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Just out of curiousity, is there a codec... seems it'd be a lot easier than converting all my avi files. Thanks.
 
adamb100 said:
Is there a free avi codec for Quicktime? If not, is there a converter to mpg from avi?

The Divx codec for Quicktime should handle the majority of avi files. Downloadable here. Note that the "free trial" includes the playback codec (which is what you want). It's bundled with the trial version of Divx converter and trial "pro" options for encoding Divx movies in Quicktime. The regular playback codec is unaffected by all of that and is free to use forever. Divx decided to bundle it with the pay-for features of Divx in order to confuse the world at large, for lack of a better reason. Nice job, Divx.

The other alternative is to download the latest version of VLC which plays just about every avi file type you are likely to run across, Divx included. Simply reassociate the .avi file extension so VLC is opened by default instead of Quicktime and your days of avi troubles are gone with the wind.
 
Don't know if it's my fault or theirs... I already downloaded the DivX6 package and installed it, and there's no video from within Quicktime. My whole thing is, I'm trying to get avi files to play within Front Row (and was told if I had the proper codec, it'd probably work.) However, the avi files aren't working with QT. Perhaps I'll be converting all my avi's with FFmpegX or iSquint. Thanks for your help, though.
 
rspeaker said:
Don't know if it's my fault or theirs... I already downloaded the DivX6 package and installed it, and there's no video from within Quicktime. My whole thing is, I'm trying to get avi files to play within Front Row (and was told if I had the proper codec, it'd probably work.) However, the avi files aren't working with QT. Perhaps I'll be converting all my avi's with FFmpegX or iSquint. Thanks for your help, though.

I just realized you have an Intel Mac, which changes the picture. You'll need a universal binary codec, and in the case of Divx, it hasn't been officially released. However, there is a Divx beta that is universal you can try.

What your friend told you is essentially correct, avi's are just wrapper files that contain both a video and audio codec of the original encoder's choosing. If you don't have the codec(s) on your system, you're sol. Normally, Divx can handle most of them, but it isn't bulletproof. If someone uses an obsolete or otherwise bizarre codec, it may be difficult to find a suitable decoder. VLC has a library of various codecs that it uses for avi playback, which is why it is practically bulletproof for avi playback.

Max on Macs said:
Apple makes an AVI codec for QT. It's only £15, hardly a big deal, why not just get that?

What?
 
VanNess said:
I just realized you have an Intel Mac, which changes the picture. You'll need a universal binary codec, and in the case of Divx, it hasn't been officially released. However, there is a Divx beta that is universal you can try.

What your friend told you is essentially correct, avi's are just wrapper files that contain both a video and audio codec of the original encoder's choosing. If you don't have the codec(s) on your system, you're sol. Normally, Divx can handle most of them, but it isn't bulletproof. If someone uses an obsolete or otherwise bizarre codec, it may be difficult to find a suitable decoder. VLC has a library of various codecs that it uses for avi playback, which is why it is practically bulletproof for avi playback.


EXCELLENT!! I wonder how I looked over this... probably because I was getting frustrated and looking at other possibilities (converting the files with iSquint or FFmpegX, looking at solutions like MediaCentral that support AVI out of the box, etc.) THANK YOU for helping out... can't say it enough!

As for the Apple AVI codec... even if we did figure out what the hell the guy is talking about, he said it was 15 Euros, or roughly $30USD. I'd convert all the files before I shelled out $30 for some files to do what I want.
 
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