WDTV 1st gen will not play .M4V Options

[shreaded]

any idea's why it will not play .M4V videos? it sez "unsupported format"

thanks, and i did search to no avail...

[shreaded]

no one???

[WDUser]

Be patient, people aren't sitting here 24x7 waiting to answer queries. This isn't the official WD forum, nor is it WD Support.

Try renaming to MP4. If that doesn't work, run MediaInfo on one such file and copy-paste the report here.

[shreaded]

thanks. renamed all my >M4V files to >MP4. ill try when i get home and let you know. thank you.

[OsvaL]

Hi everyone,

I really tried everything to play mp4 videos converted from AVI to MP4 H.264 AAC, and always receive the "This file is not supported" while isn't true. I read on the specs that the WD HDTV supports this kind of format. I'm able to see the thumbnail but won't play the video.

If someone had the same problems and solved please write.

In case you may need the information regarding the codification here is the movie data:

*** MediaInfo Mac // Plain text file report
2010-02-14 16:06:00 -0300
Information for File: Movie.mp4

General / Container Stream # 1
Total Video Streams for this File -> 1
Total Audio Streams for this File -> 1
Video Codecs Used -> AVC
Audio Codecs Used -> AAC LC
File Format -> MPEG-4
Play Time -> 1h 57mn
Total File Size -> 877 MiB
Total Stream BitRate -> 1 043 Kbps
Title (Tag) -> Movie
Encoded with -> HandBrake 0.9.4 2009112300

Video Stream # 1
Codec (Human Name) -> AVC
Codec (FourCC) -> avc1
Codec Profile -> Main@L3.0
Frame Width -> 720 pixels
Frame Height -> 304 pixels
Frame Rate -> 23.976 fps
Total Frames -> 168959
Display Aspect Ratio -> 2.35
Scan Type -> Progressive
Colorimetry -> 4:2:0
Codec Settings (Summary) -> CABAC / 2 Ref Frames
QF (like Gordian Knot) -> 0.173
Codec Settings (CABAC) -> Yes
Video Stream Length -> 1h 57mn 26s 992ms
Video Stream BitRate -> 906 Kbps
Video Stream BitRate Mode -> VBR
Bit Depth -> 24 bits
Video Stream Size -> 761 MiB (87%)
Video Encoder -> x264 - core 79 r1347 5ddd61b
Video Encoder (Settings) -> cabac=1 / ref=2 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x1:0x111 / me=hex / subme=6 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.0:0.0 / mixed_ref=0 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=0 / 8x8dct=0 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=3 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / mbaff=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=2 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / wpredb=0 / wpredp=2 / keyint=240 / keyint_min=24 / scenecut=40 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=20.8 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Date of Original Encoding -> UTC 2010-02-14 04:52:18

Audio Stream # 1
Codec -> AAC
Codec (FourCC) -> 40
Audio Stream Length -> 1h 57mn 27s 94ms
Audio Stream BitRate -> 128 Kbps
Audio Stream BitRate Mode -> VBR
Number of Audio Channels -> 2
Audio Channel's Positions -> L R
Sampling Rate -> 44.1 KHz
Bit Depth -> 16 bits
Audio Stream Size -> 108 MiB (12%)
Date of Original Encoding -> UTC 2010-02-14 04:52:18

Reason for edit: Changed font size to something readable!

[WDUser]

First of all, why are you converting the AVIs in the first place? You'll only end up with quality loss. Also, how did you convert? Using Handbrake? Try the High@L4.1 profile and see.

P.S. I deleted your duplicate post. Kindly stick to one thread per issue.

[OsvaL]

Thanks WDTV Geek, sorry for the double post, I realized that but was too late and I didn't know how to delete my first post. I convert from AVI because is the way I have my movies in my hard drive, and now I want to have all of them organized in iTunes with the covert art and the spanish subtitles in only one container. I think it is more organized and easier to then copy these files to my iPod or iPhone.

And yes, I use Handbrake 0.9.4 Regular > Normal profile.

[OsvaL]

I tried with the high profile option but with the same results "Unable to play the selected file." I really don't know what is going on, everything seems to be OK with the file and the conversion process but for some reason the WD HDTV won't play it.

Here is the movie info from the last movie I tried to convert using the high profile. This is another file, not the same I tried before. The weird thing is that any other player will open, VLC, QuickTime, iTunes, etc.

This high profile method took 3x more time that the regular normal profile.

