I have been given a QuickTime file to place on a web site for my client. I requested the file be prepared for streaming using "Fast Start – Compressed Header" so that the video with start to play as soon as QuickTime player has buffered enough. (We will not be using a QuickTime Streaming Server for this video)
I am unsure if the file provided to me meets my request. For one, it seems to be am MPEG4 file, not an MPEG4 video file wrapped in a QuickTime .mov container. But even when I export a short ~10 second clip using "fast Start – Compressed Header" and open that in QuickTime player, nothing I can see under Movie Properties or Movie Information shows me that I have added a fast start header.
How can I determine if a QuickTime movie file is prepared for streaming using Fast Start, Compressed Header?
Best Answer
You may want to try QTIndexSwapper by Renaun Erickson. It's an Adobe AIR app that detects if a movie is ready for web and if not it tries to move the index (header) to the beginning of the file thus allowing a simultaneous download and playback.