Media playback in Mac OS X

chomper · chomper #1 (**permalink**)

03-01-2011, 12:27 PM

Hello,

What is the easiest way to play MKV video files on a Mac? Can this be done without using VLC media player?

Also, what is the easiest way to play FLAC, WV, OGG audio on a Mac?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

schweb · schweb #2 (**permalink**)

03-01-2011, 12:33 PM

Perian and Flip4Mac are the two QT plugins I use and they pretty much play everything.

Perian - The swiss-army knife of QuickTime® components
Windows Media player for Mac - Flip4Mac WMV Overview - Telestream

Kevriano · Kevriano #3 (**permalink**)

03-01-2011, 12:46 PM

PLEX will do all and more, and is by far my favorite.
Yes, it's a little resource heavy, but it needs to be to cope with MKV.
It's free, and not used by enough people IMO.
Works nicely with the Apple remote too, and has an app to go with it.

Plex - A Complete Media Solution

chomper · chomper #4 (**permalink**)

03-01-2011, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schweb

Perian and Flip4Mac are the two QT plugins I use and they pretty much play everything.

Perian - The swiss-army knife of QuickTime® components
Windows Media player for Mac - Flip4Mac WMV Overview - Telestream

I have them installed on my Mac but they can't play mkv files. They can play everything else.

osxx · osxx #5 (**permalink**)

03-01-2011, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chomper

I have them installed on my Mac but they can't play mkv files. They can play everything else.

Give this a read. MKV format, How to play MKV files on Mac?

Kevriano · Kevriano #6 (**permalink**)

03-01-2011, 12:57 PM

So ignoring Plex then? Sheesh.

schweb · schweb #7 (**permalink**)

03-01-2011, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chomper

I have them installed on my Mac but they can't play mkv files. They can play everything else.

I realize that much, but you did ask for how to play all those other files as well.

bazanders · bazanders #8 (**permalink**)

03-01-2011, 01:05 PM

Just curious as to why you wont install vlc? it will play your mkv files no problem

Phacade · Phacade #9 (**permalink**)

03-01-2011, 01:16 PM

This may be a stupid query (Mac noob, still haven't gotten my Mac yet), but reading this seems to imply to me that there are stand-alone Mac players that play video without using iTunes?

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against iTunes, it makes managing my iPod easy as snot, but I don't want to play my vidoes through it.

May I also assume that, if I have a stand-alone player that my Mac will remember this and if I download a video, it will "always play with" this player?

schweb · schweb #10 (**permalink**)

03-01-2011, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phacade

This may be a stupid query (Mac noob, still haven't gotten my Mac yet), but reading this seems to imply to me that there are stand-alone Mac players that play video without using iTunes?

There's Quicktime built in already that's standalone or you can download VLC.

Phacade · Phacade #11 (**permalink**)

03-01-2011, 01:39 PM

You know what? It seems like every bad Mac phobia or horror story that kept me from switching YEARS AGO is turning out to be bunk. I simply cannot wait to get my Mac! Thank you so much.

chomper · chomper #12 (**permalink**)

03-01-2011, 01:46 PM

Anyway, is there a way to play FLAC, WV, OGG audio files other than playing it in VLC? Some tweak/workaround for iTunes?

schweb · schweb #13 (**permalink**)

03-01-2011, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chomper

Anyway, is there a way to play FLAC, WV, OGG audio files other than playing it in VLC? Some tweak/workaround for iTunes?

What's wrong with VLC?

Kevriano · Kevriano #14 (**permalink**)

03-01-2011, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chomper

Anyway, is there a way to play FLAC, WV, OGG audio files other than playing it in VLC? Some tweak/workaround for iTunes?

Yes, PLEX. *slaps head in disbelief*

Or if you are ignoring the video aspect, Cog, which is light on usage and free too.
Honestly sometimes I don't know why I bother......

chomper · chomper #15 (**permalink**)

03-01-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevriano

Yes, PLEX. *slaps head in disbelief*

Or if you are ignoring the video aspect, Cog, which is light on usage and free too.
Honestly sometimes I don't know why I bother......

