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Technical Q&As
QuickTime is Apple's cross-platform multimedia technology for creating and delivering video, sound, animation, graphics, text, interactivity, and music. QuickTime supports dozens of file and compression formats for images, video, and audio, including ISO-compliant MPEG-4 video and AAC audio. QuickTime applications can run on Mac OS X and all major versions of Microsoft Windows. QuickTime content plays on Mac OS and Windows computers and many handheld devices, and can be served by progressive download from any web server or as realtime streams from streaming servers on all major operating systems.

QuickTime Resources
A guided introduction and learning path for developers new to QuickTime.   Essential information for developers using QuickTime.   Descriptions of the programming interface elements for QuickTime.
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Adding a movie reference to a movie (HTML)
QA1376: Demonstrates how to add a reference for a movie to another movie
Carbon 2004-09-16
Base-Derived async image codecs must implement ImageCodecQueueStarting and ImageCodecQueueStopping (HTML) ()
QA1157: Describes why base-derived codecs that set canAsync must implement ImageCodecQueueStarting and ImageCodecQueueStopping.
Carbon 2002-07-09
Creating Sub GWorlds using QTNewGWorldFromPtr (HTML)
QA1014: Using QTNewGWorldFromPtr to create sub GWorlds which reference the pixel data of other GWorlds.
Carbon 2001-03-20
Dynamically registering a bundled component (HTML)
QA1083: Describes how to dynamically register a Component which resides in an Application bundle.
Carbon 2004-06-07
Extracting DV Fields using QTNewGWorldFromPtr (HTML)
QA1017: Describes using QTNewGWorldFromPtr to access individual fields contained within a frame of DV source.
Carbon 2001-03-20
Incorrect Inside Macintosh Volume V documentation (HTML)
Deprecated - QD15: Identifies incorrect documentation in Inside Macintosh Volume V regarding the formats of PnPixPat and BkPixPat opcodes.
Carbon 1995-09-15
LockPixels and DisposeGWorld with QTNewGWorldFromPtr (HTML)
QA1007: Clarifies some issues surrounding pointer ownership when creating GWorlds with QTNewGWorldFromPtr
Carbon 2001-02-26
Movies - Saving movie playback hints (HTML)
QA1366: Explains how to save and load media play hints from Movie files.
Carbon 2004-09-14
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 2003-10-21
QuickTime Supported YUV Pixel Formats (HTML)
QA1060: Describes which YUV pixel formats are supported by QuickTime.
Carbon 2001-07-19
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 2005-01-06
Using QTSetAtomData (HTML) ()
QA1231: Explains what QTSetAtomData does with the data passed into it.
Carbon 2003-01-14
Movies - Saving movie playback hints (HTML)
QA1366: Explains how to save and load media play hints from Movie files.
Cocoa 2004-09-14
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.
Cocoa 2003-10-21
48 bit & 64 bit Pixel Format support in QuickTime (HTML) ()
QA1114: Discusses QuickTime's support for pixel formats with more than 8 bits per channel.
Compression & Decompression 2002-02-07
Base-Derived async image codecs must implement ImageCodecQueueStarting and ImageCodecQueueStopping (HTML) ()
QA1157: Describes why base-derived codecs that set canAsync must implement ImageCodecQueueStarting and ImageCodecQueueStopping.
Compression & Decompression 2002-07-09
CompressSequenceBegin & Ethernet in QuickTime (HTML)
QTICM13: Describes resolving an issue with missing ImageDescription when sending compressed images over Ethernet using CompressSequenceBegin.
Compression & Decompression 1995-05-01
Creating Thumbnail PICTs (HTML)
QTICM08: Describes transforming the generic icons of QuickTime PICT-created files into thumbnail icons of these PICTs.
Compression & Decompression 1995-05-01
DV Codec settings and performance (HTML) ()
QA1149: Discusses the difference between compression quality, decompression quality, and performance with the DV codec.
Compression & Decompression 2004-01-20
GDGetScale (HTML)
Deprecated - QTICM04: Describes the function call GDGetScale, its parameters, and errors it may encounter.
Compression & Decompression 1995-05-01
GDHasScale (HTML)
Deprecated - QTICM03: Describes the function GDHasScale; lists what it returns, its main purpose, parameters, and possible errors.
Compression & Decompression 1995-05-01
GDSetScale (HTML)
Deprecated - QTICM05: Describes the function GDSetScale, its parameters, and the errors it may encounter.
