Preset for encoding vids for Pioneer AVG-x7700BT

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MadLeo
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Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 5:01 pm

Preset for encoding vids for Pioneer AVG-x7700BT

Post by MadLeo »

Hi,

So I own a Pioneer AVH-x7700bt head unit, a 7" touch screen dvd player for in the car. But I'm having a lot of difficulties getting video's to play smoothly.. Here's the manual: http://www.manualslib.com/products/Pion ... 89487.html.

According to the manual I have the following restrictions for Mp4 vids:

Thumb drive restriction: USB drive FAT16 or FAT32 only

Compatible vid codec MPEG-4 (simple), H.264 (Base line)
Compatible aud codec AAC/LPCM/MP3
Resolution max. 640x360
Filesize max. 2GB
Max 30fps
Max playback time 150mins

ánd it states "files may not be able to be played back depending on bitrate" but no other info whatsoever.

So this guy on the web advised this https://advanxer.com/blog/2014/01/playi ... head-unit/ for an older model of the same type, tried that, no success. I kept his max 1000kbps in mind for future testing though.

Then I started to just make various try-outs with various tools, keeping the above restrictions in mind.

Pioneer themselves advise XMedia recode software, with Pioneer AVH-x7700bt setting, manually change resolution. Tried that, no luck.

Played around with various settings in VidCoder for a while, no luck.

And now I arrived at handbrake. Still no reall succes but at least now sometimes the vids start to play. Then it stops or starts stuttering or the sound is crap or whatever.

If I grab vids from youtube, they play fine. the quality is crap though so I want to convert the high quality clips and concerts already in my collection to a level I can play them in my car. Basically I was hoping to find an existing avh-x7700bt subject here on the forum in which one of you smart tech guys already created a perfect preset but no luck there so that's why I started this thread.

Please guys, so far I've spent 3 days converting files, copying them to USB, trying them out in my car etc etc etc... can anyone help me out here?

Thanks in advance!!
Last edited by MadLeo on Thu Jan 14, 2016 5:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
rollin_eng
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Re: Preset for encoding vids for Pioneer AVG-x7700BT

Post by rollin_eng »

Could you please post your logs of your latest encode, instructions can be found here:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=31236
MadLeo
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Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 5:01 pm

Re: Preset for encoding vids for Pioneer AVG-x7700BT

Post by MadLeo »

I was pointed to those instructions before but I don't understand them, what's an activity log?
MadLeo
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 5:01 pm

Re: Preset for encoding vids for Pioneer AVG-x7700BT

Post by MadLeo »

Ah I'm sorry I understand now.. It this what you need? http://pastebin.com/XY5F5iaJ
Woodstock
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Re: Preset for encoding vids for Pioneer AVG-x7700BT

Post by Woodstock »

Compatible vid codec MPEG-4 (simple), H.264 (Base line)
Your current settings are using H.264 "high" profile, not Base line. You might want to expirement with the "Android" preset, to see if that works. Just encode a single chapter, and see if that is playable.

Edit: scratch that... the Android preset still uses profile Main; you'll need to go to the Video tab, and change the H.264 profile to Baseline.
MadLeo
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Re: Preset for encoding vids for Pioneer AVG-x7700BT

Post by MadLeo »

In various earlier tries I already did just that, but I anderstand you'll need something to work from. So I started a new encode, respecting all parameters I mentioned above. Even put the Qty on average bitrate of 835 and audio bitrate on 160 so they won't go above 1000kbps. Although I have not found any other evidence this is a requirement besides the webpage I posted, and that man was talking about an older unit; AVH-X5650BT ... Anyway, when the encoding is done i'll test it in my car and will post the log here. (about 10mins from now) fyi I also asked Pioneer to give me more detailed "restrictions" to work with to use in the encoding but they only point to the Xmedia software with their preset.
MadLeo
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Re: Preset for encoding vids for Pioneer AVG-x7700BT

Post by MadLeo »

http://pastebin.com/em9EVEHL Here's the log. The file started playing, after the first few seconds the video started stuttering, hampering. So I scrolled to 1/3 of the video, than the music starts, but distorted and stuttering and the video just hampers.
Deleted User 13735

Re: Preset for encoding vids for Pioneer AVG-x7700BT

Post by Deleted User 13735 »

Start with Normal PRESET, then change the profile to Baseline.
You should be good to go.
MadLeo
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Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 5:01 pm

Re: Preset for encoding vids for Pioneer AVG-x7700BT

Post by MadLeo »

Ok just fyi, I decided to start using the original Video TS folder as source from now on.

