Make QuickTime play almost any video format
Important Note: Perian is no longer under development and does not work with QuickTime 10 or above. However, it still works with QuickTime 7.6.6.
If QuickTime 7.6.6 is your default media player, then Perian is the tool you need to make sure it plays any media file type you want. It will not work with QuickTime 10 or above and since its no longer under development, never will.
This discreet little component adds support to a wide range of formats including MKV, FLV, DivX and WMA or even less known formats like Xiph Vorbis or Flash ADCPM. It also offers subtitle support for SSA and SRT so you can enjoy films in their original version in Quicktime. Users also like that Perian offers AVI support for H.264 and audio files like MP3 or AAC.
Perian is very easy to install and works automatically once it's set up. While VLC Media Player is usually the recommended media player on Mac because of its wide support for all sorts of media file types, having Quicktime with Perian is also an excellent choice to play any sorts of media.
An excellent and free QuickTime component, Perian lets you enjoy almost any media format, including subtitles and a number of audio files. Highly recommended.
With Perian, the Swiss Army Knife for QuickTime, any OS X application that uses QuickTime can now use these additional media types: AVI, FLV, and MKV file formats MS-MPEG4 v1 & v2, DivX, 3ivX, H.264, FLV1, FSV1, VP6, H263I, VP3, HuffYUV, FFVHuff, MPEG1 & MPEG2 Video, Fraps, Windows Media Audio v1 & v2, Flash ADPCM, Xiph Vorbis (in Matroska), MPEG Layer II Audio AVI support for: AAC, AC3 Audio, H.264, MPEG4, and VBR MP3 Subtitle support for SSA and SRTWhat's NewVersion 1.2.3:N.B. Version 1.2.3 is the last version to support Mac OS X 10.4Changes: Some Fraps videos only displayed black. [r1424] (#566) Workaround checks for Front Row stopped being effective. [r1426] (#564) Fixed compatibility with web video playback. [r1427, r1429, r1450] (#572) Worked around System Preferences crashing during an update on 10.6. [r1449] (#591) This change will take effect after this update. Further fixes to Matroska import. [r1432, r1441, r1447] (#338, #492, #594, #601)
Changes
With Perian, the Swiss Army Knife for QuickTime, any OS X application that uses QuickTime can now use these additional media types: AVI, FLV, and MKV file formats MS-MPEG4 v1 & v2, DivX, 3ivX, H.264, FLV1, FSV1, VP6, H263I, VP3, HuffYUV, FFVHuff, MPEG1 & MPEG2 Video, Fraps, Windows Media Audio v1 & v2, Flash ADPCM, Xiph Vorbis (in Matroska), MPEG Layer II Audio AVI support for: AAC, AC3 Audio, H.264, MPEG4, and VBR MP3 Subtitle support for SSA and SRTWhat's NewVersion 1.2.3:N.B. Version 1.2.3 is the last version to support Mac OS X 10.4Changes: Some Fraps videos only displayed black. [r1424] (#566) Workaround checks for Front Row stopped being effective. [r1426] (#564) Fixed compatibility with web video playback. [r1427, r1429, r1450] (#572) Worked around System Preferences crashing during an update on 10.6. [r1449] (#591) This change will take effect after this update. Further fixes to Matroska import. [r1432, r1441, r1447] (#338, #492, #594, #601)
User reviews about Perian
by Anonymous
Works Great on Lion and Mountain - Requires Quick Time 7.6.6 - Not QT 10.
More.avi files now play in QuickTime 10.1 or later without any plugin or conversion.
.wmv files require QuickTime 7.6.6 with Perian 1.2.3.
Mac Perian works just fine in SL, Lion and ML. It's QT 10 that's the problem. Fortunately, QT 7.6.6 still works great. Trash QT 7.7 if found.
Find the QuickTime 7.6.6 Installer in the Extras folder of the SL, Lion and ML Iinstaller or download it free from Apple. Run the installer. It defaults to the Utilities folder. Do Not Move it to the Applications Folder or it will conflict with QT 10 (required by System). If you have a QT 6/7 Pro Key for the Mac, open QT 7.6.6 and install your key by going to Registration.
Once you have downloaded and installed Perian 1.2.3 and QT 7.6.6, you must do the following:
Do a Get Info on any .wmv file. Select Quick Time Player 7 for Open With.
It must say Quick Time Player 7. If not in the menu, select Other, navigate to your Utilities folder and then select Quick Time Player 7.
Check the box to Open All.
Pros:
Works great with supported files
Cons:
Doesn't work with QT 10. Must install QT 7.6.6 (same as QT Pro users)
by Anonymous
Has replaced Flip4Mac.
MorePerian has replaced Flip4Mac on my MacBookAir and iMac.
It has worked seamlessly, entirely in background. The best type of software; effective, efficient and unobtrusive.
Pros:
Effective, efficient and unobtrusive.
Cons:
Haven't found any yet.
by Anonymous
Not working with OS Lion.
MoreSince I updated to Mack OS 10.7 Lion, Perian hasn't worked. I get an error message that says I'm missing a codec. Any suggestions? I would really like to get it working - Perian is awesome!
by Anonymous
Perian.
MoreIt's really useful and all that, but don't get angry if the file's type that you want to play is mp4, because Perian can't help you with that one!
by Anonymous
Perian.
MoreI Love it! People ask me all the time how they can play certain files on mac. I am still a newer mac user, so I always suggest to download another program, with Perian there is no need for an additional program.
Pros:
Only need Quicktime installed to play all major file types
by Anonymous
Perian and Quicktime on the Mac.
MoreI have only good things to say about Perian, so if that would tend to bore you, stop reading!
The whole process was soooo easy,
in Firefox I put in 'player for avi in macs.
Went to the Perian option.
Read up on the blurb..liked it and went on to
Download.
Tried out several movies and TV series and all played immediately in Quicktime with absolutely no problems whatever.
Er...that is the 'Quicktime' I had tried with many other bits and pieces downloaded to try to make it work!
Pros:
Easy to install.
Seamless and automatic operation.
Delivered exactly what was promised.
Cons:
None