QuickTime MPEG-2 Playback Component for Mac OS X

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

Customer Reviews and Ratings

2.5 out of 5 stars

Based on 233 reviews

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Finaly a solution, but should be easier on Macs.

    • Written by from North Aurora

    I have a new JVC camcorder which creates those lovely .MOD files. I used to use Pinnacle Studio to edit stuff on the PC and it worked fine if I just changed the file name. But for the Mac it wasn't that easy (PC died and I switched to Mac). After downloading at least 5 Mac applications to try and do the conversion, I put out the 20 bucks and also downloaded Streamclip. So much easier for me! Audio worked fine. Video was shot in 16:9 and it kept the format. Most other conversion applications only had 4:3 output. While iMovie is not as good as Studio (IMO) this now at least let's me edit some quick family video and burn to DVD.

    259 of 287 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    it works, very relieved

    • Written by from MELBOURNE

    i just got a new mac and was looking forward to editing some videos...
    I've got a JVC evario and needed to convert the mod files, got the stream clip thing and bought this thing and now its converting fine, the sound has problems depending on what format you convert to but converting to quicktime is fine..
    GREAT! i can edit now, cheers..
    but yeah, it would be nice if it was just included on the mac from the start

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    The Real Solution

    • Written by from Chicago

    You need to use a separate program to get the sound to work. After you get the MPEG-2 Playback Component you need to download a program called MPEG Streamclip (available from Apple for free).

    Open your videos in there. Go to File -> Export To Quicktime. Problem solved.

    377 of 404 people found this useful

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  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    Don't bother

    • Written by from ELWOOD

    If you have a Sony video camera don't expect to get audio in your video to work on the mac without first converting it using a 3rd party tool.

    I just spent 30 mins on the phone to Apple support on this issue and after several attempts of software downloads ( QT Pro and QT plugin..... and around $100 ) STILL NO WORK!!!!!!

    I would expect that Apple would have sorted this buy now as Sony is a major player in the video area. I expect to be able to import my home movies into iPhoto and click on them to play them, forget it, video with no audio is the only result you will get. I DO NOT expect to go to the trouble of converting every video I have taken, I expect it to work!

    78 of 93 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Works perfectly, ignore the nay-sayers

    • Written by from BRIGHTON

    Frankly I cannot understand all the one starrers out there.

    There seem to be a lot of people having problems with audio. If, for example, you're wanting to extract the contents of a DVD so you can edit them in say Final Cut, you'll need to use MPEG Streamclip to convert the VOB files ripped from the DVD to a codec that editing packages understand. Without the QT MP2 Playback installed (at the time of writing, Feb09, onto QT Player 7.6) this isn't possible.

    In your editing package you may need to render the clips you export from MPEG Streamclip in order to be able to hear the audio, though in iMovie '08 I don't even think that's necessary.

    The thing couldn't possibly be simpler or cleaner to use!

    DOWNLOAD: the download tab is right there on your receipt when you buy the thing. It's the word highlighted in blue in your order summary and it reads, cryptically enough I admit, "Download" with a little downward pointing blue arrow next to it.

    It's tip top, don't diss it.

    31 of 39 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    Worth the money

    • Written by from UPLAND

    I purchased a Panasonic HDD camcorder, and couldn't watch or edit the .MOD videos. I downloaded the free MPEG Streamclip application from Apple's website but still couldn't work with the footage.

    I went ahead and bought the $20.00 playback component, and it works perfectly. I can edit the video in iMovie, and I have no idea why people are complaining about audio problems. There are plenty of settings and options for people more technology-savvy, but the basic process (.MOD to .MOV) is easy to use even if you're not familiar with computer jargon (like me!)

    154 of 165 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Perfect for converting DVDs in MPEG Streamclip

    • Written by from WITHAM

    MPEG Streamclip suggested I download this component when I attempted to convert a DVD into web format (in this case flv). It worked first time and perfectly. I'd spent ages trying to find a decent converter and have found this to work adequately, and has cured my headache!

    30 of 33 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    It just works

    • Written by from BRADFORD

    I had problems with iMovie 08 recognising my Sony HDRSR12E Hard disc video camera. The genius bar showed me how to use MPEG Streamclip to convert the video to DV format.
    Unfortunately I had to purchase the playback component, but once installed it worked just fine. One point worth mentioning though is that when reviewing the converted footage in Quicktime, you can't hear the audio. However once you've imported it into iMovie 08 it's all there.
    It only gets 4 stars because of the cost. I think it should be an integral part of Quicktime.

    15 of 18 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Don't listen to the negative reviews

    • Written by from Buford

    This software works EXACTLY as advertised.

    This software is a VIDEO decoder.

