Keynote 2.0.1: Distorted MPEG content, fixes

We continue to receive reports of distorted MPEG content in Keynote 2.0.1, generally in the form of green bars along the sides of the playback window (see previous coverage).

MacFixIt reader Bob reports that, in his case, the issue has been apparent since the first release of Keynote.

Bob writes:

"I had the same problem in Keynote 1.

In keynote 2.1, if I resize using only the mouse on a corner of the video, I get a green bar on one side of the playback.

If I resize while holding down the shift key, the video remains the original size in playback, with green ?fill? on the expanded bottom and side. The enlarged placeholder looks normal. The green only appears in playback.

Solution: Changing the video format Fortunately, Keynote 2.0.1 does not appear to exhibit this issue with other supported video formats, so converting the desired movie to a different format has been noted as a solution.

This can be accomplished with a shareware utility like DropDV, as suggested by Brian Kilpatrick:

"Taking the MPEG and dropping it on DropDV or similar converter then exporting as a Quicktime MOV file fixes the problem but it does not explain why it occurs. Some mpegs have a border on the right and bottom edges, some only on one or the other."

Meanwhile, some users have reported that they are able to workaround this issue by re-sizing the video.

Kee Hinckley, for instance, writes:

"I was able to work around it by resizing the video even more to crop it, but that cropped the video more than we wanted. This is in Keynote 2.01. I don't know if the problem existed in Keynote 2.0."

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

Resources