MPEG StreamClip: A Legacy Tool That Won't Work for Much Longer

For many years, Mac users have relied on the free application MPEG Streamclip to convert video files into a format compatible with Pro Tools, specifically Avid DNxHD. However, with the release of macOS 10.15, this tool will no longer be available.

MPEG Streamclip has not been updated since 2012 and is not 64-bit compliant. It uses QuickTime-based codecs, which means it will not work when macOS 10.15 is released. While the QuickTime player will still be accessible, it cannot be used with Avid DNxHD codecs or other third-party codecs.

Individual applications on macOS 10.15 will need to support any codecs that Apple does not support. Unfortunately, this includes Pro Tools and its reliance on MPEG Streamclip. As a result, Mac users will no longer have access to this free tool.

Instead of relying on MPEG Streamclip, the recommended approach is to convert incoming video files to Avid's DNxHD format before importing them into Pro Tools. This minimizes the load on the host computer and helps ensure smooth playback and reliable performance.

When the new Avid Video Engine was introduced with Pro Tools 11, it was advised not to use heavily compressed video files using codecs like H264, as they can cause sync and reliability issues due to the high processing demands they place on the computer.

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