Recently got the wdtv live smp and everything is working good so far but had a technical question about .mp4 video format and what the wdtv supports. All of my dvd’s have been ripped with handbrake using the appletv 2 preset. The wdtv plays these back fine with the exception of not being able to read the metadata in the file or utilize the chapter markers. This is not a deal breaker for me but i would like to purchase a new stereo reciever in a few weeks and want to know if the wdtv will output the 5.1 surrond sound from the mp4 file. I would be using the hdmi cable to pass thru the reiever and then to my tv. Just wondering if anyone has tried this with that particular handbrake preset and if it works.
The AppleTV preset may not include the chapter markers. I’m not sure.
I have ripped a number of TV shows to MP4 format using Handbrake’s High Profile preset, and chapter markers are supported just fine … as long as they are there.
The ATV2 profile, I think, also defaults to AAC audio.
There are still issues with the WD’s decoding AAC 5.1 audio, but it works fine with AAC stereo.
I don’t do My own streaming , because my computer is too slow, but I have come to the conclusion, that about …one out of five will work…MKV…MP4…H.264 seems to work ok for MP4, …x.264 works better with MKV files…
But not always…I get a sample that plays…then the movie has no sound or worse…throw th dice
Chapters work fine with mkvs on the HUB, you just can’t access them in then normal way (pressing the next button), you have to press “Options” on the remote then scoll down to “View chapters” and access your chapter selection that way.
I would suggest to always use mkv over mp4 for the HUB (or at least this is my preference), mainly due to mkv being the only container that you can passthrough DTS. I would also suggest always using either AC3 passthrough or DTS passthrough, depending on the source, because you will have less problems that way. If you want to “future proof” your file you could add the track again and change the Audio codec to ACC, that way your have both AC3/DTS+ACC. You’ll have a larger file but have both audio codec encoded.
Thanks for the info sorry took a while to reply back. i have been thinking about switching formats to mkv the problem is i own alot of apple products and mp4 seems to be the format they favor the most. Just trying to find something that has universal compatablity across products is somewhat of a nightmare sometimes. That coupled with 500 movies i currently have reencoding is really not an option. I will give mkv a shot an see how it works plus i am planning on trying to do some bluray rips and it seems as if mkv is the way to go there.
Yeah, it’s best if you are going to encode BDs you should use .mkv if you want something better than DD5.1 audio.
Also, I don’t know what Apple products that you have, but for macs you can use VLC player to play .mkvs. I’m not a mac guy myself, but a friend of mine is and I put VLC on his and he had no problems playing .mkvs.
As, for other Apple products, I’m sure that there are apps for that.:smileyvery-happy:
