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Technical Q&As
QuickTime applications can run on Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows. QuickTime content plays on Mac and Windows computers and on many handheld devices. Content can be served by progressive download from any web server or as real-time streams from streaming servers on all major operating systems. QuickTime supports dozens of file and compression formats for images, video, and audio.

A guided introduction and learning path for developers new to QuickTime.   Essential information for developers using QuickTime.   API references organized by framework.
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How can I find out what non-RGB pixel formats a codec supports? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1249: Applications can find out if a codec supports non-RGB pixel formats.
Compression & Decompression, QuickTime Component Creation 2008-04-24
Using QTPixelBufferContextCreate with NewMovieFromProperties (HTML)
QA1443: Discusses using a QuickTime pixel buffer visual context and NewMovieFromProperties to output frames to pixel buffers.
Carbon, Cocoa, Graphics & Imaging, Movie Basics 2008-04-24
How to get a native QuickTime movie object from the QuickTime ActiveX/COM control (HTML)
QA1594: Describes how to get a native QuickTime movie object from the QuickTime ActiveX/COM control
QuickTime for Windows 2008-03-27
QTKit Capture - Extracting SMPTE Timecode information from a QTSampleBuffer (HTML)
QA1600: Describes how to use the QTSampleBufferSMPTETimeAttribute with a sample buffer.
Cocoa 2008-03-17
Sample Description Endianness (HTML)
QA1598: Describes the endianness of the QuickTime Sample Description Structure and their extensions.
File Format Specification 2008-03-17
How to work around HIMovieViewCreate failing (HTML)
QA1417: Describes how to work around HIMovieViewCreate failing to initialize the view in QuickTime 7
Carbon 2008-03-11
Movie Import Components - MovieImportDataRef Invoked For File Import Operations (HTML)
QA1596: Discusses how QuickTime 7.4+ invokes Movie Import Components when specifically importing from files.
Import & Export, QuickTime Component Creation 2008-03-11
QTKit Capture - Specifying Media Compression Settings (HTML)
QA1586: Describes how to configure a file output object to save compressed captured media.
Cocoa, Movie Creation 2008-03-11
QTKit Capture - Setting DecompressedVideoOutput CVPixelBuffer Attributes (HTML)
QA1582: Describes how to configure a DecompressedVideoOutput objects CVPixelBuffer attributes.
Cocoa 2008-03-06
QuickTime Media Optimization Properties (HTML)
QA1579: Discusses the kQTMovieImporterPropertyID_AllowMediaOptimization and kQTMovieInstantiationPropertyID_AllowMediaOptimization properties.
Import & Export, Movie Basics, Movie Creation 2008-01-15
QuickTime Audio - Rendering QuickTime Movie audio to a specific Audio Device (HTML)
QA1578: Describes how to render Movie audio to a specific audio device.
Audio 2008-01-08
Looping Audio Files with QuickTime for Windows (HTML)
QA1559: How to Continuously Loop Audio Files with QuickTime for Windows
Audio, Movie Basics, QuickTime for Windows 2007-10-09
Why isn't my QuickTime Component recognized by iMovie '08? (HTML)
QA1545: Discusses why iMovie '08 may ignore 3rd party QuickTime Components.
Import & Export, QuickTime Component Creation 2007-10-03
QuickTime Audio - Muting and GetMovieAudioFrequencyLevels (HTML)
QA1556: Discusses the change made to the GetMovieAudioFrequencyLevels API with QuickTime 7.2.
Audio, Carbon 2007-09-28
QuickTime Visual Context - Setting the kQTVisualContextOutputColorSpaceKey Attribute (HTML)
QA1550: Describes how to configure a QuickTime OpenGL Texture Visual Context with the kQTVisualContextOutputColorSpaceKey attribute.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-09-28
QuickTime Texture Visual Context - kQTVisualContextNotAllowedErr with non-accelerated graphics cards (HTML)
QA1542: Discusses how to create a display mask and avoid a kQTVisualContextNotAllowedErr when using a non-accelerated graphics card.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-09-18
Programatically retrieving field and frame information (HTML)
QA1547: Discusses the use of the kICMImageDescriptionPropertyID_FieldInfo property to retrieve Field/Frame information.
