Video Format Checker, verify a video file to be executed on WDTVLive Options

[raulf]

Hello,

Is there some sort of format checker if it's playable by WDTVLive?

What are the requirements for a video format that the WDTVLive can open?

I have some mkv videos that are not playable.

Thank you.

[WDUser]

The best you can do is check the file with MediaInfo and once you identify the codecs used, confirm from the manual that these are supported. Unfortunately, I haven't seen any detailed spec sheet from WD anywhere, mentioning the exact limits for every supported format. So while the manual may say a format/codec is supported, in actuality you may well come across a file that fits the description but still doesn't play. If this is the case, do contact WD support and ask them what the problem is, and if they reply, do post here as well to help others.

[raulf]

Thanks for your reply.

I wonder if there's a list of support video format or codec by WDTVLive.

It is good to have some kind of a procedural script that would verify a video file to played by WDTV. But first, need to know how WDTV chipset works in opening the video file container. I'd a mkv that can't be played on WDTVLive, but mostly can.

IMHO, a verifier program of support video format would really help users alot especially before copy it to the device / sharing it in the network.

[WDUser]

I wonder if there's a list of support video format or codec by WDTVLive.

As I mentioned above, did you check the manual?

IMHO, a verifier program of support video format would really help users alot especially before copy it to the device / sharing it in the network.

Yes, such a program would be fantastic! Unfortunately, unless either WD or Sigma Designs release more details re. the exact capabilities of the player and the decoding chip inside, it's very difficult to create such a program. For example, the manual states MKV is supported. But as you've yourself seen, all MKVs don't work. Why is that? If the codecs are all on the supported list, then we can only guess, since we don't know a lot of technical info. For example, too many reframes in MKVs can cause the player to choke on the video. But has WD ever mentioned specifically how many reframes the various models support? AFAIK, no. Since it's impossible for anyone to manually test and confirm with all sorts of files and variants, creating such a program that can check every file and state confidently whether it will or will not play is very difficult, if not impossible. Hope you understand what I'm trying to say...