What chance have I got of hitting the CORRECT MP4?

Grazie wrote on 10/7/2007, 1:33 AM
Right! Chill . .. .

I have seen a slick, black, sexy, 7" wide-screen device that will "play" MPEG4 files - and directly from my USB stick or card - excellent! Perfect for my providing dallies and show-reels - fed up burning DVDs and all that . .

Now, how do I determine just WHAT this device needs to play any of the MP4 flavours presently available from within VP8? There is literally no info on the device. As of yet, I haven't purchased the device, just played with it within the shop - nice people - using my SONY rendered MP4s. The device will not recognise the file. So again, how do I discover just what it needs?

And yes, I've read that MPEG-4 consists of several (21?)standards, termed "parts".

TIA

Grazie

Comments

farss wrote on 10/7/2007, 3:24 AM
Unless the manual for the device gives you a clue you might need to reverse engineer this. Do they or you have anything that will play?
Once you have that I think there's some simple software around that'll tell you whats inside the file. Then get Vegas to render the same thing and you should be set.

Bob.
Grazie wrote on 10/7/2007, 3:27 AM
Absolutely NO indication Bob. What file? Nothing in existence with the device? I can use GSpot to tell me something about my own, but what is needed, I have no idea.

G

farss wrote on 10/7/2007, 3:34 AM
That's pretty unusual, I mean surely they'd have something to demo what it can do or make some claim like "plays mp4 from ....".
You got a name / link for this player?

Bob.
Chienworks wrote on 10/7/2007, 3:49 AM
I would think the device has some internal storage, and the factory would ship it with a demo file or two included so that shops can "wow" people with the thing instead of having customers stare at a blank screen. So, take your memory stick with you, access the things file menu, find one of those demo files, and transfer it to your memory stick. After all, it's gotta have a backup function, right?
Kennymusicman wrote on 10/7/2007, 3:54 AM
What exactly is this device (model etc)?

Also, what is its cost - I ask, since not knowing the device to see how it compares to things like the PSP - I don't like them, but there are templates galore for it. Also, something like a PDA as another method for playback.

Ken
Xander wrote on 10/7/2007, 5:54 AM
mp4 files are just a wrapper. Defined in MPEG-4 Part 14. Question is, what codecs are supported and what levels of the codec are supported? Typical video codes are MPEG-4 SP (Part 2) and MPEG-4 AVC (Part 10). In addition, for example, in MPEG-4 AVC, you get profiles (Baseline, Main, etc) and entropy coding modes (CAVLC, CABAC). Playback is not always guaranteed for all possible combinations. Between the Sony / Mainconcept codecs, Vegas has pretty good coverage.

Definitely worth getting the manual or asking technical support exactly what .mp4 support means.

I still use the PSP now that it has a 480x272 playback resolution option. However, the Apple iTouch looks very promising as a replacement.
Grazie wrote on 10/7/2007, 6:05 AM
mp4 files are just a wrapper.

Yes, I realise this. And yes I realise that I need to have a rendered file that the Codec can use.

Definitely worth getting the manual or asking technical support exactly what .mp4 support means.

Sure, and this was the first thing I asked of the supplier. No manual, and so far, no tech backup to ask the question. But early days.

You kinda lost me at "entropy coding"! - But I am very impresed.

I have exhausted the SONY options - I shall now try Main Concept. The next thing will be to step outside Vegas and use DiVX.

Regards,

Grazie

mdopp wrote on 10/7/2007, 8:04 AM
Grazie, good luck and tell us your results.
I've been trying to render mp4-files for use on both PSP and iPhone Touch - no way.
Even though they (basically) share the same screen resolution and both claim to be mp4 compatible. Actually, none of them can play what the other one can.
Seems to me mp4 is not nearly as simple and straightforward as mp1 and mp2 were...
CClub wrote on 10/7/2007, 9:31 AM
Grazie,
I'm also very interested in hearing the specific brand of the player you mentioned. I'm trying to find something portable that's not a DVD player but has the size screen you stated.

Several options at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NK9BQG/sr/ref=pd_cp_e_1_img/103-5686145-2906242?ie=UTF8&qid=1191774573&sr=1-1&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_r=00SBZ3E11N702D4MNWCC&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=250314601&pf_rd_i=B000ENQUQGArchos (really nice option)[/link]
http://www.amazon.com/PMP7040-Portable-Media-Player-Recording/dp/B000ENQUQG/ref=sr_1_1/103-5686145-2906242?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1191774573&sr=1-1Coby Player[/link]
http://www.amazon.com/SVAT-Personal-Digital-Player-Screen/dp/B0007XGBJ4/ref=sr_1_3/103-5686145-2906242?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1191774573&sr=1-3SVAT Player[/link]

Gian Pablo Villamil wrote on 10/8/2007, 7:31 AM
I find that 90% of the devices that claim MPEG4 playback capabilities really mean Divx/XVID AVI with MP3 soundtracks. In the XVID encoder settings, choose something like Simple or Advanced Simple profile.

This is true for Archos/Cowon/Rapsody and all the DVD players that can play MPEG4 off a DVD-R. (Tested myself)

This refers to MPEG4-based codecs (which includes Divx and XVID), not the MPEG4 container format.

The PSP, iPod and iPhone use the MPEG4 container format with the H.264/AVC codec, and AAC sound.

Newer versions of the Archos player support H.264 and MP4, same as the PSP and iPhone. (As per website, not yet tested myself)
Chienworks wrote on 10/8/2007, 7:43 AM
I've got the Archos 404. It plays files rendered in Vegas with DivX 6 with no hitches at all. Aside from setting a bitrate i used all the default settings.

Annoyingly enough, Archos claims that WMV is it's preferred format, but it won't touch WMV files from Vegas.