Recently, when trying to export movie files from QuickTime Pro (7.0.4) or iMovie HD (6.0.1), I’ve been getting mysterious errors. This unhelpful iMovie one popped up when I tried to export an MPEG-4 project using the QuickTime Full Quality setting:

Other formats failed as well. For example, trying to export in iPod video format ended with this unhappy message:

Strangely, I was able to export the project to iDVD and burn a disc. Perhaps the original iMovie project was corrupt, because a new test movie exported correctly.
Well, scratch that: The files exported, but the cross-dissolve transitions were hosed. Instead of fading smoothly between scenes, the movie just went black for the duration of the crossfade. Anyone else run into this?
[UPDATE, 2006-04-24: I created a new MP4 project today and got the same dropouts during transitions. So I started over in the DV format, using the same clips. This time, the transitions worked properly.]
I had more luck overcoming the QuickTime Pro errors. For a while, every time I tried to export something, the progress bar would grow for a while, then cough up this wall:

I discovered that copying the movie into a new one (Command-A, Command-C, Command N, Command-V) produced a document that would allow export. Uninstalling the Flip4Mac software from my Mac—a 2.3GHz dual G5 running OS 10.4.6—and restarting seemed to restore normal exporting behavior. (More on that apparent conflict here.)
I’ll cover more surprising QuickTime discoveries in a future blog, but I’m curious if you’ve encountered iMovie glitches as well, and if so, how you’ve solved them.


iMovie 6 introduced a particularly annoying sound bug when exporting PAL projects. Links to Apple Discussion forum threads on the topic: http://del.icio.us/pauldwaite/imovie
No idea about your particular export issues, though. Thanks for mentioning the Flip4Mac issue: I've got a pro version installed and I've been fine, but I haven't done a lot of exporting so far.
I removed the flip4mac stuff and the error disappeared for good.
Flip4Mac is very, very buggy.
I've had different errors when exporting in ANY format, specifically error "-2126." I too have Flip4Mac installed, so I think I will uninstall it and see if there is any progress made.
No conflicts like that with Flip4Mac on my system. Could be some other bytes interfering. I've found several other posts about anomalies which pointed elsewhere. The reference link to discussing QT Pro conflicts with F4M is outdated. They are talking about the older version of it. All issues with QT Pro 7.0.4 were resolved some time ago.
Flip fo rMac codec is good if you need to export video into a winows media file. Other than that who needs a windows media playr anyways? Real men do it in Quick Time, lol.
The best export option for high quality video is in H.264. Of course other will need QT player to watch it. The only time I use the windows Flip 4 Mac codec is if a customer request windows media be on their website. Other options are Flash or Sorenson spark. Do your homework o exporting options & as always, your export format depends on your target that will view it.
I've had similarly mysterious errors while exporting -- in my case, the error says simply, "Failed (-43)"
Sometimes, changing the encoding from h264 to jpeg or sorenson or dvcpro is enough to fix this. If not, I export to divx and then convert from that format to mov. Since my files are just for innerweb viewing, the image degradation caused by multiple conversions isn't a huge issue.
It sure would be nice if Apple offered more info on what those error codes mean, and how to avoid them.
Hi,
Ok, so I have a massive question....I created a 2 and 1/2 hour movie. It looks good, but when I try to export it using Quicktime 7 it will not work....It will say no disc space, or file error, or a frame comes out of it.... or nothing shows up except error, could not find this movie. The worst part is.... Everytime I export it takes 2-5 + hours and then I find this out.... is there something I can do? Thanks for your help and God Bless!
@Adrienne:
I created a 2-1/2 hour movie... When I try to export it using Quicktime 7 it will not work.
In what program did you create the movie and in what QuickTime format are you trying to export it?
When I try to export a flash document into a Quicktime H.264, I get a much smaller size like 5 times smaller from the original and it lasts much more, like 6 seconds more. do anybody knows why this is happening? Can somebody help me PLEASEEE!!