MacVCD X FAQ

 

General Questions

What are the System Requirements for running MacVCD X?

This information is available

Why do I need MacVCD X if I have Quicktime Player? Don’t they do the same thing?

Both MacVCD X and Apple’s Quicktime Player are video media players. Some of the differences are:

  • Quicktime Player Pro supports full screen playback, but the free version, Quicktime Player does not. MacVCD X supports full screen playback Quicktime Player will only play VCDs on OS X 10.4 or later. MacVCD X will plays VCDs on Mac OS X 10.0 or later
  • Quicktime Player will not play Super VCDs under OS X. MacVCD X will (with purchase of Apple’s Quicktime MPEG2 Component)
  • Quicktime Player Pro has keyboard control when in full screen playback. MacVCD X has an optional menu bar and movie controller, as well as keyboard control and speech activated control when in full screen playback
  • MacVCD X features floating window playback so you can watch a movie while you work on other other applications

Is there a MacVCD X Tutorial?

Yes there is. Refer to our site at MacVCD X Tutorials

Is there a free trial?

Yes, there is a free trial. For step-by-step instructions,

 

Registration and Installation

How do I install/uninstall the program?

MacVCD X is easy to install. For step-by-step instructions,

When I run the program, it displays the “Registration” dialog. What’s wrong?

You are trying to run the program without entering valid Registration Information/Serial Number.

  • If you want to quit, click the “Quit” Button
  • If you are trying to run the demo, click the “Run Demo” Button. For further information, refer to the Read Me in the documentation folder.
  • If you want to purchase the App now, click “Buy Now”.
  • If you want to register the program, enter the Registration Information/Serial Number and click the “Register” Button. If you purchased online, the Registration Information is in the email we sent you. If you purchased a CD, the Registration Information is printed on the CD jacket. For further information about registering, refer to the Read Me in the documentation folder.
  • If you have already bought a Registration key/Serial Number, have entered it and are getting this message, there is an error in the registration information you have entered. For further information, see the “When I try to register, the “Invalid Registration Information” message is displayed” question in this faq.

 

When I try to register, the “Invalid Registration Information” message is displayed. What’s wrong?

There is an error in the Registration information/Serial Number you entered. Please follow these steps:

    1. Verify that you entered the correct License Type, if applicable. If you purchased online, check that the License Type you entered matches the one in the email you received from us. If you purchased from a retail outlet, use the License Type “Individual”
    2. Verify that you entered the correct Purchaser’s ID / Email Address. If you purchased online, enter the Email address used when the App was purchased. If you purchased from a retail outlet, use the Purchaser’s ID that came with the App.
    3. Verify that you entered the Serial Number correctly. Check for the following common problems:- typing the letter O or I instead of the number 0 or 1
      – transposing 2 digits
      – adding extra spaces before or after the Purchaser’s ID or Serial Number
      – entering the registration information more than once (click in the field and scroll with the arrow keys to see this)
      – entering the registration information for the wrong App.
    4. If that didn’t solve the problem, delete your preferences file and configure again. The preferences file’s location is: “$HOME/Library/Preferences/MacVCD X Prefs”
    5. If that didn’t solve the problem, send a copy of your preferences file to App Support (support@mireth.com) so we can determine the nature of the problem. The preferences file’s location is: “$HOME/Library/Preferences/MacVCD X Prefs”

I can’t find a place to put the Registration Information. What’s wrong?

The Registration Dialog Box will be displayed when you start the program, only if it is not registered. If the Dialog Box is not displayed, your copy is already registered. This may happen if:

  • You are already a registered user and you have downloaded a free upgrade. Your old registration information/serial Number is retained. You don’t need to re-register.
  • You used the “Buy Now” button when you purchased the App. The “Buy Now” button not only allows you to buy the software, it registers the software for you as well. Keep the Registration Information email we send you for your records, in case you ever have to re-install.

How do I know if I’ve successfully registered the App?

To verify whether the App is already registered, start it up. If the App is unregistered, the “Register” dialog will be displayed. If the App is registered, the “Register” dialog will not be displayed.

 

Operation

Will MacVCD X Play AVI, DivX and other video formats?

Yes. MacVCD X is based on Quicktime technology and so it will play any supported Quicktime media. In addition you can install Quicktime components to easily increase the media types that MacVCD X will play.Here is a short list, by no means exhaustive, of movies you can watch with MacVCDX:

MPEG Player:

  • MPEG1 – VCD, MP3, XVCD
  • MPEG2 – SVCD*, XSVCD*
  • MPEG4

Digital Video Player:

  • AVI*, DivX*, XviD*, WMA*, Quicktime Movie (.mov), DV, DVC, DV Pal, Photo VCD, Karaoke VCD, Apple Video, Component video, Sorenson Video 2 & 3, Microsoft OLE & Video 1

Quicktime Movie (.mov) Player:

  • Quicktime Movie (.mov)

Other:

  • most other video, animation, image and audio format

And the list goes on. By choosing a Quicktime based movie player your options are limitless. And you get all the great features, full screen, floating window, automatic TV sensing, with all of these media types.

* Requires third party component. See System Requirements

How do I play AVI, Divx, xVID with MacVCD X?

