Rendering an MP4 to play on TV

JackW wrote on 11/28/2018, 12:16 AM

Try converting the FAT32 file format to exFAT32. This removes the FAT32 limitation and will allow play on both Mac and PC. From the command line type "convert X: /fs:exFAT32" where "X" represents the appropriate drive on your computer. Do not include the quotation marks. This will usually convert the file system of most Flash drives. In place of exFAT32 you can substitute NTFS if you are using a PC exclusively.

john_dennis wrote on 11/28/2018, 12:18 AM

"...one of my renders, just over 8 Gb, would not copy onto a FAT 32 USB."

It's not whether you copy to the flash drive or render to it. FAT32 won't allow 8GB files. Try formatting the USB flash disk exFAT and see if the TV can read it.

I've given this type of files to lots of people on USB flash disks and never gotten a complaint yet.

j-v wrote on 11/28/2018, 5:18 AM

Help appreciated - I'll keep trying different templates in the meantime.

Not every TV can play MP4.
I have more than one TV.
On une playing Mp4 is nor possible , only DVD iso's and other old codecs, another one can play Mp4 icl. modern codecs till 30p in AVC, my newest from signature plays all what I can make with Vegas incl HEVC 50-60p.

So maybe you have to look into the specs of your TV or tell us name and type of that TV you are using.

PeterWright wrote on 11/28/2018, 5:28 AM

Really appreciate the replies guys, thanks.

Practically all my jobs these days are for Internet streaming video, so I've not encountered the challenge of playing a larger than 4 Gb file on TV before.
After my initial post, I did manage to get my three TVs to play a video rendered onto FAT32 USB, using the Format MAGIX/AAC MP4 and Template Internet HD 1080p 25fps, but it finished halfway through - as you've probably guessed, when the file size reached 3.99 Gb.
So, following your advice, I re-formatted the USB stick to exFAT. I decided not to use Quick Format, but the longer way -took over half an hour!

Anyway, I copied an MP4 file of 8.36 Gb onto the stick, but none of my TV's was able to detect or play the video.

This maybe a peculiarity of my 3 TVs - they are 3 different sets from the same supplier, and I am writing to their support team about this.

john-dennis, from the description you posted, I'm not sure which Format and Template in Vegas that you used, but I'd appreciate any further ideas on this subject - it cannot surely be impossible to play a two hour MP4 on TV ?!!

Cheers,

Peter

j-v wrote on 11/28/2018, 6:17 AM

I don't use sticks for my TV, I have to change their content to often.
I use small 2,5 inch 1 TB harddiscs (WD, far below $50!) attached on the backside of my TV's. Plays everything of each duration.

PeterWright wrote on 11/28/2018, 6:57 AM

Thanks j-v. If I did this more often I would also use a Harddrive - do they work with TVs even if not FAT32?
For my situation - I've decided on a workaround using FAT32 USB stick. The dance concert I shot (9 cameras, 1 operator) was in three parts, so I'm going to render each part as a separate, less than 4 Gb file.

Musicvid wrote on 11/28/2018, 9:09 AM

Odds are 99:1 your USB stick came formatted FAT32, which has the standard 4GB file size limitation.

Smaller files or NTFS format, and meeting your tv specs will probably fix this.

diverG wrote on 11/28/2018, 10:20 AM

You mentioned 1080 PAL. My experience with MP4 for TV is that you need 1080i or render down to 1280x720 P.

These are BD standards.