I followed your advise, Normal preset, changed profile to baseline. And set max width to 640 as per user manual info. I tried playing the resulting "Guided 1.mp4" file in my car, but got the message “file cannot be played”. Here’s the log file: http://pastebin.com/Ha0x5mBt

As the Guided 1.mp4 file had a heigth of 380 while only 360 is allowed and I can not enter a max height on this setting I changed the max width to 604, so I ended up with a guided 2.mp4 file of 604x358. Tried this in my car and it started playing. (I suppose this rules out the max 1000kbps idea) But… after the first few seconds the music got distorted and the video started stuttering. I scrolled to 1/3 of the movie, got still images and distorted stuttering music. Here’s the log that comes with it: http://pastebin.com/apTzDRqg
MadLeo
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 5:01 pm

Re: Preset for encoding vids for Pioneer AVG-x7700BT

Post by MadLeo »

Btw as you might have seen in the manual, it states the AAC decoding format is MEG-4 AAC (iTunes encoded only) (Ver. 10.6 and earlier) So I decided to make another attempt using the last settings but changing the audio to MP3 instead of AAC and to stereo instead of Dolby Pro Logic II. Tried in my car and it said audio format not recognised.

Did yet another attempt setting the framerate to constant instead of variable and the audio settings on AAC but stereo instead of Dolby Pro Logic II. Tried in my car, same result as with the “guided 2” attempt, hampering, stuttering, distortions. http://pastebin.com/fdz1WNLL
MadLeo
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 5:01 pm

Re: Preset for encoding vids for Pioneer AVG-x7700BT

Post by MadLeo »

All this time I’ve kept trying more and more and I’m getting closer but I still keep stuttering, or hampering or even both. I downloaded the same video from Youtube, which plays great but the quality of both the vid and audio is really bad. This is the log of loading it in HandBrake: http://pastebin.com/b5DTJpYy So i want my video to run as smooth, but with the max quality I can get from this Pioneer unit. Here are the logs of my attempts: http://pastebin.com/5TJ8gL7j http://pastebin.com/zu7w0S7R http://pastebin.com/yH7Y2N5k http://pastebin.com/txVKiMLx http://pastebin.com/v2cLhjJh http://pastebin.com/iNHmDBrf http://pastebin.com/C0uxZgkb At least I found out the resolution can go above 640x360 and the max kbps can go somewhere about 2500 but I cannot seem to find any sweet spot making the video run smooth. Every single encode plays fine on VLC on my pc but the Pioneer radio… nope, what can be wrong?
MadLeo
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Re: Preset for encoding vids for Pioneer AVG-x7700BT

Post by MadLeo »

Hello? Mr. Woodstock? Mr. musicvid?
Woodstock
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Re: Preset for encoding vids for Pioneer AVG-x7700BT

Post by Woodstock »

I don't have a lot of suggestions left. Stuttering video USUALLY is because the display program cannot keep up with the video bit rate, and so it tries to keep up with the audio and show what video it can.

I would make sure the file itself is no larger than the dimensions of the screen, to minimize the resizing done. I would also select "fast decode" on the video tab, which will make an effort to take some load off the decoder.

Beyond that, without the hardware to test things with, I'm at a loss right now.
rollin_eng
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Re: Preset for encoding vids for Pioneer AVG-x7700BT

Post by rollin_eng »

Also try mpeg4 encoder if your device supports it.
MadLeo
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Re: Preset for encoding vids for Pioneer AVG-x7700BT

Post by MadLeo »