Compression & Decompression 1995-05-01
Graphics Importer -8970 errors & TIFF Support (HTML)
QTMCC18: Discusses the -8970 error when using graphics importers with certain TIFF files.
Compression & Decompression 2000-11-29
GraphicsImportSetBoundsRect resets your Matrix (HTML) ()
QA1144: Discusses how calling GraphicsImportSetBoundsRect will reset a graphics importers matrix.
Compression & Decompression 2002-05-29
How can I find out what non-RGB pixel formats a codec supports? (HTML) ()
QA1249: Applications can find out if a codec supports non-RGB pixel formats.
Compression & Decompression 2004-01-05
How can I verify that a Movie can actually draw into a non-RGB GWorld? (HTML) ()
QA1243: Techniques to verify that a Movie can actually draw into a non-RGB GWorld.
Compression & Decompression 2003-03-05
How to Tell Whether a Picture is QuickTime-Compressed (HTML)
QTICM02: Details how to determine whether a picture's QuickTime-compressed, contains QuickTime-compressed images, and type of compression used.
Compression & Decompression 1995-05-01
Image Compression Dialog Options (HTML)
QTICM14: Describes how to display an extra Options button in the normal Image Compression dialog.
Compression & Decompression 1995-08-01
Image Decompressor Data-loading Procs (HTML) ()
QTMCC19: Explains how to use an image decompressor's data-loading proc.
Compression & Decompression 2003-07-10
Keyframes and AddMediaSample (HTML)
QTMCC20: Describes setting flags correctly for AddMediaSample to mark keyframes and difference frames.
Compression & Decompression 2000-12-01
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 2001-07-24
PICT, QuickTime-Compressed Testing (HTML)
QTICM09: Details how to determine whether a picture's QuickTime-compressed, contains QuickTime-compressed images, and type of compression used
Compression & Decompression 1995-05-01
Quality of QuickTime video effects (HTML)
QA1089: Describes some of the factors affecting QuickTime video effects quality.
Compression & Decompression 2001-10-26
QuickTime & Noise Problems (HTML)
QTPC02: Talks about ways to reduce noise in movies created with the CinePak codec.
Compression & Decompression 1995-05-01
QuickTime Supported YUV Pixel Formats (HTML)
QA1060: Describes which YUV pixel formats are supported by QuickTime.
Compression & Decompression 2001-07-19
spatialQuality Values with Lossy Compression (HTML) ()
QA1126: Describes how the spatialQuality value reflects the setting of lossy compressed images like JPEG.
Compression & Decompression 2002-03-12
What depth should I put in an Image Description? (HTML) ()
QA1183: Describes how to select the correct value for the depth field of an image description.
Compression & Decompression 2002-08-15
Creating Sample Descriptor Atoms for a Non-Mac Device (HTML)
QTPC06: Lists a reference for information on QuickTime atoms and their formats.
Design Guidelines 1995-08-01
Is QuickTime thread-safe? (HTML)
QA1088: Discusses thread-safety and reentrancy of the QuickTime library on both Mac & Windows.
Design Guidelines 2001-11-01
QuickTime and Carbon Events (HTML)
QA1090: Discusses how to ensure smooth movie playback when using Carbon Events in an application.
Design Guidelines 2001-10-26
Specifying Chunk Sizes (HTML)
QTPC08: Discusses the meaning of a QuickTime movie atom's chunk value.
Design Guidelines 1995-08-01
Where do QuickTime extension files reside? (HTML)
QTW100: Describes where to place QuickTime extension files on Win 95/98/2000/NT systems.
Design Guidelines 2000-09-05
Avoiding Pauses When Looping Audio files with QuickTime (HTML)
QA1371: Demonstrates how to avoid pauses when looping audio files with QuickTime
Games 2004-09-08
Creating Sub GWorlds using QTNewGWorldFromPtr (HTML)
QA1014: Using QTNewGWorldFromPtr to create sub GWorlds which reference the pixel data of other GWorlds.
Graphics & Imaging 2001-03-20
Extracting DV Fields using QTNewGWorldFromPtr (HTML)
QA1017: Describes using QTNewGWorldFromPtr to access individual fields contained within a frame of DV source.
Graphics & Imaging 2001-03-20
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 2004-06-03
IOKit Framework Headers (HTML) ()
QA1107: Describes the differences between the headers in IOKit.framework and the I/O Kit headers in Kernel.framework.
