Viewing Cineform AVI files on a MAC? at DVinfo.net

Tim Bickford · June 3rd, 2008, 02:09 PM

I captured MPEG-2 from my Canon XL H1 via P-Pro CS3. I then used my ASPECT-HD software to convert to AVI, splitting the 60 minute MPEG-2 into several dozen individual AVI files.

I would like to place these AVI's on a external USB-2 hard drive so that someone else can review the AVI files on their MAC. Will they need to have the cineform codec on their mac (i.e. with Quick Time)? If so... how do I get the codec? Do I have to buy it?

Thanks,

David Taylor · June 3rd, 2008, 02:27 PM

Tim, CineForm AVI files can be viewed on a Mac without re-wrapping to MOV. Simply download the CineForm codec for Mac and install on your (Intel) Mac first.

Embellishment: If your files were converted with Prospect HD/4K then they would be 10 or 12 bits deep. If those CineForm AVIs were moved to Mac then FCP would interpret them as 8 bit files. This is no problem for shot review. But if you want to manipulate them in FCP during post then you'd want to re-wrap the CineForm AVIs as MOVs so FCP would interpret them at their proper extended precision.

Tim Bickford · June 5th, 2008, 07:50 AM

David-

Thanks... This helps a lot.

June 3rd, 2008, 02:09 PM	#1
Tim Bickford Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 448	Viewing Cineform AVI files on a MAC? I captured MPEG-2 from my Canon XL H1 via P-Pro CS3. I then used my ASPECT-HD software to convert to AVI, splitting the 60 minute MPEG-2 into several dozen individual AVI files. I would like to place these AVI's on a external USB-2 hard drive so that someone else can review the AVI files on their MAC. Will they need to have the cineform codec on their mac (i.e. with Quick Time)? If so... how do I get the codec? Do I have to buy it? Thanks, __________________ Tim Bickford

June 5th, 2008, 07:50 AM	#3
Tim Bickford Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 448	David- Thanks... This helps a lot. __________________ Tim Bickford

June 3rd, 2008, 02:27 PM	#2
David Taylor Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Solana Beach, CA Posts: 853	Tim, CineForm AVI files can be viewed on a Mac without re-wrapping to MOV. Simply download the CineForm codec for Mac and install on your (Intel) Mac first. Embellishment: If your files were converted with Prospect HD/4K then they would be 10 or 12 bits deep. If those CineForm AVIs were moved to Mac then FCP would interpret them as 8 bit files. This is no problem for shot review. But if you want to manipulate them in FCP during post then you'd want to re-wrap the CineForm AVIs as MOVs so FCP would interpret them at their proper extended precision.