You can use MacVCD X to play AVI, Divx or xVID from your hard drive, from an external disk/hard drive, or from a CD. For step-by-step instructions,

How do I play a karaoke VCD with MacVCD X?

You can use MacVCD X to play Karaoke VCD from your hard drive, from an external disk/hard drive, or from a VCD. For step-by-step instructions,

How do I play MOV (Quicktime Movie) with MacVCD X?

You can use MacVCD X to play a Quicktime Movie (MOV, .mov) from your hard drive, from an external disk/hard drive, or from a CD. For step-by-step instructions,

How do I play MPEG and MPG (.mpg) with MacVCD X?

You can use MacVCD X to play MPEG (MPG, .mpg) from your hard drive, from an external disk/hard drive, or from a CD. For step-by-step instructions,

How do I play VCD or XVCD with MacVCD X?

You can use MacVCD X to play VCD (Video CD) or XVCD or VCD files from your hard drive or from an external disk/hard drive. For step-by-step instructions,

How do I play WMV with MacVCD X?

You can use MacVCD X to play WMV from your hard drive, from an external disk/hard drive, or from a CD. For step-by-step instructions,

How do I play SVCD or SXVCD with MacVCD X?

You can use MacVCD X to play SVCD (Super Video CD) or SXVCD or VCD files from your hard drive or from an external disk/hard drive. For step-by-step instructions,

How do I play more than one movie at the same time?

You can use MacVCD X to play movie than one movie from a CD, from your hard drive or from an external disk/hard drive at the same time. For step-by-step instructions,

Video Features

How do I get Mac VCD X to play the same track repeatedly in a loop?

You can use MacVCD X to play the same track over and over again in a loop. For step-by-step instructions,

How do I select the segment of the movie I want to copy or clear?

To select hold down the sift key and click in the movie controller. The selected part of the move will be shown as a dark grey section of the controller. While holding the shift key down use the left and right arrow keys to fine tune the selection.When ready select Edit->Copy or Edit->Clear\. To paste a copied selection, activate the new movie (File->New if you have not already done so) by clicking it, position to where you want to insert the new scene, select Edit->Paste.

When ready select File->Save to save the new movie.

How do I remove commercials?

You can use MacVCD X to delete commercials from a movie. For step-by-step instructions,

How do I make a favorite scenes movie?

You can use MacVCD X to make a favorite scenes movie. For step-by-step instructions,

Can I edit saved movies using iMovie or Final Cut?

No. Editing in MacVCD X for basics (removing commercials or making a favorite scenes reference movie) is all that this feature is intended to accomplish. Its not designed to let you do general purpose editing of VCD content.

 

Troubleshooting

 Why can’t I get MacVCD X to play this one VCD?

Is the problem with the disk?

Try playing it on another machine, (a stand-alone VCD or DVD player, a Windows or Unix computer). If it does not play, the problem is with the disk. Here are some possible solutions:

  1. Some VCDs don’t play due to poor mastering. Try making a copy of the VCD since the copy may play. This is the most common problem with VCDs that play on Windows but not on the Macintosh.
  2. The disk is dirty. Clean it and try again.
  3. The disk is corrupted or scratched.
  4. The disk is not in a format playable by the machine. There are many formats available. Ensure that the disk in question is a Video CD (VCD) and not some other format.

Is the problem with the Mac computer?

Try playing the disk on a non-Mac computer. If it plays, then the problem is either with the Mac computer, or with MacVCD X. Here are some possible solutions:

  • The disk is not a VCD. There are many formats available and MacVCD X only supports VCD and SVCD. Ensure that the disk is not some other format, such as: HQ-VCD, DVD, Compact Disc Interactive (CD-i), CD-i Bridge, Video Compact disk (CD-V or LD), China Video Disc (CVD), DVCD, Compact Disc Graphics (CD+G)

Why can’t I get MacVCD X to play any VCD?

Make sure you are running Mac OS X 10.1.5 or later and have installed Quicktime 6. Here are some other possible causes:

  • The machine does not meet the system requirements. For further information, see the “What are the System Requirements for running MacVCD X” question in this faq. To verify that this is not the problem, go to the finder and select the “About this Mac” from the Apple Menu

Why can’t I play a DVD on my Macintosh using MacVCD X?

MacVCD X is a VCD player, not a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) player. There are two types of drives found in Macintosh computers,

  • CD-ROM drives which can read CDs and VCDs, and
  • DVD-ROM drives which can read DVDs, CDs and VCDs

There is no software that will allow you to play a DVD in a CD-ROM drive. To play DVD movies on your Macintosh, you need a DVD-ROM drive, so if you don’t have one, you may want to consider upgrading your hardware.

However, DVDs are not the only way to play movies on your computer. You can also use your Macintosh to play VCD movies. To play VCD movies on your Macintosh, you need either a CD-ROM drive or a DVD-ROM, and a software Video CD Player, like MacVCD X.

 I tried to run MacVCD X under OS X 10.0 and now I can’t get the VCD out of the drive. What do I do?

