in quality. Maybe not noticeable the first couple of times, but eventually I'm sure it will be a non-linear downslide.

Best,

Brian

 

[Eragon]

Do you have the latest Perian Codecs (version 1 i think)? Maybe this would help.

Not sure, but glad some of it is working. BTW, converting from mp4 to dv and back is definitely going to create some loss in quality. Maybe not noticeable the first couple of times, but eventually I'm sure it will be a non-linear downslide.

Best,

Brian

I downloaded the Perian codecs. This is interesting. I copied two MP4 files to the desktop. I selected Open Files, highlighed the two MP4s on the desktop. If I select save as, MOV works. If I select MP4, I get the can't write movie file error message. If I select export to MP4, it works.

This seems kind of strange. I'm using version 1.8 of MPEG Streamclip. Is this a bug? Has anyone else been able to reproduce this?

 

[bmcgonag]

I downloaded the Perian codecs. This is interesting. I copied two MP4 files to the desktop. I selected Open Files, highlighed the two MP4s on the desktop. If I select save as, MOV works. If I select MP4, I get the can't write movie file error message. If I select export to MP4, it works.

This seems kind of strange. I'm using version 1.8 of MPEG Streamclip. Is this a bug? Has anyone else been able to reproduce this?

Okay, I may understand what's going on here. MP4 is a filetype from a specific codec. MOV is a filetype which is a container.

So think of a .mov like a barrel. You take a Codec filetype like mp4 or avi and you put it in the .mov barrel. Then QT will look at the barrel and say...yep I can play that...it doesn't care so much what's in the barrel.

So you save as .mov, because you are telling it put this codec in the .mov barrel.

But you export as .mp4 because it actually has to change the codec from one thing tot another.

Hope that helps,

Brian