Carbon, Movie Basics 2007-09-13
How can I work with MPEG-2 media using QuickTime? (HTML)
QA1540: How to work with MPEG-2 media using QuickTime.
Import & Export, Media Types & Media Handlers, Movie Basics 2007-08-29
How do I create a QuickTime movie from PCM audio samples in memory? (HTML)
QA1539: How to create a QuickTime movie from PCM audio samples in memory
Audio 2007-08-29
Calculating the static video frame rate of a QuickTime movie. (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1262: Calculating the static video frame rate of a QuickTime movie.
Movie Basics 2007-07-30
Capturing a real-time movie stream (HTML)
QA1535: Capturing real-time movie streams
Streaming 2007-07-30
Where do QuickTime extension files reside on Windows systems? (HTML)
QTW100: Describes where to locate QuickTime extension files on Windows systems.
Design Guidelines, QuickTime for Windows 2007-07-30
Movie export with AAC or AMR audio formats (HTML)
QA1347: This QA discusses use of the QuickTime AMR and AAC audio compressors on Macintosh and Windows
Import & Export, QuickTime for Windows 2007-04-13
QuickTime 7.1.5 Security Enhancements (HTML)
QA1520: Discusses the security enhancements and other changes contained in the QuickTime 7.1.5 Update.
Import & Export, Internet & Web 2007-04-02
Adding metadata to an iTunes file using the QuickTime Metadata APIs (HTML)
QA1508: How to add metadata to a movie using the QuickTime Metadata APIs
Movie Basics 2007-02-14
Video Digitizers - Adding Clean Aperture and Pixel Aspect Ratio Information (HTML)
QA1512: Discusses the importance of adding 'pasp' and 'clap' image description extensions to the ImageDescription returned by a VDIG.
Graphics & Imaging, Hardware & Drivers, QuickTime Component Creation 2007-02-14
Adding metadata to a QuickTime movie using the QuickTime MetaData APIs (HTML)
QA1515: Adding metadata to a QuickTime movie using the QuickTime MetaData APIs
Movie Basics 2007-02-08
Core Video - Available Pixel Formats (HTML)
QA1501: Discusses how to determine all the pixel format types and format descriptions known to Core Video.
Graphics & Imaging 2007-01-23
Standard Audio - Parsing the kQTSCAudioPropertyID_CodecSpecificSettingsArray property (HTML)
QA1437: Discusses how to parse the kQTSCAudioPropertyID_CodecSpecificSettingsArray property returned from StdAudio. Also see Q&A 1390.
Audio 2006-11-30
What depth should I put in an Image Description? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1183: Describes how to select the correct value for the depth field of an image description.
Compression & Decompression 2006-11-27
Standard Audio - The CodecSpecificSettingsArray and MagicCookie properties (HTML)
QA1390: Discusses Core Audio AudioConverter configuration with StdAudio, specifically the CodecSpecificSettingsArray property.
Audio 2006-11-16
Compression Sequence APIs - codecErr returned when compressing with H.264 (HTML)
QA1470: Describes why ICM Compression Sequence APIs cannot be used to encode to H.264
Compression & Decompression, Graphics & Imaging 2006-11-15
Standard Audio - Setting output ASBD returns badFormatErr (HTML)
QA1489: Discusses why badFormatErr may be returned from Standard Audio
Audio 2006-11-15
Compression Sessions - Multipass encoding and the pass mode flags (HTML)
QA1457: Discusses how the pass mode flags work when performing multipass compression operations.
Carbon, Compression & Decompression 2006-10-02
MovieAudioExtraction - Extracting all available audio samples (HTML)
QA1481: Describes how to correct for MovieAudioExtraction missing some audio samples at the end of audio files.
Audio 2006-07-18
QuickTime Audio - Retrieving the correct audio format bit depth value (HTML)
QA1477: Discusses how to retrieve accurate audio format bit depth.
Audio 2006-05-17
Using the kQTPropertyClass_DRM properties with QuickTime (HTML)
QA1476: Explains how to use the kQTPropertyClass_DRM properties with QuickTime media.
Movie Basics 2006-04-11
MovieAudioExtraction - Ensure a Movie is fully loaded before starting an extraction session (HTML)
QA1469: Describes the importance of making sure a Movie is fully loaded before extracting audio.
