TITLE
    QuickTime 3: Can't Hear Audio In Movies
Article ID:
Created:
Modified:
60303
4/21/99
7/11/00

TOPIC

    I'm using QuickTime 3 and I'm using trying to play a movie. I can see the video, but I can't hear any sound from it at all--even with the volume all the way up. What is wrong?


DISCUSSION

    One possible issue is that QuickTime 4 introduced a new compression format for sound called "QDesign Music 2". Quicktime 3 does not support this new compression. Thus, if the movie file in question was created using the QDesign Music 2 compression format in QuickTime 4, then users of QuickTime 3 will be able to play the movie and see the video, but they will not hear any audio.

    If you have a Pro version of QuickTime, and you have a local copy of the movie, here is a way to verify if this is the case:
    • Open the movie in Movie Player (or QuickTime Player)
    • Choose Get Info from the Movie menu
    • Choose Sound Track from the left pop-up menu and choose Format from the right pop-up menu.

    If you are using QuickTime 3 Pro, under "Compression", if it will say "Unknown."



    If you are using QuickTime 4 Pro, under Compression, it will say "QDesign Music 2"

    If this is the case, there are two solutions to this issue:
      1. Download and install QuickTime 4 on the computer where you want to play the movie, or
      2. Open the movie on a computer that has QuickTime 4 Pro installed and export it using a different sound compressor that is supported by QuickTime 3.

Document Information
Product Area: Apple Software
Category: QuickTime
Sub Category: QuickTime 3.x

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