Handbrake/VLC 64bit, slow opening MKV, and other fixes

[LinLan]

This post is primarily focused on more advanced users. If you aren't familiar with Terminal stop reading and wait for the next stable release.

1) Where can I find 64bit VLC for Handbrake 64bit 0.9.4+?

You have two options for this.

A) You can use the HIGHLY UNSTABLE AND UNSUPPORTED VLC nightlies from Nightly Build of VLC.

These are builds of the upcoming 1.0.4 version which work well for me on Snow Leopard (10.6.2) when running as 64bit. Carefully read the nightlies page if you decide to try them.

B) You can use the VLC 1.0.2 from http://www.videolan.org/mirror-geo.php? ... ntel64.dmg or http://www.videolan.org/mirror-geo.php? ... -1.0.2.dmg

If you want to use VLC to play videos too, download the vlc-1.0.2.dmg file, install VLC into /Applications/, and use the following instructions to force it to run in 32bit mode. 64bit 1.0.2 has certain bugs which cause it to crash when running in 64bit mode.

Open Finder, navigate to Applications, right click on VLC, click Get Info, Click "Open in 32-bit mode", and close the window.

2) How do I fix slow opening MKV files?

Run the following command in Terminal:

sudo chmod a+w /usr/X11/var/cache/fontconfig

You can read more about the solution here.

3) How can I fix block video/stuttering playback?

The reasons for this can vary. Your Mac may not be powerful enough to play the video in VLC, but use the information here first.

[rockinrobstar]

I was thinking about posting this as a bug but hopefully this should suffice. I had installed VLC 1.0.2 64-bit on my mac and when opening it, it alerted me that there was a new version and so I was quite happy to click "download" to get the new version. Unfortunately, it downloads a 32-bit replacement VLC which as your aware breaks Handbrake 64-bit (and possibly others).

In future versions could we perhaps please see either 1. No notification until a new 64-bit version is available or 2. A warning that the new download is only 32-bit.

Otherwise, keep up the excellent work on this great cross platform app.

Cheers.

Rob

[LinLan]

You had the universal binary version of VLC which includes the 32bit and 64bit versions. The updater saw a newer version of the universal binary and updated accordingly.

If you want to use the x86_64 build then download the intel64 build of VLC. There is no 1.0.3 version of it so it shouldn't automatically update.

[ran]

The videos I've been playing have been suffering from stuttering and lagging video for a long time.

Finally with the latest 1.0.5 64-bit Nightly it seems everything is fixed and I don't have any video issues.

Thanks!

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

1.1.1 64 is out now.