Jump To:
Leopard 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.
Document Descriptions
On Off
Display

Sort by
Title
Sorted by
Topic
Sort by
Date
AudioChannelLayout - What's the Audio Channel Order when the Layout has a Channel Bitmap? (HTML)
QA1638: Explains the audio channel order when a channel layout is tagged as kAudioChannelLayoutTag_UseChannelBitmap.
Audio 2009-04-12
Available FireWire Isochronous Bandwidth (HTML)
QA1356: Discusses attempting to "pre-flight" an isochronous bandwidth allocation request by reading the currently available bandwidth.
Audio 2004-07-07
Avoiding Pauses When Looping Audio files with QuickTime (HTML)
QA1371: Demonstrates how to avoid pauses when looping audio files with QuickTime
Audio 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.
Audio 2000-09-05
Creating Core Audio Format (.caf) Files (HTML)
QA1534: Describes how to use afconvert to create .caf files
Audio 2009-01-07
Developing a QuickTime Musical Instrument (HTML)
Deprecated - QTMA05: Explains resolving the lack of QuickTime 2.0 API support for creating new music components.
Audio 1995-05-01
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
Looping Audio Files with QuickTime for Windows (HTML)
QA1559: How to Continuously Loop Audio Files with QuickTime for Windows
Audio 2007-10-09
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
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
Playback of QuickTime movie audio through a multi-channel speaker system (HTML)
QA1627: Specify a specific pair of channels for QuickTime audio movie playback through a multi-channel speaker system
Audio 2008-11-05
Playing memory-resident WAVE data using QuickTime 4 (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QTMTB52: Explains how to play memory-resident WAVE data in QuickTime 4 or later.
Audio 1999-07-21
Playing QuickTime 3 Movie Sound Data (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QTMTB50: Explains why a movie's sound data can continue to play longer than video data.
Audio 1998-11-09
QuickTime Audio - Easy Frequency Level Metering with MovieAudio APIs (HTML)
QA1459: Describes how to perform frequency band level metering using MovieAudio metering APIs.
Audio 2009-01-29
QuickTime Audio - Muting and GetMovieAudioFrequencyLevels (HTML)
QA1556: Discusses the change made to the GetMovieAudioFrequencyLevels API with QuickTime 7.2.
Audio 2007-09-28
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
QuickTime Audio - Retrieving the correct audio format bit depth value (HTML)
QA1477: Discusses how to retrieve accurate audio format bit depth.
Audio 2008-11-05
QuickTime Music Architecture Header Update (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QTMA06: Explains missing and changed items in QuickTime 2.5.
Audio 1996-08-21
SetSoundMediaBalance balance parameter clarification (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QTMTB49: Describes correct parameter values for the SetSoundMediaBalance routine.
Audio 2004-12-01
Setting Sequence Grabber Sound Input Device Driver Parameters (HTML) (日本語 HTML)
QA1204: Setting sound input device driver parameters for QuickTime sequence grabber audio channels.
Audio 2002-10-25
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
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
Standard Audio - Setting output ASBD returns badFormatErr (HTML)
QA1489: Discusses why badFormatErr may be returned from Standard Audio
Audio 2006-11-15
Standard Audio - The CodecSpecificSettingsArray and MagicCookie properties (HTML)
QA1390: Discusses Core Audio AudioConverter configuration with StdAudio, specifically the CodecSpecificSettingsArray property.
Audio 2006-11-16
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.
Audio 2000-09-05
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) (日本語 HTML)
QA1157: Describes why base-derived codecs that set canAsync must implement ImageCodecQueueStarting and ImageCodecQueueStopping.
Carbon 2002-07-09
Compression Sessions - Configuring codec quality settings (HTML)
QA1444: Discusses how to set encoding quality for a Compression Sequence
Carbon 2005-10-17
Compression Sessions - Configuring options using the Standard Compression dialog (HTML)
QA1456: Discusses how to configure Compression Session options using Standard Compression dialog.
Carbon 2006-01-12
Compression Sessions - Enabling muti-pass encoding (HTML)
QA1450: Describes how to enable multi-pass encoding when using ICM compression sessions.
Carbon 2006-01-12
Compression Sessions - Multipass encoding and the pass mode flags (HTML)
QA1457: Discusses how the pass mode flags work when performing multipass compression operations.
Carbon 2006-10-02
Compression Sessions - Temporal compression options (HTML)
QA1455: Discusses the temporal compression option as it relates to quality and other compression session options.
Carbon 2006-01-12
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
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 2006-01-12
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
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
Implementing a CVFillExtendedPixelsCallBack (HTML)
QA1440: Discusses how you implement a Core Video custom extended pixel fill callback function.