Graphics & Imaging 2002-01-15
Is ColorSync thread safe? (HTML) ()
QA1261: Discusses ColorSync thread-safety issues.
Graphics & Imaging 2003-04-17
LockPixels and DisposeGWorld with QTNewGWorldFromPtr (HTML)
QA1007: Clarifies some issues surrounding pointer ownership when creating GWorlds with QTNewGWorldFromPtr
Graphics & Imaging 2001-02-26
Preserving embedded ICC profiles when using QuickTime Graphics Importer/Exporters (HTML) ()
QA1145: Shows how to preserve the embedded ICC profile when using the QuickTime Graphics Importer/Exporter routines
Graphics & Imaging 2002-09-04
Setting the preferred CMM programatically? (HTML)
QA1086: Uses the NCMConcatProfileSet structure to specify the CMM to be used to make the CMWorldRef with the NCWConcatColorWorld function.
Graphics & Imaging 2001-10-24
Why does my identity matrix look strange? (HTML) ()
QA1227: Discusses the MatrixRecord structure and QuadToQuadMatrix function.
Graphics & Imaging 2003-01-15
Available FireWire Isochronous Bandwidth (HTML)
QA1356: Discusses attempting to "pre-flight" an isochronous bandwidth allocation request by reading the currently available bandwidth.
Hardware 2004-07-07
Determining Open Firmware configuration variables (HTML) ()
HW56: Discusses how to determine the Open Firmware variables on a system.
Hardware 1999-03-29
Difference between using Restart or Shut Down in the Finder's Special menu in Open Firmware (HTML) ()
HW47: Explains the differences between using Restart or Shut Down on Open Firmware
Hardware 1999-02-15
Expansion ROM device properties (HTML) ()
HW50: Describes the Open Firmware properties that should be included in a boot device's expansion ROM.
Hardware 1999-03-29
Getting started with Forth (HTML) ()
HW53: Describes where FCode driver developers can get information about the Forth programming language.
Hardware 1999-03-29
IOKit Framework Headers (HTML) ()
QA1107: Describes the differences between the headers in IOKit.framework and the I/O Kit headers in Kernel.framework.
Hardware 2002-01-15
Is the Open Firmware device tree object oriented? (HTML)
HW80: Discusses the object-oriented attributes of the Open Firmware device tree.
Hardware 1999-11-15
Legacy Devices (HTML)
HW84: Discusses why legacy devices with hard-wired I/O addresses may not work properly with Open Firmware.
Hardware 2000-03-20
The "packages" node in the device tree (HTML)
HW90: Describes the "packages" node in the Open Firmware device tree.
Hardware 2000-09-05
Sample code for allocating an amount of dictionary space (HTML)
HW71: Discusses the allocation and the setting of memory for Dictionary space in Open Firmware.
Hardware 1999-10-11
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
Hardware 2005-01-06
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 2004-08-25
What is the "dump" word and how do I use it? (HTML)
HW68: Describes the function of the Open Firmware word "dump" and how it can be used.
Hardware 1999-10-11
What numeric base is the default for the Open Firmware user interface? (HTML)
HW65: Describes how the default numeric base used by the Open Firmware user interface is hexadecimal.
Hardware 1999-10-11
When to use PCMCIA, PC Card, and CardBus (HTML)
HW77: Explains the differences between PCMCIA, PC Card, and CardBus.
Hardware 1999-11-15
ConvertMovieToFile unexpected results (HTML) ()
QTMTB51: Explains why white frames can occur in a movie that was saved using ConvertMovieToFile.
Import & Export 1999-06-14
Creating a Movie from Movie Data in Memory (HTML)
QA1341: Describes how to create a movie from movie data in memory.
Import & Export 2004-05-20
Decompressing IMA WAVE files (HTML)
QTMCC11: Describes how to use the Sound Manager to decompress and play Window's Microsoft ADPCM-compressed WAVE files.
Import & Export 1998-10-19
Decompressing MP3 (HTML)
QTMCC15: Discusses decompressing an MP3 file into a buffer using SoundConverter APIs.
Import & Export 2000-09-22
Exporting TIFF files in little-endian format (HTML)
QA1044: Explains how to export a TIFF file in little-endian format.
Import & Export 2001-06-26
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.
Import & Export 2004-06-03
Graphics Importer -8970 errors & TIFF Support (HTML)
QTMCC18: Discusses the -8970 error when using graphics importers with certain TIFF files.
Import & Export 2000-11-29
Graphics Importers and image files containing multiple layers (HTML) ()
QA1148: Describes how to get the natural bounds of layers contained in a multi-layered image file.