Good evening, thanks for replying. The last few tests I did were on MPEG4 indeed, which did seem to be a bit more stable. I have never selected the "fast decode" option yet so I'll give that a try. Few small questions, # in the picture tab, is it better to A set anamorphic OFF, Keep aspect ration OFF, cropping on automatic and manually fill in 640x360 or B Anamorphic on Loose 2 and only fill in the width? # Filters tab i don't touch, maybe if I do get it to run smooth I'll try deblock. # Framerate, better constant 25 or Peak 25? Or should I try 20 or even less to stop the stuttering? And what -s 2-pass encoding? # And the quality, better to fill in an Avg bitrate or constant quality of xx? # Audio AAC 160 should be fine with Dolby Pro Logic right, no need to change to Stereo and/or lower bitrate? It's quite hard to grasp nobody has ever made a good working preset for this device :(
rollin_eng
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Re: Preset for encoding vids for Pioneer AVG-x7700BT

Post by rollin_eng »

You could also try removing the audio track and trying to get the video to play smoothly.

Then introduce the audio.
Woodstock
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Re: Preset for encoding vids for Pioneer AVG-x7700BT

Post by Woodstock »

"Best" means different things to different people. In this case, it starts with getting things down to the point where the unit can keep up.

Of course, some of us would approach it differently - an Android tablet or iPad to give to the kids to watch. The in-dash units I have experience with (not the one you have) have all be woefully low on CPU power, and hard pressed to do their audio job effectively. That may be the problem here. It could even be an issue with the USB port not reading fast enough.
MadLeo
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Joined: Thu Jan 14, 2016 5:01 pm

Re: Preset for encoding vids for Pioneer AVG-x7700BT

Post by MadLeo »

I'll try it without audio form now on till I get the video perfect. What you say about the device type sounds interesting and logical.. But then on the other hand, how come it does play the youtube version fluently? I can even accept lower quality vid but not in combination with 96kbps audio.. http://pastebin.com/b5DTJpYy This is the one.
Apparatus Films
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Re: Preset for encoding vids for Pioneer AVG-x7700BT

Post by Apparatus Films »

Apparatus Films wrote: Thu Jun 18, 2020 2:17 am Handbrake Preset Pioneer AVH-X4800BS.zip - http://www.filedropper.com/handbrakepre ... vh-x4800bs
Owner's Manual - https://www.pioneerelectronics.com/Stat ... 070616.pdf

This Handbrake(1.3.3) preset was developed to encode video for my Pioneer AVH-X4800BS car stereo. The encode will probably play on other models and brand too, try it out.

1- Open Handbrake
2- presets—> import

Before starting the encode, select your preferred audio track and subtitles. If the source already has an AAC stereo mix, then selecting “AAC passthru” works.

The AVH-X4800BS, when playing mp4 from USB, only supports stereo sound. So mix down surround sound sources.

The AVH-X4800BS, when playing mp4 from USB, does not support subtitle tracks. But Handbrake can burn-in subtitles.

The AVH-X4800BS, when playing mp4 from USB, does not support chapters. So disable chapters.

--------------------------------------

I bought a used car. The previous owner had installed a Pioneer AVH-X4800BS car stereo. Its a double DIN head unit with a DVD player, 7" screen, and USB2.

I got the DVD player working, then decided to try playing movies from a USB flash drive. I took some DVD rips I already had, copied them to a thumb drive, and tried em out. No luck.

So, I got the Pioneer AVH-X4800BS user's manual and found the video specs it supports...
.mp4
Format: MPEG-4/H.264
Compatible video codec: MPEG-4 (Simple Profile)/H.264 (Base Line Profile)
Compatible audio codec: AAC/Linear PCM (LPCM) MP3 Maximum resolution: 640 pixels x 360 pixels
Maximum Frame rate: 30 fps
Maximum file size: 2 GB
Maximum playback time: 150 minutes
**Files may not be able to be played back depending on the bit rate.
That last part about the bit rate is the most important element to playability. Through trial and error, I learned that the Pioneer AVH-X4800BS struggles playing mp4 video with bit rates over 500k. So, you won't be playing DVD quality video from a flash drive with this unit. I suspect that Pioneer did not want to disclose the bit rate spec because it is so low.

Anyways, here are my settings...

Dimensions
640 x 360
anamorphic - auto
cropping - auto

Video
encoder - H.264(x264)
framerate - same as source
constant framerate
constant quality - 30
encoder options preset - medium
tune - none
profile - baseline
level - auto

Audio
codec - AAC (CoreAudio)
mixdown - stereo
samplerate - auto
bitrate - 128
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