Audio 2006-03-29
Creating a Movie from Movie Data in Memory (HTML)
QA1341: Describes how to create a movie from movie data in memory.
Import & Export, Movie Basics, Movie Creation 2006-03-21
Movie Export From Procedures - Providing k2vuyPixelFormat data to MovieExportGetDataProc (HTML)
QA1465: Discusses adding the missing 'rowb' ImageDescription extension when using MakeImageDescriptionFromPixMap with a k2vuyPixelFormat GWorld for a procedures export.
Import & Export, Movie Creation 2006-03-03
The "packages" node in the device tree (HTML)
HW90: Describes the "packages" node in the Open Firmware device tree.
Hardware & Drivers 2006-02-22
Is QuickTime thread-safe? (HTML)
QA1088: Discusses thread-safety and reentrancy of the QuickTime library on both Mac & Windows.
Design Guidelines, Movie Basics 2006-02-14
Integrating the QuickTime for Windows 7.0.3 Installer into your Application Installer (HTML)
QA1463: Describes new behavior for the QuickTime for Windows 7.0.3 Installer
QuickTime for Windows 2006-02-07
Sequence Grabber preallocates large file when recording (HTML)
QA1411: Describes how to prevent the Sequence Grabber from filling your entire disk when recording.
Carbon, Movie Creation 2006-02-06
QuickTime Audio - Easy Frequency Level Metering with MovieAudio APIs (HTML)
QA1459: Describes how to perform frequency band level metering using MovieAudio metering APIs.
Audio, Carbon, Cocoa, Movie Basics 2006-01-26
Compression Sessions - Configuring options using the Standard Compression dialog (HTML)
QA1456: Discusses how to configure Compression Session options using Standard Compression dialog.
Carbon, Compression & Decompression 2006-01-12
Compression Sessions - Enabling muti-pass encoding (HTML)
QA1450: Describes how to enable multi-pass encoding when using ICM compression sessions.
Carbon, Graphics & Imaging, Movie Creation 2006-01-12
Compression Sessions - Temporal compression options (HTML)
QA1455: Discusses the temporal compression option as it relates to quality and other compression session options.
Carbon, Compression & Decompression, Movie Creation 2006-01-12
Decompression Sessions - Setting codec accuracy and field mode (HTML)
QA1460: Describes how to set codec accuracy and field mode options when creating a decompression sessions.
Carbon, Compression & Decompression, Graphics & Imaging 2006-01-12
Limiting the component list in SCRequestImageSettings (HTML)
QA1062: Describes the scCompressionListType flag, which limits the list of compressors shown in the standard image settings dialog.
Compression & Decompression 2006-01-12
Sound Manager Codec support in QuickTime 7 (HTML)
QA1448: Describes QuickTime 7 support for constant bitrate and variable bitrate Sound Manager codecs
Audio 2005-10-26
Final Cut Pro - Preferred Video Media Time Scales and Sample Durations (HTML)
QA1447: Lists the preferred time scales/sample durations for media created for use with FCP.
Movie Creation 2005-10-24
Compression Sessions - Configuring codec quality settings (HTML)
QA1444: Discusses how to set encoding quality for a Compression Sequence
Carbon, Graphics & Imaging 2005-10-17
Importer Components - What is the 'mcfg' resource used for? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1267: Discusses the Media Configuration 'mcfg' resource which lists Importer Component file type characteristics and its use.
QuickTime Component Creation 2005-10-17
QuickTime for Windows returns bdNamErr (-37) error with long Windows file names (HTML)
QA1413: Describes how QuickTime may return bdNamErr (-37) error on Windows if file name is > 63 characters
Movie Basics, QuickTime for Windows 2005-10-04
Using the QuickTime DVCompressor properties (HTML)
QA1438: Describes the function of the DVCompressor class component properties.
Import & Export 2005-10-04
Implementing a CVFillExtendedPixelsCallBack (HTML)
QA1440: Discusses how you implement a Core Video custom extended pixel fill callback function.
Carbon, Compression & Decompression, Graphics & Imaging, QuickTime Component Creation 2005-09-06
Registering custom pixel formats with QuickTime and Core Video (HTML)
QA1401: Discusses how to register custom pixel formats with QuickTime & Core Video with QuickTime 7.
