Easy conversion for Popcorn hour playback of all Freeview HD channels

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Easy conversion for Popcorn hour playback of all Freeview HD channels

burtz

168 posts

Master Geek

#25918 6-Sep-2008 12:45

Check this thread out in the other forum:

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?ForumId=83&TopicId=25517&page_no=2

I have downloaded the Arcsoft Mediaconverter 2.5 and the h264cutter and have successfully converted the files to play in .avi, .mp4 and .wmv and played them with AUDIO on the popcorn hour. The Arcsoft converter doesn't like .ts files but I just changed the suffix to .mpg and it accepted the file.

I started with an original files size of 81Mb and with AVI it converted to 76Mb, MP4 57Mb and wmv 30Mb . I couldn't see much difference on converting TVNZ6 SD video but I will try a TV3 HD video with AAC audio and let you know...

Thanks to charley for finding an easy converter which looks like it can handle batch conversion with no sync issues !!

lchiu7

6470 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#162673 6-Sep-2008 18:52

One small problem I encountered. If your original file is in HD format (say 720p as on TV3) there is not output format that is equivalent to that. The program assumes you want to downrez the video to a SD format.

[edit]

OK - this could be useful. I am not so interested in converting the videos to play on PSP's or whatever but for AAC-HE LATM audio, being able to play them on a PCH. So tried the following

1. Converted a video to another format (not important what it was but kept it as MP4)
2. Let the program convert the audio to AAC-LE

After conversion demuxed the audio using MP4BOX and the muxed it back with the original h.264 video using tsmuxer. Ater playing around with the delay of audio/video managed to get a file that retains the original video quality but has audio the PCH can play. If that is a repeatable process, might be worth doing this to get videos that the PCH can play from TV1/TV2 (until they move also to AC-3 audio) until there is a firmware upgrade to handle AAC-HE audio

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

burtz

168 posts

Master Geek

#162691 6-Sep-2008 21:50

Try the Mpeg2 file format under user defined setting 1920 x 1080 with 8mbs bit rate, the file is bigger than the original .ts and the quality looks good. I am playing the PCH on a 26" LCD and the 1280 x 720 with 6mbs bit rate just about fills the screen with the popcorn hour zoom set to actual size and the converted file size is only 10% smaller than the original.

lchiu7

6470 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#162923 7-Sep-2008 20:25

I don't see those options - maybe because I am using a trial version? Plus tried the program on a full capture from TV2 (Chuck) and the audio cuts out every now and then. I think there is a data issue with the .ts transport stream I have captured which is throwing the program off. But it seems to be the best option out there so far for getting the audio into the PCH so far

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.