Reviews for QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback Component for Mac OS X

With 'MPEG-2 Playback' ($20.00 from APPLE) plus 'MPEG STREAMCLIP' (FREE, off of APPLE Support site) I was able to convert .mpg files into .mov files. This allows iMOVIE '11 to read STANDARD VIDEO from my SONY HDR CX12 Handy Cam. You have to make sure the settings are right for STREAMCLIP - Set it to export to QuickTime and set the compression to AIC (APPLE INTERMEDIATE CODEC). Make sure quality is set to 100%. I used multiple files by using the batch list feature. If Files show up as gray, set it to view ALL FILES.

For Converting HD video I gave up on MPEG STREAMCLIP after countless hours and getting the 'Error: Can't find the first video frame'. I went ahead and bought iSKYSOFT $(31.00). I saw others for double the price. This allowed me to convert the infamous '.M2TS' files into an HD version of .mov. You have to go into the settings and check the zoom and make sure it converts it into a .mov file. If you use it as it comes in default you will not be happy with the quality.

These were the cheapest solutions I could find and they worked pretty well, without sacrificing video quality. The conversion process should only be necessary for existing files (prior to having MPEG2 PLAYBACK) Once MPEG-2 PLAYBACK is installed, standard video is read automatically when plugging into your mac and choosing movies from your handycam. For HD files I have to continue to convert from 'm2ts' to '.mov', unless someone can show me differently =)

After reading these reviews i can import and watch my video in Quicktime Pro 7, but the sound is missing. So i installed Streamclip 1.8 thinking it was a plug-in for Quicktime... But no, you have to run the footage in the program Streamclip and then save it. (correct me if im wrong) My question is; How and in what format should i save it in, to obtain the highest quality in both sound and picture ??

The fact that Quicktime Pro isn't able to show, decode, the MPG2 format, is just ridiculous. It can't be that hard to throw in a 600 kb plug-in - C'mon !!!

Anyway, thanks for all the great reviews, without them i probably would have hung myself, before figuring out how to import and watch all my extremly poor and boring video footage...

Thanks

Does not solve the lack of audio problem. What's the point of adding a plug-in that doesn't solve the reason for having a plug-in?

I saw all review, since i use Sony handycam also, i but this software, and down load mpeg stream clip...... STIILL NO SOUND !! ,

I've bought and downloaded this product. It plays the video component of my stored .mpg files but there's no audio at all. Essentially, a waste of time and money.

This playback component works well. One of the lower comments says that to use your digital media in Quicktime and iMovie you would only need to get Streamclip 1.8 but the problem is that you do have to buy this product for Streamclip to work! Buy it if you want to edit your films or burn a dvd but if you are just wanting to watch your film on a bigger screen then just hook it up to a tv!

Like most of the people on this thread, I needed to convert some older VHS tapes to digital video. So.. the most efficient method would be, have it converted to a DVD. (Then I'd do some clever editing in QT and imovie!) So, paid to have that conversion done (hey, it's digital right?) I was told no copy protection for consumer DVD transfer etc. So to me, this is such a no-brainer type of consumer desire conversion that I just assumed that QT pro would handle it... step two, purchased QT pro, well, it's not so pro after all. Shame on Apple to charge another bit and nickel and dime me for this basic consumer function (that still does not even work for audio according to the reviews)!!!. I've used Macs since the days of 40mb hard drives for mostly MIDI back then and work mostly with audio now. My thought... if you're going to tout this "it just works" line, then come through, and stop with the flashy media spiel. Disappointed. Might as well go PC.

just did not support ac3 sound and mpg sound ;what a disappointment ....

Just purchased in order to work with MPEG Streamclip and my Sony Handycam video files. I agree we shouldn't have to purchase additional software just to make it work but at least it did work!

Got a file MPEG and thought that MPEG 2 would open and play it no problem on my iMac OS 10.3.9. Guess again. 20 dollars down the drain? These compatablility problems really make the computer industy and Apple as dicy as a crooked auto dealer service center. Have always loved my Apples, come on guys you can do better than this in being more comprehensive and strait forward about what soft ware works with which OSs. Don't buy this product as a strait forward application to work with MPEG files.