Carbon, Graphics & Imaging, QuickTime Component Creation 2005-09-06
Adding Unicode characters to Text Media in a Text Track (HTML)
QA1400: Describes how to add Unicode characters to text media in a text track
Media Types & Media Handlers 2005-09-01
iSight - Configuring gain settings for IIDC cameras (HTML)
QA1421: Discusses how to configure features of IIDC cameras, specifically gain for the iSight
Carbon, Hardware & Drivers 2005-04-06
Using ConvertMovieToFile or ConvertMovieToDataRef to convert movies without displaying the settings dialog (HTML)
QA1418: Describes how to perform movie export using ConvertMovieToFile or ConvertMovieToDataRef without displaying the dialog
Import & Export 2005-03-22
Movie Export Component - How to ensure Final Cut Pro recognizes your exporter (HTML)
QA1415: Explains how to make sure Final Cut Pro will recognizes a custom QuickTime movie export component.
Carbon, Import & Export, QuickTime Component Creation 2005-03-08
Movie Export - Always fill in the MovieExportGetDataParams dataSize field (HTML)
QA1304: Outlines the importance of correctly filling in the MovieExportGetDataParams dataSize field when exporting from procedures.
Carbon, Compression & Decompression, Graphics & Imaging, Movie Creation 2005-02-25
Sequence Grabber - Determining the capture resolution of an IIDC device (HTML)
QA1403: Discusses how to determine the resolution of a captured image from an IIDC device
Carbon, Hardware & Drivers, Movie Creation 2005-01-06
SetSoundMediaBalance balance parameter clarification (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QTMTB49: Describes correct parameter values for the SetSoundMediaBalance routine.
Audio, Movie Basics 2004-12-01
GetDIBFromPict fails with QuickTime "Minimum" installation (HTML)
QA1294: Demonstrates how to check for any available QuickTime components required by individual QuickTime functions.
Movie Basics, QuickTime for Windows 2004-09-28
Adding a movie reference to a movie (HTML)
QA1376: Demonstrates how to add a reference for a movie to another movie
Carbon, Movie Basics 2004-09-16
Adjusting the movie brightness (HTML)
QA1382: Demonstrates how to adjust the brightness of a movie for playback.
Video Effects & Transitions 2004-09-16
Movies - Saving movie playback hints (HTML)
QA1366: Explains how to save and load media play hints from Movie files.
Carbon, Cocoa, Movie Basics 2004-09-14
Avoiding Pauses When Looping Audio files with QuickTime (HTML)
QA1371: Demonstrates how to avoid pauses when looping audio files with QuickTime
Audio, Games, Movie Basics 2004-09-08
Sequence Grabber - Video capture with multiple IIDC cameras (HTML)
QA1365: Discusses factors which influence the number of IIDC cameras that can simultaniously be used for capture.
Hardware & Drivers, Movie Creation 2004-08-25
Getting a Packet Trace (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1176: Lists tools available for looking at the network packets on the wire.
Internet & Web 2004-07-13
Available FireWire Isochronous Bandwidth (HTML)
QA1356: Discusses attempting to "pre-flight" an isochronous bandwidth allocation request by reading the currently available bandwidth.
Audio, Hardware & Drivers 2004-07-07
Dynamically registering a bundled component (HTML)
QA1083: Describes how to dynamically register a Component which resides in an Application bundle.
Carbon, QuickTime Component Creation 2004-06-07
Graphics Exporters - Creating 16-bit-per-channel image files (HTML)
QA1354: Discusses how to use QuickTime Graphics Exporters to create 16-bit-per-channel image files.
Graphics & Imaging, Import & Export 2004-06-03
Sequence Grabber - How often should I call SGIdle? (HTML)
QA1349: This Q&A discusses how often SGIdle should be called when capturing using the Sequence Grabber.
Movie Creation 2004-04-06
Sequence Grabber - Using the SGDataProc for Sound (HTML)
QA1348: This Q&A discusses how you can use a Sound SGChannel with the Sequence Grabber DataProc
Movie Creation 2004-04-06
QuickTime movies require a valid graphics port (HTML)
QA1345: The QuickTime Movie Toolbox requires a valid graphics port for all movies.
Movie Basics 2004-03-19
DV Codec settings and performance (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1149: Discusses the difference between compression quality, decompression quality, and performance with the DV codec.