This is a known problem with OS X 10.0. Since this version did not support VCDs, the disks gets stuck in the CD drive, since it does not appear on the desktop. There are two ways to get it out:

  • Reboot while holding down the mouse button. This may demount the CD
  • Reboot your computer using OS 9. The VCD will appear on the desktop and you can then eject it.

If neither of these work, please contact Apple.

This problem has been fixed in OS X 10.1

MacVCD X skips frames in full screen mode. The playback is choppy. Why?

This is a known issue with Pioneer 104 Superdrives and SuperVCDs. It has been reported to Apple. All other optical drives are known to work.Your Macintosh is not fast enough to play VCDs in full screen mode from a CD drive. A 400 mhz machine is required to support full screen playback. To solve the problem, try the following:

  • Make sure you are running Mac OS X 10.1.5 or later and Quicktime 6.
  • Play the movie in a resizable window (Edit>Toggle Full Screen). You can configure the preferences (Edit>Preferences) to not use full screen by unchecking the Present Movie on Full Screen checkbox.
  • Set your display to thousands of colors instead of millions of colors. On slow machines this improves overall performance.
  • Set your display to a lower resolution. On slow machines this improves overall performance.

MacVCD X skips frames in fast motion mode. The playback is choppy. Why?

Your Macintosh is not fast enough to play VCDs in fast motion mode. A 500 mhz machine is required to support fast motion playback.

I can’t get “hands free” to work.

Your Macintosh is not fast enough to support “hands free” mode. A 300 mhz machine is required.

When I try to play an AVI, DivX, SVCD on Mac Intel, my Mac can’t find the component. What’s wrong?

When playing video formats that require a third party component on an Intel Mac, the finder may report that it can’t find the component. To correct this, follow these instructions:

  • quit from MacVCD X
  • do a Get Info on the MacVCD X program (highlight the MacVCD X icon and press the Apple + I keys)
  • On the Get Info Dialog, check the “Open using Rosetta”
  • Restart MacVCD X

Why do I hear more than one soundtrack at the same time?

VCDs support multi-language soundtracks by recording one language on the mono left soundtrack and the other on the mono right soundtrack. If you play a multi-language soundtrack in stereo, you will hear both languages at the same time. To hear only one language, use the Sound Menu to select Mono Left or Mono Right, depending on which track has the language you select.

How do I play a multi language VCD?

You can use MacVCD X to play a VCD with multiple soundtracks. For step-by-step instructions,

I’ve tried more than one VCD. MacVCD won’t play the sound on any VCD. Why?

If you are using OS X make sure you are running MacOS X 10.1.5 or later and have installed Quicktime 6. Here are some possible causes:

  1. The system volume level is set too low. In order to hear sound, both the system volume level and the MacVCD volume level must be set sufficiently high. To determine whether the system volume is set too low, see whether you get sound playing something else.Go to http://www.apple.com/trailers and play one of the movie trailers featured there. If you get sound, then the problem is not with your system volume.
  2. The MacVCD volume is set too low. In order to hear sound, both the MacVCD volume level must be set sufficiently high. To determine whether the MacVCD volume is set too low, turn the volume up. For further information, please refer to the MacVCD X Read me.

MacVCD plays the sound on other disks, but will not play this one disk. Why?

If you are using OS X make sure you are running MacOS X 10.1.5 or later and have installed Quicktime 6. Here are some possible causes:

  1. The VCD has no sound track or no sound in the first minute of play for the MacVCD demo. To determine whether the VCD has a sound track, play it using QuickTime or on another machine, (a stand-alone VCD or DVD player, a Windows or Unix computer).
  2. The disk is dirty. Clean it and try again.
  3. The disk is corrupted or scratched.
  4. The disk is not a VCD. There are many formats available and MacVCD only supports VCD and SVCD. Ensure that the disk is not some other format, such as
    • HQ-VCD, DVD, Compact Disc Interactive (CD-i), CD-i Bridge, Video Compact disk (CD-V or LD), China Video Disc (CVD), DVCD, Compact Disc Graphics (CD+G)

What is the difference between saving a Quicktime movie and a Self-Contained Quicktime movie?

The following table summarizes the differences:

(Reference) Quicktime Movie
Self Contained Quicktime Movie
Very small – uses very little hard disk space. Quite large – can use hundreds of megabytes off hard disk space.
Requires the CD Does not require the CD
Shorter battery life (because the optical drive is powered). Longer battery life (because the movie plays off hard disk)
Good performance on the latest machines Good performance on slower machines.

 

Your FAQ doesn’t answer my question/I need further help. What do I do?

If your question is not answered, please contact App Support at support@mireth.com. Please include the following information:

  • Problem description
  • If the problem is specific to one of our Apps, please also include:
    • Software Name and App Version
      To find the version number,
      Mac: single click the App icon and Get Info (File:Get Info)
      Windows: single click the App icon and show properties (File:Properties:Version tab)
    • What Operating System and version you are running.
      To find the version number,
      Windows: (Start Menu:My Computer:Help:About Windows)
      Mac OS X: (Apple Menu:About this Mac)
      Mac: OS 8, Mas OS 9: (Apple Menu:About this Computer)
    • Whether you are using the trial version or the registered version of the App

 

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