Asked to download Quicktime to import files, but it's already downloaded

[aimiefleur]

Hi everyone,

I have been trying to figure out how to import audio files into pro tools, it does not allow me to do this and a message pops up asking me to download apple QuickTime, however, I already have it downloaded. If anyone could help me with solving this issue that would be fab. Thank you.

[its2loud]

Hi and welcome to the DUC.

Could you provide some additional information? Such as…

Exactly what type of audio file? Usually noted by the file extension such as wav, aiff, mp3, etc.

Your system info and Pro Tools version. Mac, PC, operating system

Please provide the steps you are using to import the files.

Adding in this additional info will help someone here most likely help you.

[sw rec]

What kind of audio files are you trying to import?
Are you on Mac or Windows? What EXACT operating system?
What EXACT version of Pro Tools?
Ya gotta be specific if you want answers.

[aimiefleur]

Hi sorry for the lack of detail this is my first time using this platform so was unsure on how to submit my question.

I am using a MacBook bought in 2018 I think, not too sure it was a present and im not exactly tech savvy. It is the newest update (Ventura 13.6). The pro tools version is 2021.6.0. Again, I'm not great on finding this stuff out but to what I can see the Audio file says m4a and MPEG-4, not really sure if that's right or not. However, I've had this software for a few years, and when I first started using it I could upload the tracks. I haven't used it in a while and now that I've come back the exact tracks I previously uploaded do not work anymore.

To import it, I go onto Pro Tools, then click File in the toolbar, then select Import, then I select the track, click open and a message pops up saying "Please Install Apple Quicktime before importing this file"

Thank you, sorry if I have not provided the necessary details and let me know if I need to provide anymore.

[sw rec]

Try using another program to convert it to a .wav or .aiff and see if that helps.
Other thing that comes to mind is to reinstall the latest Quicktime…..did you recently upgrade to Ventura, and is that when the problem started?
Might have an out of date Quicktime that Ventura doesn’t recognize.

[Darryl Ramm]

m4a / MPEG-4 is a container format, they might contain any of several different formats of content. If importing an m4a file worked before for you and no longer does it's likely you have content in a different format or it's corrupted. The file extension tells you nothing useful.

Ideally get a utility that will tell you clearly exactly what is in these files. A good one is Invisor https://apps.apple.com/us/app/inviso...42947586?mt=12

[aimiefleur]

Thank you for your advice. I literally updated my laptop about 3 days ago, and that is when this problem started, so would make sense. How do you download QuickTime? As I have had it on my laptop for years, I cannot remember downloading it. Also, how do I convert it? Is there a specific app/website I should use? Thank you so much you are all being so helpful, I really appreciate it.

[its2loud]

You should also know that PT 2021.6 is in no way authorized to work on Ventura so this might be part of your issue.

You can use a free converter like Shutter Encoder (google it). This will convert files easily for you.

QuickTime will also convert as long as you can open it in QuickTime.

You can also convert files on this website

https://cloudconvert.com/

[sw rec]

Another oddity, and it was a big problem on Windows too, I would occasionally receive mp3 and m4 files that Pro Tools would not import…there seemed to be an inconsistency with the encoding on the sender’s end. I could open them in Roxio and “convert” them to another Mp3 and Pro Tools would open them just fine. Strange.

[Tweakhead]

Rogue Amoeba's Fission is a good all-round batch converter/editor.
https://www.rogueamoeba.com/fission/