Transana supports MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and most AVI video, as well as MP3 and WAV audio. Starting with version 2.20, Transana also supports QuickTime MOV and MP4 formats on both Windows and OS X, as well as WMV video and WMA audio on Windows only. Transana 2.41 added support for M4V video, and Transana version 2.42 added support for AAC audio files.

Transana may support additional formats; it's difficult to tell without trying them. There are two issues involved in whether an unsupported format will work.

First, the file must work with the media player Transana uses on the computer Transana will be used on. On Windows, Transana uses Windows Media Player for most media, though it can use the QuickTime player for MOV and MP4 videos. On OS X, Transana uses the QuickTime player. So the first thing to do is to open your media file in the appropriate player without Transana running and make sure the file plays appropriately. If it doesn't, you may need to install a codec for that format, or you may need to convert your file to another format.

Second is the issue of audio extraction. Transana attempts to extract the audio stream from media files so that it can create a waveform diagram. If Transana is able to play your media file but not extract the audio and create the waveform, it is still possible to work with your media file.

Working with Unsupported Formats

One solution when you have an unsupported media format is to convert your video from its current format to one of the supported formats. There are a number of free or inexpensive programs available on the internet that can accomplish this task. Conversion is somewhat inconvenient, but can usually be run as a background task while you are working on other things, so it's not necessarily time-consuming. If your media file doesn't work with the appropriate media player within Transana, it's your only option.

A second option when you're working with an unsupported format that works in the appropriate media player but does not permit waveform creation is for you to do audio extraction manually. In essence, you can use video manipulation software to capture just the audio from your video, and you can place the resulting *.wav file in the location where Transana expects it to be.

You need to give the resulting WAV file the same root filename the video file has (MyVideo.mpg would lead to MyVideo.wav) and save it in the Transana Waveforms folder. Transana will then think it has already performed the audio extraction necessary for drawing the waveform diagram.

Another option is to decline Transana's offer to create a Waveform and to work without a waveform diagram. You can go to Options > Visualization Style and choose the Keyword Visualization.