Carbon 2005-09-06
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
iSight - Configuring gain settings for IIDC cameras (HTML)
QA1421: Discusses how to configure features of IIDC cameras, specifically gain for the iSight
Carbon 2005-04-06
LockPixels and DisposeGWorld with QTNewGWorldFromPtr (HTML)
QA1007: Clarifies some issues surrounding pointer ownership when creating GWorlds with QTNewGWorldFromPtr
Carbon 2001-02-26
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 2005-02-25
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 2005-03-08
Movies - Saving movie playback hints (HTML)
QA1366: Explains how to save and load media play hints from Movie files.
Carbon 2004-09-14
Programatically retrieving field and frame information (HTML)
QA1547: Discusses the use of the kICMImageDescriptionPropertyID_FieldInfo property to retrieve Field/Frame information.
Carbon 2007-09-13
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 Audio - Easy Frequency Level Metering with MovieAudio APIs (HTML)
QA1459: Describes how to perform frequency band level metering using MovieAudio metering APIs.
Carbon 2009-01-29
QuickTime Audio - Muting and GetMovieAudioFrequencyLevels (HTML)
QA1556: Discusses the change made to the GetMovieAudioFrequencyLevels API with QuickTime 7.2.
Carbon 2007-09-28
QuickTime Supported YUV Pixel Formats (HTML)
QA1060: Describes which YUV pixel formats are supported by QuickTime.
Carbon 2001-07-19
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 2005-09-06
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
Sequence Grabber preallocates large file when recording (HTML)
QA1411: Describes how to prevent the Sequence Grabber from filling your entire disk when recording.
Carbon 2006-02-06
Using language-tagged QuickTime UserData text APIs with CFStrings (HTML)
QA1410: Describes how to use language-tagged QuickTime UserData text APIs with CFStrings and TextEncodings.
Carbon 2005-02-11
Using QTPixelBufferContextCreate with NewMovieFromProperties (HTML)
QA1443: Discusses using a QuickTime pixel buffer visual context and NewMovieFromProperties to output frames to pixel buffers.
Carbon 2008-08-08
Using QTSetAtomData (HTML) (日本語 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
QTKit Capture - Disabling Audio Or Video When Capturing From a Muxed Device (HTML)
QA1607: Describes the use of the setEnabled: method to disable audio or video capture from muxed devices.
Cocoa 2008-05-19
QTKit Capture - Disabling specific audio channels when recording (HTML)
QA1617: Describes how to disable specific audio channels when recording using QTKit Capture.
Cocoa 2008-10-13
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
QTKit Capture - Setting DecompressedVideoOutput CVPixelBuffer Attributes (HTML)
QA1582: Describes how to configure a DecompressedVideoOutput objects CVPixelBuffer attributes.
Cocoa 2008-03-06
QTKit Capture - Specifying Media Compression Settings (HTML)
QA1586: Describes how to configure a file output object to save compressed captured media.
Cocoa 2008-03-11
QTKit Capture - Video Compression Options And Preview (HTML)
QA1583: Describes how video compression options may influence the resolution of previewed video.
Cocoa 2008-09-16
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
QuickTime Audio - Easy Frequency Level Metering with MovieAudio APIs (HTML)
QA1459: Describes how to perform frequency band level metering using MovieAudio metering APIs.
Cocoa 2009-01-29
Using QTPixelBufferContextCreate with NewMovieFromProperties (HTML)
QA1443: Discusses using a QuickTime pixel buffer visual context and NewMovieFromProperties to output frames to pixel buffers.
Cocoa 2008-08-08
48 bit & 64 bit Pixel Format support in QuickTime (HTML) (日本語 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) (日本語 HTML)
QA1157: Describes why base-derived codecs that set canAsync must implement ImageCodecQueueStarting and ImageCodecQueueStopping.
Compression & Decompression 2002-07-09
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 2006-11-15
Compression Sessions - Configuring options using the Standard Compression dialog (HTML)
QA1456: Discusses how to configure Compression Session options using Standard Compression dialog.
Compression & Decompression 2006-01-12
Compression Sessions - Multipass encoding and the pass mode flags (HTML)
QA1457: Discusses how the pass mode flags work when performing multipass compression operations.
Compression & Decompression 2006-10-02
Compression Sessions - Temporal compression options (HTML)
QA1455: Discusses the temporal compression option as it relates to quality and other compression session options.
Compression & Decompression 2006-01-12
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
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.
Compression & Decompression 2006-01-12
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 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) (日本語 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) (日本語 HTML)
QA1249: Applications can find out if a codec supports non-RGB pixel formats.
Compression & Decompression 2008-04-24
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 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) (日本語 HTML)
QTMCC19: Explains how to use an image decompressor's data-loading proc.
Compression & Decompression 2003-07-10
Implementing a CVFillExtendedPixelsCallBack (HTML)
QA1440: Discusses how you implement a Core Video custom extended pixel fill callback function.
Compression & Decompression 2005-09-06
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 2006-01-12
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.
Compression & Decompression 2005-02-25
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) (日本語 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) (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
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 2006-02-14
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 on Windows systems? (HTML)
QTW100: Describes where to locate QuickTime extension files on Windows systems.
Design Guidelines 2007-07-30