Viewing HDV on QT? Please help.
 

Hi, I have a deadline tomorrow to install my video as a looping projection. We are using a MacMini and a projector. I'd like the best quality, so I want to avoid a DVD! Instead can I export a Quicktime file (hdv 1080i60), and loop it off of QT PRO?

My concern is that quicktime may not play/loop (HDV 5min) in the best quality, and that it may not play smoothly. Any suggestions/experience?

thanks

I had to do this a couple of years ago when the first MacMini has just come out. We installed it as part of a permanent exhibition that runs a 15 minute looped SD video - it's still going strong.

Initially, I tried H264 to give the best quality, but the mini just couldn't decompress it fast enough and the playback was just awful. Eventually I had to compromise and use MPEG with a lower quality setting. Took a while experimenting with the codec to get the balance right, but it still looked better than DVD.

If your MacMini is newer - CoreDuo maybe? - then maybe it will handle H264 for HD. Just make sure you stuff it with as much RAM as you can. This will give it more space to decompress and cache the video. There's also a setting in QT player you can use to automatically run the file full-screen - useful if it's a kisok-type application.

I didn't find any other way to do this other than trial and error. Maybe you could calculate the bit rate to give a rough guide, but best way is probably just to try ramping up from a medium quality setting and seeing where the Mac starts to struggle.

Otherwise, cheat and get a Mac Pro :-)