When is an mpg an mpg?

PeterWright wrote on 10/16/2012, 12:23 AM
I've done a music clip for a local school and rendered it to MP4, which results in a .m2ts suffix.

They tried to upload it for a competition today and found that the "format could not be accepted". Prescribed formats are mpg, mpeg, avi, mov, flv and wmv.

I've told them to try renaming it .mpg, but if this doesn't work, what would be the best render format to maintain quality? It's currently 720p and looks fine.

I thought MP4 was almost universal, but apparently not.

Comments

corug7 wrote on 10/16/2012, 1:06 AM
MP4 doesn't generally get placed in a mpeg 2 transport stream wrapper unless it is being used for a specific application such as blu-ray, and .mpg and .mpeg are generally reserved for use with MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 program or elementary streams.

If it is a vanilla mpeg-4 or h.264 stream with AAC audio (not AC-3, which is sometimes wrapped with MP4 in a .m2ts transport stream), you may be able to rename the extension .mov and your client may be able to open it.
Grazie wrote on 10/16/2012, 1:07 AM
For starters, Peter try this.

Grazie

PeterWright wrote on 10/16/2012, 2:20 AM
Thanks guys - that's a bit clearer.

I'll do some tests to produce an MP4 clip with an .mpg extension, otherwise .mov may be the way to go.
Ron Windeyer wrote on 10/16/2012, 2:24 AM
corug7 is right, and I've learned something else. I generate mp4 files (they don't have a .m2ts extension though - straight .mp4). Changing the extension to .mov doesn't change them; they are still playable in Total Media Player and Quicktime.

That sounds like a really good option - best of luck.
PeterWright wrote on 10/16/2012, 2:40 AM
Sounds good Ron - is this with Main Concept?
PeterWright wrote on 10/16/2012, 2:48 AM
Sorry to labour this - I just did a brief test clip, ren\dered to mp4 using Main Concept, then when I renamed it to .mov and played it in VLC Player, the name came up as "test.mov.mp4" is this ok?
PeterWright wrote on 10/16/2012, 3:49 AM
The saga continues - I thought I'd try the Avid DNxHD > Handbrake route to make a reasonable size MP4 file, then rename it to .mov

I rendered the Avid file ok, using their 720p template - but Handbrake wouldn't accept it.

Ever have one of those days?
farss wrote on 10/16/2012, 4:13 AM
"Ever have one of those days?"

Yes. Thankfully a couple of weeks ago now, at least all the horsemen of the apocalypse visited on the one day.


I suspect the people specifying what is acceptable are clueless as they're specifying mostly containers rather than codecs. For safety as they've said .wmv is acceptable and that is a codec I'd just use that.

Bob.
PeterWright wrote on 10/16/2012, 4:27 AM
Bob thanks - I must have been channelling you, as I'd just done an wmv and it looks ok ...

Ron Windeyer wrote on 10/16/2012, 4:43 AM
Peter - have been out & about the last few hours. Seems you have a viable solution, so that's great.

Just in answer to your query, it was with MainConcept. I have also generated a number of mp4 files with the Sony AVC template.

The computer only cares about the 3 letters after the LAST dot. So your test.mov.mp4 file would be "seen" as a mp4 file, whose name is test.mov.

You can easily change the last three letters - just right-click, rename. Windows (ever helpful and paternalistic) will ask "are you sure?? changing a file extension can render the file unusable..." Just go ahead - if it doesn't work, change it back :)
PeterWright wrote on 10/16/2012, 4:55 AM
Thank you Ron,

It was when I previously did the renaming that made the XXX.mov.mp4 , but I think that may be because I didn't have file extensions visible in Control Panel, which I've now changed.
Grazie wrote on 10/16/2012, 5:22 AM
Oh yes Bob: "I suspect the people specifying what is acceptable are clueless as they're specifying mostly containers rather than codecs. For safety as they've said .wmv is acceptable and that is a codec I'd just use that.

This should be essential reading for all us content producers. Go with the line of least resistance. "Yah want Pickle?! Yah got pickle! You don't want Pickle? Yah don't get pickle!"

Just 'cos we CAN do something, don't mean we have too.

G

TheHappyFriar wrote on 10/16/2012, 6:43 AM
Looks like the solution to me is to make an MPG or MPEG, not an MP4. I'd say they're assuming you know what an mpeg/mpg is & that it's not a mp4. mp4 != mpg/mpeg.
Grazie wrote on 10/16/2012, 6:58 AM
I've now got to the point where I EITHER produce the flavour wanted, OR make several versions and ask what works for them - end of!

Grazie

farss wrote on 10/16/2012, 7:15 AM
"I've now got to the point where I EITHER produce the flavour wanted, OR make several versions and ask what works for them - end of!"

Or you give up and upload it to YT and send them a link, what could possibly go wrong. Lots if "they" are in Germany but that's a really tangled web that took me days to get to the bottom of. Just be very careful using copyright music in videos where the copyright holder is in the EU and someone in Germany needs to watch the content.

Bob.
PeterWright wrote on 10/16/2012, 7:35 AM
Yes, HappyFriar, you're probably right. I've got so used to producing MP4s for anything internet related .....

When you say make an MPEG, I assume you mean MPEG2 including audio - any recommended template?
TheHappyFriar wrote on 10/16/2012, 9:35 AM
Or you give up and upload it to YT and send them a link, what could possibly go wrong

To throw in your copyright issue, YT also allows others to see it. If it's unlisted it can still be linked to, if it's restricted it's a PITA to get working. Easiest I've found it to put the rendered file on your own server & then give a download link. Then, the ONLY people who view it are ones with the link, you can do any quality, deliver any codec, etc.

I use YT like I use DVD: for stuff where it doesn't need further work/restrictions.

When you say make an MPEG, I assume you mean MPEG2 including audio - any recommended template?

If they didn't specify, mpeg-1 & SD is nearly the most compatible format in existence. They should of given more info, with the lack of info I'd do a mpeg-1 in SD & a WMV (standard MS settings) in SD. Bitrate - who cares. 3meg's/second seems good to me. W/o more info it's hard to tell anyway. IE the hardware player I'd render for years ago (Premiere couldn't render for it but Vegas could) I'd either use mpeg-1 1/2 D1 or mpeg-2 full D1, 1.5mbs/3mbs respectively. That's what it could run.
musicvid10 wrote on 10/16/2012, 10:43 AM
" but Handbrake wouldn't accept it."

Older versions of Handbrake don't accept DNxHD 10 bit (which unfortunately is the default template.

Select an 8 bit template with "709" checked and/or a newer version of Handbrake.