From: Stephen Ramsden <sramsden@natca.net>

Date: January 30, 2016 5:12:10 PM MST

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] QT & video file conversions ?

Ron, have you tried just selecting the un-converted file with ASTRO IIDC for stacking instead of opening it on your Mac and then stacking it? Also, you can associate .mov files with QT Player 7 in your system settings instead of with standard QT player (downloadable from the app store if you dont have it-it’s worth every penny of the $29).  This will stop it from converting your raw files to compressed files and just play it as is..   I always stack the uncompressed files straight from the capture. 

Stephen W. Ramsden

On Jan 30, 2016, at 6:41 PM, Ron Pearson ursamajor_1@mac.com [Astro_IIDC] <Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

For a couple years now when I open a .mov file before processing in AstroIIDC, Quick Time would open and run a “conversion” -to something else. But all was ok and processed normally with AstroIIDC after that conversion. 

Earlier this week I tried capturing an ISS transit across the Moon using my PGR Scorpion camera. I had it set to 860x… 8 bit format to get a high frame rate. I collected for about 5 minutes and ended up with about a 5 GB file. But after QT opened and did its ‘conversion’ there was nothing there, just black. So, I hooked up the camera and have tried all the format settings and made sure I was getting video output. I found only the 3 FMT7 16 bit format options would convert in QT and show normal video images. It seems something in QT doesn’t like converting 8 bit files from the Scorpion. I don’t think I’ve had 8 bit file format problems before and my IS color camera 8 bit bit files open ok. My conclusion is It looks like the 16 bit image data are there because there must be 5 Gigs of something, but QT doesn’t like it. I'm using AstroIIDC with Mac OSX Yosemite on both an old (09) Macbook Pro and later 2012 Mac Mini i7 with plenty of ram. 

I know Milton has been grumbling about QuickTime and loss of Apple support or something. Can someone explain whats going on with QT and these formats? Is there some other video software that won’t have this problem I can use, or why/if this conversion is even necessary, or can be avoided? thanks and clear, steady skies.

Ron