Import & Export 2002-06-18
GraphicsImportSetBoundsRect resets your Matrix (HTML) ()
QA1144: Discusses how calling GraphicsImportSetBoundsRect will reset a graphics importers matrix.
Import & Export 2002-05-29
Importing image data from memory (HTML)
QTMTB56: Explains using the graphics importer API's to read image data which resides in memory.
Import & Export 2000-04-03
Importing Sys 7 Snds (HTML)
QTMCC16: Describes how to import System 7 sound files using QuickTime.
Import & Export 2000-09-22
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 2004-05-20
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
Playing memory-resident WAVE data using QuickTime 4 (HTML) ()
QTMTB52: Explains how to play memory-resident WAVE data in QuickTime 4 or later.
Import & Export 1999-07-21
Preserving embedded ICC profiles when using QuickTime Graphics Importer/Exporters (HTML) ()
QA1145: Shows how to preserve the embedded ICC profile when using the QuickTime Graphics Importer/Exporter routines
Import & Export 2002-09-04
Programmatic configuration of a Movie Export Component (HTML) ()
QA1147: Demonstrates how to programmatically configure a movie export component without showing the Movie Export dialog.
Import & Export 2002-06-18
Retrieving Audio from QuickTime Files (HTML)
QTMTB30: Describes how to retrieve audio from QuickTime files in 1 second chunks.
Import & Export 1995-05-01
Setting Export Quality (HTML)
QTMCC13: Demonstrates how to change the compression factor when exporting a JPEG file.
Import & Export 1999-12-06
Using MovieExportSetSampleDescription to specify the format of exported data (HTML)
QTMTB59: Describes using the ConvertMovieToFile routine to export a WAV audio-only movie to an AIFF file using a specific compressor.
Import & Export 2000-09-05
Viewing multi-page PDF files (HTML) ()
QA1247: How to draw each page of a multi-page PDF document using the QuickTime movie importers.
Import & Export 2003-03-05
Getting a Packet Trace (HTML) ()
QA1176: Lists tools available for looking at the network packets on the wire.
Internet & Web 2004-07-13
Playing a sound using QTJ (HTML)
Deprecated - QTJ01: Explains how to play sounds in Java using QuickTime for Java.
Java 1999-10-25
Using the QuickTime for Java libraries on OS X (HTML) ()
QA1058: Where to locate the QTJava.zip file for inclusion in your java/javac classpath.
Java 2002-04-08
Correction to SetMediaDataRef, short, not pointer (HTML)
QTMTB44: Makes a correction to the description of SetMediaDataRef in the QT2.0 CD.
Media Types & Media Handlers 1995-08-01
Determining QuickDrawVideo Media Pixel Depth (HTML)
QTMTB17: Demonstrates how to retrieve the pixel depth of a QuickTime video media or movie.
Media Types & Media Handlers 1995-05-01
Accessing Decompressed Images (HTML)
QTMTB27: Demonstrates the use of a transfer procedure to access a decompressed image and manipulate it prior to display.
Movie Basics 1995-05-01
Adding a movie reference to a movie (HTML)
QA1376: Demonstrates how to add a reference for a movie to another movie
Movie Basics 2004-09-16
Adding QuickTime Movie Data to Non-QuickTime Files (HTML)
QTMTB31: Describes how to embed QuickTime movies into files, and play back on Windows or Mac.
Movie Basics 1995-05-01
Avoiding Pauses When Looping Audio files with QuickTime (HTML)
QA1371: Demonstrates how to avoid pauses when looping audio files with QuickTime
Movie Basics 2004-09-08
Batch Exporting movie sound tracks with ConvertMovieToFile() (HTML)
QTMTB62: Explains how to configure ConvertMovieToFile to use the same configuration information for more than one call.
Movie Basics 2000-09-05
BeginMediaEdits -2050 badDataRefIndex error after calling NewMovie (HTML)
QTMTB58: Describes reasons why BeginMediaEdits would return the -2050 badDataRefIndex error code during a media-editing session.
Movie Basics 2000-09-05
Calculating the video frame rate of an MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 movie (HTML) ()
QA1262: Computing the video frame rate of an MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 movie.
Movie Basics 2003-06-02
Choosing the Position Where a Movie is Pasted (HTML)
QTMTB26: Explains how the position of a pasted movie is determined and shows how to force a given location.
Movie Basics 1995-05-01