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Playing videos using Movie Importer not working in QuartzBuilder version 1.4I am testing a very simple patch that imports and plays a small Quicktime sample movie. It plays well as a normal QTZ file but when I try to run the app created by QuartzBuilder 1.4 it opens the window but does not display anything. I can get the movie to display temporarily, either by switching tasks (tab-command task switching) or by dragging the window around the screen. When I do this, the I see samples of the movie within the window. As soon as I stop doing either of these things, the movie freezes at its current frame. I urgently need to launch a QTZ app fullscreen on a second monitor at startup for a public exhibition that goes live soon. This is why I purchased QuartzBuilder. I would really appreciate some help getting this working. I'm using a 2.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro with 3 GB RAM and OSX 10.7.3. I cannot downgrade to pre-Lion release due to other components of the project. I've attached my test files for your inspection. Many thanks. Richard
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Hello Richard, regarding the posted composition; for a start off, your file path is inaccurate as in non-portable, referencing as it does, a folder upon a local Volume of yours.
~/Documents/Land Digital Media/new mirror/QTZ_video_test/sample_mpeg4.mp4.This will not be available to the QB version when run away from that Volume's computer.
Try
./sample_mpeg4.mp4That should fix the problem you are experiencing, at least within QC.
See attached file with annotations.
The type of iMac I am working upon has problems all of its build factor's own with Movie Importer, so the version working for me is one that I have based upon Kineme Video Tools.
These work very reliably for me, although I think that your disappointments have derived entirely from your not being captious of the need to use a portable file path of the type shown above.
You should also add the required assets using the Resources, Add Resource menu function in QB.
You also need to set your Clear to Alpha nought at Layer 1 or to a full colour , white would seem to be apposite, at Alpha one, again at Layer 1 level.
If you are still experiencing problems with the movie flickering in and out after that I have to ask, what version of Macintosh are you running? You might be an undiscovered build factor experiencing one or another of the problems I have experienced with the Movie Importer patch in Lion upon my iMac. Fixing that is down to Apple.
Hope that helps.
Richard, find attached the Kineme Video Tools version QC composition and the QB application resulting. I'd be very interested in knowing if both versions [Movie Importer and Video Tools] or only one worked for you and indeed, which one worked. As you can see in the composition, the audio is provided by Audio File Player patch, whilst the video is provided by the Video Tools QuickTime Player patch, which patch does not support Asynchronous mode [at present]. Also the Kineme Video Player component of Video Tools does not support .mpeg4 types of files, though the QuickTime Player component does.
Hi. Many thanks for your quick response.
I tested both QTZ_test_revamped_0 and QTZ_Test_Kineme-QuickTimePlayer on two different Macs.
Below is a report on each use case.
As you can see, I'm having no joy here.
Since my requirement is urgent; I have now found another solution. I am using Automator to launch my Quartz composition and then sending an automated mouse action to press the "full screen" button on the viewer. Not a great solution; but it works!
I'm developing a stand-alone art installation so it doesn't really need to be portable; so this route will suffice for now.
From what you say; you think that the problems stem from a problem from Apple and Quicktime. Is there a work around?
The budget for this art installation is extremely tight, so its a pity to have spent money on something that doesn't do the job.
Please let me know if you have any further progress on a fix.
Richard
Test results
1) 15 inch Silver MacBook Pro - 2.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo - 3 GB RAM and OSX 10.7.3.
a) QTZ_test_revamped_0
This shows exactly the same behaviour as my original test. It showed nothing at all until I dragged the window and released it.
Each time I drag and and release it shows some more video frames.
The same thing happens when I switch tasks; on each task switch it shows an update in the video frames.
b) QTZ_Test_Kineme-QuickTimePlayer
This displays as a white filling the entire window. Dragging it around has no effect.
2) White MacBook - 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo - 4 GB RAM - OSX 10.7.3.
a) QTZ_test_revamped_0
This shows similar the same behaviour as my original test. It showed nothing at all until I dragged the window and released it.
Also the content of the window flickers at a (around 60Hz at a guess).
Each time I drag and and release it shows some more video frames.
The same thing happens when I switch tasks; on each task switch it shows an update in the video frames.
b) QTZ_Test_Kineme-QuickTimePlayer
This displays as a white filling the entire window. Dragging it around has no effect.
Richard, I'm sorry to hear that you couldn't get those QB applications to work.
In regards of the previously uploaded Composer files, did they work for you in Quartz Composer, if they didn't, did you try to adjust any unintended imperfections regarding the file paths that those compositions contained? I know , from examining the files uploaded by me that they were not perfectly represntative of the compositional practice I wrote of.
Can you tell me if the attached versions of the compositions for the Movie Importer patch and the Kineme QuickTime Player patch work for you in Quartz Composer.
File path for both is set to be folder centric and portable
nameofmovie.mp4.As previously mentioned the Movie Importer patch just doesn't work reliably at all for me on Lion, on my build factor. You need to place these Composer files in the same folder within which you have the .mp4 file and the .aif file. I have attached that .aif file too.
Finally, do these attached versions output correctly in QB as apps?
I think it is all a matter of the file paths and also in my case on my build factor, regarding the Movie Importer patch, the type of Mac I'm running Lion upon.
Hi there.
Sorry for delay in reply! Had to deliver to my deadline.
I'll take a look at your new files as soon as I can and let you know the results.
I hope to be doing more QC development work so I'll keep in touch.
Thanks for your help so far.
R