QT 6 Pro - can't edit .mpg movie... Please help!

[e2b]

Hello All,

I am new to this forum and I am not a programmer - so please forgive me my intrusion... I simply hope to get a professional advice here which I was so far unable to get elsewhere.

My stuff: iMac, QT Pro 6.0.2.

The problem: I can't edit an .mpg movie - whatever I do...

The movie is a funny commercial I found some time ago on the Web and it ends with a rather indecent frame which I would like to cut off. But whatever I do with the editing handles, all the items in the "Edit" menu remain greyed out... What is it??? Is the movie somehow locked? If so, how can I unlock it for further editing?

I have also tried to convert it to a .mov movie, but the sound got lost... I am simply at a loss...

If someone of you would like to have a look at the movie first, please let me know I will be glad to e-mail it.

Any help will be GREATLY appreciated!

 

[WizyWyg]

MPG handling in QT has alwasy been a problem. Suggest that you search for an MPG to AVI converter and then import the AVI into QT.

Use a tool call VirtualDub (FREEWARE) to render your MPG into an AVI. QT pro can handle AVI's better than mpg.

http://www.virtualdub.org/

 

[e2b]

Hi WizyWyg,

thank you for your reply!

VirtualDub which you suggested to me is a Windows software and I am on Mac. Also, QT Pro 6 which I use is capable of converting MPG to AVI on its own. However, after converrting that MPG movie into an AVI file through QT, the soundtrack got lost... Yes, I can now edit the new AVI file in QT (thanks for the tip!) but how do I prevent the sound track from getting lost in conversion?

Any ideas anyone?

Thanks in advance!

 

[WizyWyg]

Create two separate files when exporting out of QT when converting. Export only the soundtrack. I dont have QT installed on this machine, but I do remember that you can export just the soundtrak if you needed to.

 

[schwaa]

You can't convert .mpg to anything in Quicktime 6.02 Pro with audio. Even if you buy the MPEG-2 decoder. Basically the site which sells it is complete and total false advertising. You only get the video. In the knowledge base they have some document which would tell you that if you could ever find it.
good luck, I would complain to apple - you shouldn't pay for software that doesn't work.
I am still looking for a free program to do this with.

 

[WizyWyg]

Can't complain to Apple for not providing you with the ability to export audio from an mpeg2 stream. Its like the GIF file format. In order for grahpics programs to use it or to make that format, (IE Adobe Photoshop ) the companies have to pay a license to Compuserve to be able to use that engine to make that grpahics file. IF not then, that program is in violation of several licensing and copyright laws.

Quicktime Pro is $39 right? Where do you think in that fee does it pay for the right for them to edit mpeg2 files ? The only guarantee QT provides is that you can convert between file formats, but no guarantees that it can read all file formats.

 

[WizyWyg]

As to solve the soundtrack problem. Im not too sure what programs you have available to you on the Mac, but check into iFilm or play the file with a "sound recorder" program to capture the audio from your system.

OR, if you have audio out on your speakers, plug it into a stereo and record the audio that way, then recapture the audio into your favorite format. Then add that soundtrack to your movie timeline, and all it takes is some guess work to match audio with the video.

 

[e2b]

Hello All,

I have to confess, I simply forgot to report back to this forum that I have long since solved the problem...

By pure chance I found a small program called QuickEditor which does whatever QT does and much more, and it is even cheaper than QT - only $ 35.
Among other things, it can edit mpeg files without losing the sound.

I just wanted to let other Mac users know, especially those who experience(d) the same problem with QT.

Again, many thanks to you all for your kind help!