Downloaded WMV files have video but no audio in Windows Media Player for OS X

December 11, 2004 4:29 PM

Problems with Windows Media and OS X. (more inside)

When I download WMV files and view them using Windows Media Player 9 for OS X I can almost always see the picture but almost never hear the audio. Sometimes MPlayer works but I frequently get error messages and only hear the audio. The same thing happens with VLC and with both MPlayer and VLC I often get nothing.

Embedded WMVs are largely hit and miss: I either get both the audio and video or nothing, not even an error message, with the most recent versions of Safari and Firefox. Am I missing something here or is this just part of a Mac user's lot in life?

posted by Cryptical Envelopment to computers & internet (7 comments total)

It's not just muted is it? The mute button for WMP on OS X is much too subtle. It's the speaker icon next to the volume slider. If it's red - it's muted - and you need to click on it.
posted by Mwongozi at 5:03 PM on December 11, 2004

Damn! Right you are. Thanks Mwongozi! It never occured to me. Oh the wasted hours and anger!
posted by Cryptical Envelopment at 5:10 PM on December 11, 2004

I vote this for "MetaFilter Classic"
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 11:08 PM on December 11, 2004

I have a problem with WMV on OSX, too. About 3 months ago, The Daily Show's segments on the Comedy Central website suddenly switched from trouble-free embedded RealPlayer format to sucky WMV embedded format, and the video is choppy at best (I'm on 512kbit ADSL), often freezes the picture for long periods or drops the connection entirely. Is there a way to get it to play in Real format again?
posted by planetkyoto at 3:06 AM on December 12, 2004

When I press these glowing coals to my face, I get the ow feeling on my face.
posted by squirrel at 4:33 AM on December 12, 2004

Squirrel, have you tried the mute button?
posted by Krrrlson at 7:46 AM on December 12, 2004

Okay, let's see... OW!
posted by squirrel at 12:08 AM on December 15, 2004