Incompatible movie files in Photos

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Level 1

8 points

Incompatible movie files in Photos

I am running Mojave.

Before I upgrade to Catalina, I want to ensure all the movie files I have on my iMac are compatible with Catalina. Apple says some of the old ones won't be able to be used in iMovie Catalina. Or have I misunderstood? See here https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209029

Anyway, my questions arise because currently in Mojave:

I can view and play an AVI file within the Photos app.
If I import that same file from the Photos library to iMovie, it is identified as incompatible and it is converted so it will still be usable when I go to Catalina.

Questions:

If I don't do any conversions and leave the AVI file in Photos, when I move to Catalina will I be able to play that video in Photos (even if I can't in iMovie)?
I can identify all the AVI files in Photos by using the smart album feature. How do I convert those within Photos? Or do I have to import them all to iMovie and then somehow import the converted files back to Photos?
The files I am having problems with have the file extension AVI but I am not sure why these are incompatible as the Apple web page linked above shows AVI are still compatible/usable in Catalina?

I hope that all makes sense!

Thanks

Peter

iMac Line (2012 and Later)

Posted on Apr 2, 2020 8:12 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

léonie

Level 10

197,321 points

Apr 2, 2020 8:51 AM in response to Switcher100

AVI is a container format and it depends on the format of the video resource inside the AVI or MOV container, if you will be able to use the video on Catalina.

I would take the precaution to convert all videos, that iMOvie shows as incompatible, because it will not be possible to convert them after the upgrade. You could save the original versions and test them again, once you have upgraded to Catalina, but but create the converted versions now, while you still can.

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Answer 2

Switcher100 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 6, 2020 7:11 AM in response to léonie

Thank you Leonie, that's what I plan on doing.

However, I do have a question.

I am still confused. I have imported to iMovie 10 a .MOV file. After importing I have checked 'Check Media for Compatibility...' and nothing is found.

For the clip imported, if I reveal that file in Finder, Finder shows the relevant file in the iMovie library. When I double click that file, Quicktime v10 is opened and Quicktime converts the file.

Do you know why Quicktime does that?
Even though Quicktime has to convert the file, does that mean the original unconverted file (which iMovie seems to think is compatible) will definitely be compatible when I eventually move to Catalina?

Hope all that makes sense!

Many thanks

Peter

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Answer 3

Switcher100 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 10, 2020 3:19 AM in response to Switcher100

Just wondered if anyone can help with this question:

I am still confused. I have imported to iMovie 10 a .MOV file. After importing I have checked 'Check Media for Compatibility...' and nothing is found by iMovie.

For the clip imported, if I reveal that file in Finder, Finder shows the relevant file in the iMovie library. When I double click that file, Quicktime v10 is opened and Quicktime converts the file.

Do you know why Quicktime does that?
Even though Quicktime has to convert the file, does that mean the original unconverted file (which iMovie seems to think is compatible) will definitely be compatible when I eventually move to Catalina?

Thanks

Peter

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Answer 4

léonie

Level 10

197,321 points

Apr 10, 2020 4:51 AM in response to Switcher100

It will depend on the codec of the resource fork in the .MOV video clip. It is hard to say, which .MOV or .AVI containers are containing compatible video resources, just by looking at the extension .MOV or AVI.

I cannot import any video clips into my Photos Library on Catalina, that QuickTime Player on Mojave cannot play without converting.

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Answer 5

Switcher100 Author

Level 1

8 points

Apr 20, 2020 4:26 AM in response to léonie

Thanks.

My question really is

Reading what Apple says, I was under the impression that iMovie would in Mojave convert any files that would not be compatible when I moved Catalina.

What I am finding is that some videos play fine in iMovie and are not converted when they are imported there.

But when I play those same files in Quicktime, Quicktime does convert them.

Why would that be?

Thanks

Peter

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Answer 6

Switcher100 Author

Level 1

8 points

May 11, 2020 10:14 AM in response to Switcher100

Still haven't found an answer to this - and I have been searching!

What I want to be certain of is that the MOV files in my iMovie projects and events which work fine in iMovie running Mojave will still work in Catalina.

I have checked my iMovie library using File> Check Media compatibility ... and it doesn't find anything wrong.

But if I try and play in Quicktime some of the same MOV files contained within the library it converts the file first.

Could it be the MOV files were originally in a previous version of iMovie? And if so, will those files still be compatible with iMovie in Catalina?

Anyone any ideas?

Thanks!

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Incompatible movie files in Photos

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