    This has NOTHING to do with audio. When you by this component you are granted the right to use the license required to view MPEG-2 files.

    Many have written that this software is a waste of money. They think this out of pure ignorance.

    Combine this component with MPEG Streamclip (freeware) and you can rip DVDs to your heart's content.


    164 of 182 people found this useful

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  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    Software blow

    • Written by from WESTON-SUPER-MARE

    Wanted to convert MPEG files for iPod. Bought Playback and Pro at cost of £35 (should be bundled anyway) only to discover MPEG cannot export audio because it is a 'muxed' file. Great. Thanks. Really Useful. A fool and his money...think before you buy these products.

    88 of 116 people found this useful

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  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    No sound; Disappointed.

    • Written by from morristown

    No sound, when imported the video.
    Useless and expensive. I'm Disappointed
    in Mighty Mac Pro and Apple.
    And I am the convert from PC?
    Did I do something wrong? SOS
    Am I an Idiot spending so much
    money on Mac Pro?

    76 of 110 people found this useful

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  • 2.0 out of 5 stars

    audio

    • Written by from Martinsville

    There is no audio so I have to use mpeg streamclip and thats a pain! I wish apple would make this component free like it should have been in the first place and be able to play audio

    82 of 98 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    Quicktime 6 MPEG-2 playback component

    • Written by from Sunbury

    Works well for me! I bought this software and it works as advertized. I have no issues with sound as others have indicated. Most of the issues involve Sony and their version of MPEG 2 ( I use a JVC camcorder). I also upgraded to Quicktime Pro and can now export video with sound to almost any format I want. Its great when you purchase something and it works!

    136 of 151 people found this useful

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  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    My PC gets sound. Quicktime does not.

    • Written by from NEW YORK

    This is garbage. I can play the file on my PC with sound. First Quicktime doesn't play the file at all. Then I buy this and get no sound. I'm not sure what the codec is all about, but frankly my PC beats out my Mac for playing videos....for FREE! Isn't that the whole reason I started switching to Mac in the first place!!!!!!

    89 of 112 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    This is a review and an explanation

    • Written by from FORT LAUDERDALE

    I like MPEG 2. It is very good for video. But, as most of you know, it does not contain audio. If you want audio, you need an AC3 audio file for playback.

    When you make an MPEG 2 video and an AC3 audio file, they come in harmony when you play them TOGETHER. Notice that. TOGETHER.

    So, if you buy this, don't hate on Apple JUST because the codec does not have audio, it was originally made without audio to save file size. Some of us want video AND audio in one file. For that, you will need the MPEG 4 codec.

    96 of 104 people found this useful

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  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    No Audio - I Call This Cheating

    • Written by from Jamaica

    Absolute waste of money for a product sponsored by Apple. I trusted always apple recommended sw but am very disappointed by spending 54 dollars and getting nothing. it plays mpg2 but no Audio THANKS. may I understand any use of a product without audio! why would one buy at the first place!!! very disappointed and should get my money back!

    154 of 194 people found this useful

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  • 5.0 out of 5 stars

    Know Your Formats!

    • Written by from Denver

    I usually don't do this, but the "no audio" reviews are kind of annoying. MPEG-2 files don't contain audio. It doesn't matter what software you use. Whenever you build a movie for a DVD in Compressor or whatever else you may be using, it makes two files, an MPEG-2 file and an AC3 file: MPEG-2 is video and AC3 is audio. When you burn the DVD, it correlates the files together for playback on a DVD player. So, not having audio has nothing to do with this codec. It's just how it is...

    190 of 210 people found this useful

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  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    Too many restrictions

    • Written by from Long Beach

    No video plays, only audio. Can only play certain types of mpg files, and certain types of audio files. Not really worth 20 bucks at all. Should be less than 5 at most. Don't waste your money.

    25 of 37 people found this useful

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  • 4.0 out of 5 stars

    This was ridiculous

    • Written by from Mesa

    I have spent the last 5 hours trying to figure out how to import the stupid .mod files from my JVC hard drive camcorder into iMovie. The aforementioned steps worked like a charm. Download the MPEG-2 software from Apple, ($20 might I add...don't get me started on this) and the free MPEG software add-on and you are good to go. 5 hours of my life Ill never get back, oh well. At least it works now.

    119 of 128 people found this useful

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  • 1.0 out of 5 stars

    I Really Wasted my Money!

    • Written by from Dartmouth

    My video camera software produces mpeg-2 video files on my PC. Unfortunately they don't play on quicktime pro and iMovie. I thought that this plugin would fix the problem. Well now they play but with no sound. So unless your into silent movies, forget it and buy a 3rd party package for about the same price and you'll be able to do more. I would give this 0 stars but the site wouldn't let me

    167 of 186 people found this useful

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