Re-encode settings?

Community Archives WD TV HD
1

These are the details of the file i’m having trouble with - wont play on my Gen 2 WD TVHD. I would greatly appreciate it if someone could advise what settings I should use to re-encode this with SUPER. I tried H.264/AVC + AAC in an MKV container but ended up with a 25gb file that plays with no sound. Many thanks!

Format                           : MPEG-4
Format profile                   : Base Media
Codec ID                         : isom
File size                        : 3.51 GiB
Duration                         : 3h 27mn
Overall bit rate                 : 2 423 Kbps
Encoded date                     : UTC 2010-01-07 01:32:40
Tagged date                      : UTC 2010-01-07 01:32:40
Writing application              : Yamb 2.1.0.0 [http://yamb.unite-video.com]

Video
ID                               : 2
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                   : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 5 frames
Codec ID                         : avc1
Codec ID/Info                    : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                         : 3h 27mn
Bit rate mode                    : Variable
Bit rate                         : 2 100 Kbps
Maximum bit rate                 : 9 780 Kbps
Width                            : 1 280 pixels
Height                           : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio             : 2.222
Frame rate mode                  : Constant
Frame rate                       : 25.000 fps
Color space                      : YUV
Chroma subsampling               : 4:2:0
Bit depth                        : 8 bits
Scan type                        : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.114
Stream size                      : 3.04 GiB (87%)
Writing library                  : x264 core 79 r1360 528c100
Encoding settings                : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=umh / subme=8 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.0:0.0 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=2 / 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=3 / wpredb=1 / wpredp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / rc_lookahead=30 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=2100 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.50 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / vbv_maxrate=24000 / vbv_bufsize=24000 / ip_ratio=1.10 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date                     : UTC 2010-01-05 21:42:48
Tagged date                      : UTC 2010-01-07 01:43:27

Audio
ID                               : 1
Format                           : AAC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Audio Codec
Format version                   : Version 4
Format profile                   : LC
Format settings, SBR             : No
Codec ID                         : 40
Duration                         : 3h 27mn
Bit rate mode                    : Variable
Bit rate                         : 319 Kbps
Maximum bit rate                 : 400 Kbps
Channel(s)                       : 6 channels
Channel positions                : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE
Sampling rate                    : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode                 : Lossy
Stream size                      : 473 MiB (13%)
Encoded date                     : UTC 2010-01-07 01:32:40
Tagged date                      : UTC 2010-01-07 01:43:27

2

Hello,

The WDTV Gen 1 and 2 only supports 2 channel audio, you got a 6 channel video file. That could be the reason why is not playing the sound.

3

Remux the MP4 to MKV using MKVmerge GUI (part of MKVtoolnix).  Download version 4.0.0 from here:

http://www.bunkus.org/videotools/mkvtoolnix/win32/

You can download the latest version if you wish BUT you need to make sure to disable header compression for all tracks.  I find using an older version works fine and eliminates that issue.  Your choice though!

Once you have an MKV, filesize should be the same, as it’s the same tracks.

Run the new MKV through Popcorn MKV Audio Converter:   http://audioconverter.heartware.dk/Tutorial/

That should allow you to convert the useless multichannel AAC audio to AC3 5.1, which I believe should work on the older WD TV models.

Try the above steps.  It won’t change your video at all, so the resulting file will be roughly the same size, and it’ll be much faster since it’s only re-encoding the audio.

SUPER is a nice concept but I was always disappointed / frustrated by it.