ATV not playing all encoded videos...

glowrider · Post by **glowrider** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 6:10 pm

Hey folks. I've been using MediaFork the past few days to encode dvds I'm ripping with MacTheRipper. I rip, I encode, resize in QT, and add to my library. For the most part, it is working great. ATV sees it in my library and I can play it. However, some videos give a message that it can't be copied cause ATV doesn't understand the format (if I try syncing), and streaming it just doesn't show it.

There is no rhyme or reason - I've done the same process for the working files as I do for the non-working ones.

Any help?

Thanks.

baggss · Post by **baggss** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 6:19 pm

Please tell us the exact settings you are using for HB/MF, MTR and QT.

glowrider · Post by **glowrider** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 6:45 pm

baggss wrote:Please tell us the exact settings you are using for HB/MF, MTR and QT.

MTR: Default settings

MF: I select the video_ts file/
mp4-mpeg-4 w/aac audio
FFmpeg
FPS: Same as source
Picture size: anamorphic
Use target size of 3999mb (usually comes in way under, but I know it can't stream over 4gb)

This creates my mp4 player which I then load into Quicktime

QT: Change video size to the proper video size and select High Quality.
Save as a contained movie.

This creates file.mov

I load this .mov into iTunes movie library. I double check that it plays in itunes, and then I go to the Apple TV. ALL my files play both in quicktime and iTunes. However, a few of the files (again, that play in itunes/qt) do not work over the Apple TV.

jbrjake · Post by **jbrjake** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 8:29 pm

glowrider wrote:Use target size of 3999mb (usually comes in way under, but I know it can't stream over 4gb)

I have never read that there was a max size on aTV streaming.

However, such a ridiculously large size is, no doubt, causing a peak bitrate higher than the 5 megabits a second aTV is spec'd to handle.

glowrider · Post by **glowrider** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:46 pm

jbrjake wrote:
glowrider wrote:Use target size of 3999mb (usually comes in way under, but I know it can't stream over 4gb)
I have never read that there was a max size on aTV streaming.

However, such a ridiculously large size is, no doubt, causing a peak bitrate higher than the 5 megabits a second aTV is spec'd to handle.

The files come in usually under 2gb for just the main feature. But the idea of the peak bit rate is intriguing.

As for the 4gb max size (amongst other places):
http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/05/apple-tv-review/

nightstrm · Post by **nightstrm** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:52 pm

Why is QT making it a .mov, and don't those files have a lower bitrate restriction?

glowrider · Post by **glowrider** » Thu Apr 12, 2007 9:53 pm

I've double checked my bit rates. Max bitrate on any of the files not streaming to ATV is 3750kb/s.

Saving as a .mov because after I resize it (anamorphic encoding), I save as a self-contained movie.

Again, everything is playing in QT and iTunes. Just not over apple tv (syncing or streaming).

glowrider · Post by **glowrider** » Sun Apr 15, 2007 5:58 pm

In case anyone needed a solution, I found that using ffmpegx does NOT always work with apple tv. The thing is uber-finicky.

Using h264 I have not had another problem.

gswhite · Post by **gswhite** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 11:30 am

glowrider wrote:I've double checked my bit rates. Max bitrate on any of the files not streaming to ATV is 3750kb/s.

Saving as a .mov because after I resize it (anamorphic encoding), I save as a self-contained movie.

Again, everything is playing in QT and iTunes. Just not over apple tv (syncing or streaming).

You do not need to save your file within Quicktime as a .mov file in order to resize, it that is what you are doing?

Once you have changed the aspect ratio/Size do the following:-

Just export, and choose MP4(H.264) as format then go into 'OPTIONS' and change the video and audio options to 'PassThrough', and provide a new Name for your file but keep the MP4(H.264) format, Et Voila.

Off course you could just compile the latest Handbrake build which does all this for you from the Handbrake SVN, and not worry about going through all this nonsense

I would also say your bitrate for encoding is far to high. I encode DVD's at maximum 3000kbps, which is visually the same as the source DVD video. I certainly can not see the difference.

G

glowrider · Post by **glowrider** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:34 pm

gswhite wrote:
glowrider wrote:I've double checked my bit rates. Max bitrate on any of the files not streaming to ATV is 3750kb/s.

Saving as a .mov because after I resize it (anamorphic encoding), I save as a self-contained movie.

Again, everything is playing in QT and iTunes. Just not over apple tv (syncing or streaming).
You do not need to save your file within Quicktime as a .mov file in order to resize, it that is what you are doing?

Once you have changed the aspect ratio/Size do the following:-

Just export, and choose MP4(H.264) as format then go into 'OPTIONS' and change the video and audio options to 'PassThrough', and provide a new Name for your file but keep the MP4(H.264) format, Et Voila.

Off course you could just compile the latest Handbrake build which does all this for you from the Handbrake SVN, and not worry about going through all this nonsense

I would also say your bitrate for encoding is far to high. I encode DVD's at maximum 3000kbps, which is visually the same as the source DVD video. I certainly can not see the difference.

G

Thanks for your reply. I was following directions found off of one of the wikis for Apple TV. Nonetheless, I have already compiled the latest build and am now encoding movies using the presets (although audio still must be selected, even with the preset used). No more problems.

I do believe this is solved.