Problem importing Quicktime files

[familychoice]

My lovely Sony Vegas Movie Studio has arrived, and I've hit a problem straight away: when I try and import a quicktime movie I get an error saying I don't have Quicktime installed and I need to do so. I have, but anyway download and install the latest version again. Still getting the error. It must be installed ok as I can watch the same videos using the Quicktime player but the Sony software doesn't seem to agree.

I've searched online and can't find a solution - apart from what I've already done or suggesting I buy their brilliant audio conversion software, and the Sony 'Help' and tutorial info doesn't cover it.

Any ideas? Is there something special you need to do with Quicktime on a PC to be able to use it with Video editors? I have the same issue in Windows Movie Maker.

TIA

[Mr Anderson]

Their system requirements page doesn't say so, but maybe it's looking for Quicktime Pro instead of the basic version?

[Tony]

Where are you getting the Quicktime movies from? is it from a camcorder? Quite often, camera manufacturers create their own version of a file type which can cause problems with editors.

In terms of Movie Maker, it doesn't support QT files anyway so you wouldn't get them in there.

In my experience, the manufacturer normally has some crappy editing software that they bundle with the camera, and even though you'll probably never use it, it is worth installing it to get the correct codecs onto your machine.

If you're using a Mac, it might be worth sticking it through iMovie and exporting it from there into a slightly different format before you start editing.

It's a ballsache converting footage, but it's what FCP users have been doing for years.

[familychoice]

Thanks for the replies.

Their system requirements page doesn't say so, but maybe it's looking for Quicktime Pro instead of the basic version?

I don't think so, and the general advice I've seen to fix the issue seems to suggest the basic version is sufficient.

Where are you getting the Quicktime movies from? is it from a camcorder? Quite often, camera manufacturers create their own version of a file type which can cause problems with editors.

That sounds more likely, the files are from my Canon still camera which has a video capture feature.

I'll try and find a 'normal' quicktime movie and see it it'll pick that up, if so then I guess it's the cameras export mode. I'll also check to see if there's any codecs on the camera cd.

[Dom]

...I'll also check to see if there's any codecs on the camera cd.

Damn, for a minute there I thought I was about to make a useful reply, but you beat me to it with the last line.

But yeah, checking the CD for codecs, or even software that might convert the files to another format, is a good idea. You might also find other people on the web who've had the same problems, and have suggested using some free conversion tools.

[familychoice]

Hmm, won't import movies created on the iPhone either, and they would definitely be in the right format.

[robwhizz]

What does the error say?

Can you open the file in Quicktime player? If you open it and go to properties or info it should tell what the codec being used is.

[familychoice]

"The Sony Quicktime plugin was not able to initialize the quicktime components on your system. It appears that quicktime for windows is not properly installed.

Quicktime files cannot be read or written without a full installation of the quicktime version 7.1.6 or greater components including the authoring components"

Maybe I do need the Pro version after all...

[robwhizz]

To be fair on Sony, this is an Apple issue. As far as I know there is no software that will open quicktime stuff natively. They all have to run it through quicktime.

When you installed iTunes the other day, did you install quicktime with it? I think it's a requirement isn't it?
Have you tried the standalone installer?

Is this on Windows 7?
I don't use Vegas or quicktime so I don't know much about it, but a quick google seems to suggest making sure both Vegas and quicktime are flagged to run as administrator.
I have loads of problems with older software running on Win7 because they want admin rights for everything like they used to get under XP.

[Tony]

What camera is it, and what file extension?

Although it does sound like a quicktime problem or a software conflict somewhere.

[familychoice]

What camera is it, and what file extension?

It's a Canon digital Ixus 100IS, and it saves videos as QuickTime Movie (.MOV) files. Probably is a software issue though as I'm not able to import files from the iPhone either.

When you installed iTunes the other day, did you install quicktime with it? I think it's a requirement isn't it?
Have you tried the standalone installer?

Yes to both of those..