*** MediaInfo Mac // Plain text file report
2010-02-14 23:23:23 -0300
Information for File: 9.mp4

General / Container Stream # 1
Total Video Streams for this File -> 1
Total Audio Streams for this File -> 1
Video Codecs Used -> AVC
Audio Codecs Used -> AAC LC
File Format -> MPEG-4
Play Time -> 1h 16mn
Total File Size -> 488 MiB
Total Stream BitRate -> 898 Kbps
Title (Tag) -> 9
Encoded with -> HandBrake 0.9.4 2009112300

Video Stream # 1
Codec (Human Name) -> AVC
Codec (FourCC) -> avc1
Codec Profile -> High@L3.0
Frame Width -> 640 pixels
Frame Height -> 336 pixels
Frame Rate -> 24.919 fps
Total Frames -> 113694
Display Aspect Ratio -> 1.882
Scan Type -> Progressive
Colorimetry -> 4:2:0
Codec Settings (Summary) -> CABAC / 3 Ref Frames
QF (like Gordian Knot) -> 0.139
Codec Settings (CABAC) -> Yes
Video Stream Length -> 1h 16mn 2s 480ms
Video Stream BitRate -> 745 Kbps
Video Stream BitRate Mode -> VBR
Bit Depth -> 24 bits
Video Stream Size -> 405 MiB (83%)
Video Encoder -> x264 - core 79 r1347 5ddd61b
Video Encoder (Settings) -> cabac=1 / ref=3 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=hex / subme=7 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.0:0.0 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=3 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / mbaff=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=0 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=1 / wpredb=1 / wpredp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / rc_lookahead=50 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=20.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Date of Original Encoding -> UTC 2010-02-14 23:22:22

Audio Stream # 1
Codec -> AAC
Codec (FourCC) -> 40
Audio Stream Length -> 1h 16mn 2s 581ms
Audio Stream BitRate -> 148 Kbps
Audio Stream BitRate Mode -> VBR
Number of Audio Channels -> 2
Audio Channel's Positions -> L R
Sampling Rate -> 48.0 KHz
Bit Depth -> 16 bits
Audio Stream Size -> 80.3 MiB (16%)
Date of Original Encoding -> UTC 2010-02-14 23:22:22

[WDUser]

Well obviously something's the matter with the file's specs, else it would work. Have you read the manual carefully to see if the file adheres to the specs? As for "other players" playing the file, there's a world of difference between software players (esp. all-in-one types such as VLC), and hardware players like the WD TV, so the former playing the file has no significance at all, except to maybe indicate that the file's fine. Whether it conforms to the WD TV's limits is a whole different matter altogether.

BTW, any particular reason you're using Main@L3.0 and High@L3.0 profiles? I specifically asked you to try the High@L4.1 profile 'cos most of my files seem to use this, and they all work absolutely fine on the 1st Gen. WD TV. Other than this, I'm not a video encoding expert so I can't really say. Probably you should head over to a dedicated video encoding site such as videohelp.com and post there.

[OsvaL]

Sorry for my ignorance WDTV Geek, but how do I do to change from High@L3.0 to High@L4.1? and also avoid the CABAC thing? I wasn't able to find any settings to change that.

Thanks

[WDUser]

Well I see the CABAC setting mentioned here, and I'm sure the profile setting must also be there somewhere. Google for it, or just post in the Handbrake forum or maybe over at videohelp.com. Like I said, I'm not 100% sure that this will fix things, but this is what seems to work so no harm trying it out. In fact, videohelp.com may have encoding experts cum WD TV owners who'll be more than happy to tell you what will work with these players. If you are successful, do post back here.

[OsvaL]

Finally I found out the problem, it doesn't have anything to do with the Handbrake or profile chosen. Simply the WD HDTV doesn't support soft subtitles, I tried to rip a DVD with the subtitles burned in the movie and everything works fine.

I hope this can be helpful for some.

[Rev Drew]

I am curious about the original posters problem, was it resolved or not?
this thread seems to have gotten hijacked ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[WDUser]

Finally I found out the problem, it doesn't have anything to do with the Handbrake or profile chosen. Simply the WD HDTV doesn't support soft subtitles, I tried to rip a DVD with the subtitles burned in the movie and everything works fine.

The 1st Gen. WD TV supports soft subs just fine, as long as they are in text-based SRT format. Image-based IDX/SUB files aren't supported. Read the manual for more. BTW, even if there're IDX/SUB etc. files along with the movie, the player should still play the main video fine. You must have tried embedding soft subs into the MP4, whereas AFAIK, embedded subs are supported only with MKVs. External SRTs will always work with any file though, so that's best IMO.

I am curious about the original posters problem, was it resolved or not?
this thread seems to have gotten hijacked ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Well shreaded never reported back, so I assume his problem was indeed solved. If it wasn't, not our concern really if he himself cannot be bothered to follow up...