Compression & Decompression, Movie Basics 2004-01-20
QuickTime Effects - How to set up parameter description values when using kParameterTypeDataImage (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1326: Setting up an effect parameter description when using kParameterTypeDataImage as the parameter data type.
Video Effects & Transitions 2003-12-09
Sequence Grabber - Ensuring the SG TimeBase is being driven by the Sound Clock. (HTML)
QA1314: Ensuring the Sequence Grabber TimeBase is being driven by the Sound Clock when recording audio and video.
Movie Creation 2003-10-24
QuickTime 6.4 & AvailabilityMacros.h on Mac OS X 10.2.x (HTML)
QA1316: Fixing compilation issues when upgrading to QuickTime 6.4 on Mac OS X 10.2.x systems.
Carbon, Cocoa 2003-10-21
paramErr returned from ConvertMovieToFile when exporting to .wav (HTML)
QA1313: Avoid a paramErr returned from ConvertMovieToFile by setting up a Sound Description when exporting to a .wav file.
Import & Export 2003-10-06
Sequence Grabber - Setting the sound channel play through state (HTML)
QA1303: Setting the Sound play though state when previewing and recording a sound channel with the Sequence Grabber.
Movie Creation 2003-09-23
Sequence Grabber - How do I save user settings as CFPreferences? (HTML)
QA1286: Saving UserData settings returned from the Sequence Grabber as CFPreferences.
Movie Creation 2003-09-04
Using a QuickTime time base callback to detect when a movie has stopped (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1282: Using a QuickTime time base callback (NewCallBack) to detect when a movie has stopped.
Movie Basics 2003-08-12
Filtering QuickTime media types in Navigation Services (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1274: Describes how to filter QuickTime media types in a Navigation Services filter procedure.
Movie Basics 2003-07-23
Sequence Grabber Source, Video, and Channel Bounds (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1250: Explains the QuickTime Sequence Grabber's relationship between the Source, Video, and Channel Bounds when capturing video.
Movie Creation 2003-07-16
Image Decompressor Data-loading Procs (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QTMCC19: Explains how to use an image decompressor's data-loading proc.
Compression & Decompression, QuickTime Component Creation 2003-07-10
How do I count the frames in an MPEG movie? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QTMTB54: Talks about using the QuickTime Movie Toolbox function GetMovieNextInterestingTime with MPEG media tracks.
Movie Basics 2003-05-02
Is ColorSync thread safe? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1261: Discusses ColorSync thread-safety issues.
Graphics & Imaging 2003-04-17
Disabling QuickTime Error Dialogs When Opening or Tasking a Movie (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1164: How to disable QuickTime error dialogs which may be presented when opening or tasking a movie.
Movie Basics 2003-03-20
QuickTime Error -2127 qtNetworkAlreadyAllocatedErr Explained (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1244: QuickTime qtNetworkAlreadyAllocatedErr error code (-2127) occurs when the user's Connection Speed preference setting is too slow.
Transport & Delivery 2003-03-20
Using cmpWantsRegisterMessage not recommended on Mac OS X (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1192: Describes why using the cmpWantsRegisterMessage flag is not recommended on Mac OS X.
QuickTime Component Creation 2003-03-11
How can I verify that a Movie can actually draw into a non-RGB GWorld? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1243: Techniques to verify that a Movie can actually draw into a non-RGB GWorld.
Compression & Decompression, Movie Basics 2003-03-05
Viewing multi-page PDF files (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1247: How to draw each page of a multi-page PDF document using the QuickTime movie importers.
Import & Export 2003-03-05
Movie Export Components - Supporting a MovieProgressProc (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1230: Explains the steps needed to support a movie progress proc in a movie export component.
QuickTime Component Creation 2003-01-31
Why does my identity matrix look strange? (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1227: Discusses the MatrixRecord structure and QuadToQuadMatrix function.
Graphics & Imaging, Movie Basics 2003-01-15
Using QTSetAtomData (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1231: Explains what QTSetAtomData does with the data passed into it.
Carbon, Movie Basics 2003-01-14
Video Output Components - QTVideoOutputGetIndImageDecompressor (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1226: Discusses the QTVideoOutputGetIndImageDecompressor call.
QuickTime Component Creation 2003-01-03