Is this on Windows 7?

Yeah, lovely, pain in the bum Windows 7.

I don't use Vegas or quicktime so I don't know much about it, but a quick google seems to suggest making sure both Vegas and quicktime are flagged to run as administrator.

I'm pretty sure they are, how do I check this?

To be fair on Sony, this is an Apple issue. As far as I know there is no software that will open quicktime stuff natively. They all have to run it through quicktime.

I'm not so sure now. Previously I was having the same issue with Windows Movie Maker, one of the reasons I bought the Sony software. I've just checked and Movie Maker was able to import a Quicktime movie without any problem, so it looks like the repair/reinstall has fixed that one.

But the Sony software still refuses to import Quicktime files.

[familychoice]

I don't use Vegas or quicktime so I don't know much about it, but a quick google seems to suggest making sure both Vegas and quicktime are flagged to run as administrator.

That's the one, just changed settings for both and it's now picking up the Quicktime files.

Thanks Rob and everyone else for their input

[slaughteredlamb]

I've come across similar problems before which suggest that it's not an 'Apple problem' but a 'Windows problem'. The problems I've come across have been due to a corrupt preference file somewhere in another application. Applications that I've encountered with this problem have been After Effects, Adobe Premier & iTunes but always on a PC running Windows XP (no idea if Vista or Windows 7 is affected in the same way). A quick test I found which proved this for me was to create a new Windows account on the PC. This will give each application a new default preference file which 'should' iron out any incompatibilities and is quicker, easier and safer than uninstalling each application one at a time and possibly cleaning your registry too. If you don't get this problem in the new profile than you have your culprit but then you need to identify what application has the problem.

EDIT: Oh you've fixed it   

[familychoice]

I've come across similar problems before which suggest that it's not an 'Apple problem' but a 'Windows problem'. The problems I've come across have been due to a corrupt preference file somewhere in another application. Applications that I've encountered with this problem have been After Effects, Adobe Premier & iTunes but always on a PC running Windows XP (no idea if Vista or Windows 7 is affected in the same way). A quick test I found which proved this for me was to create a new Windows account on the PC. This will give each application a new default preference file which 'should' iron out any incompatibilities and is quicker, easier and safer than uninstalling each application one at a time and possibly cleaning your registry too. If you don't get this problem in the new profile than you have your culprit but then you need to identify what application has the problem.

EDIT: Oh you've fixed it   

Thanks though, I'll definitely remember this next time

[familychoice]

Just thought I'd mention that despite the argy bargy with Windows 7 and Quicktime, this is an absolutely cracking bit of software.

I was using Premiere Elements before, which is in a similar price range, and it was horrendously clunky in comparison, despite having similar features. The Sony allows real precision when editing and you can export directly from the timeline. There's a fully featured separate authoring suite that I haven't even looked at yet that allows fancy DVD creation with chapters and all that noggins. It's also bundled with Soundforge - which was already my favourite audio editor - for editing audio files directly in the movie environment.

I mucked about with a movie last night, and the resulting file was about a fifth of the size I'd get from Elements or Windows Movie Maker, and about ten times better quality.

Very, very impressed and at this price it's an absolute bargain. Although it's aimed at home users in my opinion this is a capable bit of kit and there's no excuse for not producing professional looking movies with it.

Definitely recommended.

[Mike@TheWhippinpost]

OK, where's the affiliate link?

[Steve Lampkins]

It's at the very top of the forum, Mike. It's the banner that says 'affiliate link' on it. And there's an Amazon logo.

[Dom]

Aye, it is an amazing logo.

[Mike@TheWhippinpost]

It's at the very top of the forum, Mike. It's the banner that says 'affiliate link' on it. And there's an Amazon logo.

I meant Familychoice's aff link

[Steve Lampkins]

I know.

[familychoice]

OK, where's the affiliate link?

I did try and get one up there but the code ended up getting tangled around my legs so I went to the pub instead.

[Dom]

I'll see you there.