OK, I'll give PLEX a try.

I hated VLC in Windows and don't want to bring it to my Mac.

schweb #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 27, 2002 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 13,213 Mac Specs: MacBook Pro \| LED Cinema Display \| iPhone 4 \| iPad 2	03-01-2011, 12:33 PM Perian and Flip4Mac are the two QT plugins I use and they pretty much play everything. Perian - The swiss-army knife of QuickTime® components Windows Media player for Mac - Flip4Mac WMV Overview - Telestream schweb \| community leader flickr » facebook » twitter » tumblr » google+ » about.me Mac-Forums: On Twitter \| On Facebook \| On Flickr
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Kevriano #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 02, 2006 Location: Crawley, England Posts: 4,560 Mac Specs: 20" Intel iMac 2.4 Ghz/3G Ram/320HD, Snow Leopard. PBook G4, 1.5Ghz/1.5 Ram/250 HD, Leopard 10.5.6.	03-01-2011, 12:57 PM So ignoring Plex then? Sheesh. Try my custom Mac Forums Search Engine: Mac Forums Google Search Please use the reputation system if you consider any help given useful (it's the little ✓/✘ on the left <---)
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Phacade #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 09, 2011 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 170 Mac Specs: 21½" 3.6GHz Core i5 iMac, 12GB Crucial RAM	03-01-2011, 01:16 PM This may be a stupid query (Mac noob, still haven't gotten my Mac yet), but reading this seems to imply to me that there are stand-alone Mac players that play video without using iTunes? Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against iTunes, it makes managing my iPod easy as snot, but I don't want to play my vidoes through it. May I also assume that, if I have a stand-alone player that my Mac will remember this and if I download a video, it will "always play with" this player? 21½" 3.6GHz Core i5 iMac "Sputnik" ■ 12GB Crucial RAM ■ Monsoon flat-panel speakers ■ HP P1006 LaserJet printer ■ Full Keyboard ■ Canoscan 9000F flatbed scanner ■ ...and then of course me (being a narcissist, I consider this to be the most important mod).
	QUOTE Thanks

Phacade #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 09, 2011 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 170 Mac Specs: 21½" 3.6GHz Core i5 iMac, 12GB Crucial RAM	03-01-2011, 01:39 PM You know what? It seems like every bad Mac phobia or horror story that kept me from switching YEARS AGO is turning out to be bunk. I simply cannot wait to get my Mac! Thank you so much. 21½" 3.6GHz Core i5 iMac "Sputnik" ■ 12GB Crucial RAM ■ Monsoon flat-panel speakers ■ HP P1006 LaserJet printer ■ Full Keyboard ■ Canoscan 9000F flatbed scanner ■ ...and then of course me (being a narcissist, I consider this to be the most important mod).
	QUOTE Thanks

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chomper #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 07, 2011 Posts: 77 Mac Specs: MacBook Air (2010), 1.86GHz C2D, 4GB, 128GB SSD \| Power Mac G4 DA 466MHz, 1GB, OS X 10.4.11, OS 9	03-01-2011, 12:27 PM Hello, What is the easiest way to play MKV video files on a Mac? Can this be done without using VLC media player? Also, what is the easiest way to play FLAC, WV, OGG audio on a Mac? Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
	QUOTE Thanks

bazanders #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 30, 2010 Posts: 161 Mac Specs: mid 2011 27" imac Core i5 2.7GHz, 8GB, 1TB	03-01-2011, 01:05 PM Just curious as to why you wont install vlc? it will play your mkv files no problem
	QUOTE Thanks

chomper #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 07, 2011 Posts: 77 Mac Specs: MacBook Air (2010), 1.86GHz C2D, 4GB, 128GB SSD \| Power Mac G4 DA 466MHz, 1GB, OS X 10.4.11, OS 9	03-01-2011, 01:46 PM Anyway, is there a way to play FLAC, WV, OGG audio files other than playing it in VLC? Some tweak/workaround for iTunes?
	QUOTE Thanks

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