Use Quicktime to Encode Files for Seamless Looping

For a video file to loop seamlessly, it must be encoded using specific parameters. You can also use QuickTime Pro 7 to encode a file for seamless looping. To do this, you will need to export a movie using the "Movie to QuickTime Movie" feature.

  1. In Quicktime Pro, go to File > Export ... > Export "Movie to QuickTime Movie" > Options

Screenshot_2014-06-20_18.08.42.png
  1. Navigate to Movie Settings > Video and click Settings.

Screenshot_2014-06-20_18.21.28.png
  1. Set everything as shown in the below screenshot and play it back on your player before making any changes.

Note: Changing the Encoding from "Faster encode" to "Best Quality" will increase the file's profile and sometimes set it to a 5.0 H.264 profile. If you do decide to change this value, make sure to check that the profile of the encoded file is no higher then 4.2 (if you're using an XD or 4K player).

  1. Select OK to return to Movie Settings.

  2. Under Sound, select Settings.

  3. Ensure that the Audio Format is indeed set to Linear PCM with Little Endian enabled.

  4. Click OK.

The generated file should have approximately these specifications:

Complete name  

F:\SalsaTriimmed15MbpsFasterEncode.mov

Complete name  

F:\SalsaTriimmed15MbpsFasterEncode.mov

Format     

MPEG-4

Format profile

QuickTime

Codec ID

qt

File size

17.9 MiB

Duration

9s 280ms

Overall bit rate 

16.1 Mbps

Encoded date

UTC 2014-06-20 18:01:27

Tagged date

UTC 2014-06-20 18:01:37

Writing library

Apple QuickTime

Video

ID

2

ID

2

Format

AVC

Format/Info

Advanced Video Codec

Format profile

Main@L3.2

Format settings, CABAC

No

Format settings, ReFrames

2 frames

Format settings, GOP 

M=2, N=25

Codec ID

avc1

Codec ID/Info 

Advanced Video Coding

Duration

9s 280ms

Duration_FirstFrame

-28ms

Duration_LastFrame 

-12ms

Bit rate

14.5 Mbps

Width

1 280 pixels

Height

720 pixels

Display aspect ratio

16:9

Frame rate mode

Constant

Frame rate  

25.000 fps

Color space

YUV

Chroma subsampling 

4:2:0

Bit depth  

8 bits

Scan type 

Progressive

Bits/(Pixel*Frame)

0.631

Stream size

16.2 MiB (90%)

Language

English

Encoded date 

UTC 2014-06-20 18:01:28

Tagged date

UTC 2014-06-20 18:01:37

Color primaries

BT.709

Transfer characteristics 

BT.709

Matrix coefficients 

BT.709

Audio

ID

1

ID

1

Format

PCM

Format settings, Endianness

Little

Format settings, Sign 

Signed

Codec ID 

sowt

Duration 

9s 280ms

Bit rate mode 

Constant

Bit rate 

1 536 Kbps

Channel(s) 

2 channels

Channel positions  

Front: L R

Sampling rate 

48.0 KHz

Bit depth

16 bits

Stream size 

1.70 MiB (10%)

Language

English

Encoded date

UTC 2014-06-20 18:01:28

Tagged date

UTC 2014-06-20 18:01:37

 

You should check that the generated file is still within the required specs using MediaInfo.