Two 'identical' HD formats; one syncs, one fails... Help!

How did you capture the off-air recording? I only ask as if the source wasn't HD I wouldn't bother trying to upscale it to 720p. The only HD recorders I know of that'll let you do that and transfer the data are Humax Freesat recorders and some PC cards (Win Nova HD from Hauupage for instance), but there may be others. The clip doesn't quite look HD quality unlike the hubblecast.

The files do not use identical formats, essentially:

Hubblecast: AVC1 profile High@L3.1 Constant fps

Auntie: AVC1 profile High@L3.2 Variable fps

High profile is 'broadcast standard' enoding profile, AppleTV doesn't officially support it only main profile - 3.2 and 3.1 may well differ apart from Constant/Variable fps, might be worth testing to see if 3.1 always works.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.264

AppleTv supports:

1 - H.264 and protected H.264 (from iTunes Store): Up to 5 Mbps, Progressive Main Profile (CAVLC) with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps (maximum resolution: 1280 by 720 pixels at 24 fps, 960 by 540 pixels at 30 fps) in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats

2 - iTunes Store purchased video: 320 by 240 pixels, 640 by 480 pixels, 720 by 480 pixels (anamorphic), or high-definition 720p

3 - MPEG-4: Up to 3 Mbps, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps (maximum resolution: 720 by 432 pixels at 30 fps) in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats

...and some others if lucky.

In detail (download mediainfo: http://mediainfo.sourceforge.net/en )

The clip that plays:


Complete name : working.mov.qt
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : QuickTime
Codec ID : qt
File size : 6.83 MiB
Duration : 10s 0ms
Overall bit rate : 5 728 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00
Tagged date : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00
Video ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L3.1
Format settings, CABAC : No
Format settings, ReFrames : 2 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info :
Advanced Video Coding Duration : 10s 0ms
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 5 724 Kbps
Width : 1 280 pixels
Height : 720 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16/9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Resolution : 24 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.248
Stream size : 6.82 MiB (100%)
Encoded date : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00
Tagged date : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00

The clip that doesn't:

Complete name : /notworking.mov.qt
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : QuickTime
Codec ID : qt
File size : 5.32 MiB
Duration : 10s 0ms
Overall bit rate : 4 465 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00
Tagged date : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00
Video ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L3.2
Format settings, CABAC : No
Format settings, ReFrames : 4 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 10s 0ms
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 4 461 Kbps
Width : 1 280 pixels
Height : 720 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16/9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Standard : PAL
Resolution : 24 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type :
Progressive Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.194
Stream size : 5.32 MiB (100%)
Encoded date : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00
Tagged date : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00



AppleTv supports:

Video formats supported

* H.264 and protected H.264 (from iTunes Store): Up to 5 Mbps, Progressive Main Profile (CAVLC) with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps (maximum resolution: 1280 by 720 pixels at 24 fps, 960 by 540 pixels at 30 fps) in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
* iTunes Store purchased video: 320 by 240 pixels, 640 by 480 pixels, 720 by 480 pixels (anamorphic), or high-definition 720p
* MPEG-4: Up to 3 Mbps, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps (maximum resolution: 720 by 432 pixels at 30 fps) in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats


...and some others if lucky.

larryfi wrote:
On the offchance, you wouldn't happen to know if this is achievable using FFMPEG do you?

Probably, but it's not something I use standalone.

Have you ever tried MPEGStreamclip form squared5.com or Handbrake which is more of a multiformat converter these days that accepts a variety of file types and can output AppleTV compatible 264?

In answer to your question regarding the off-air HD content, this is actually the format that comes direct from the new HD feed of the BBC iPlayer. Their next highest output is usually around 832x468, which is perfectly watchable on the Apple TV without conversion, but knowing that it can do 720p and that there's 720p content available just keeps nagging at me.

How do you capture the feed? Can't say I've looked at the iPlayer app recently.

BTW, just noticed your sig... I've got a couple of RISC OS boxes in the house too. Ahh, the hours I spent on that Risc PC. ;o)

Mine's in the attic to be more accurate along with the BBC Model B. ! Risc PCs were years ahead of anything Windows or Mac at the time in my opinion. Shame Acorn ran into trouble.

larryfi wrote:
There's a tool called get_iplayer from http://linuxcentre.net/ which I use along with a few of my own scripts to download and automatically import content into iTunes. It works brilliantly while I wait for a proper Apple TV implementation of the iPlayer... ;o)

I've put the scripts up on my website, if you're interested: http://dfpx.co.uk/journal/iimport

Sounds good, thanks for the links.

BTW, just noticed your sig... I've got a couple of RISC OS boxes in the house too. Ahh, the hours I spent on that Risc PC. ;o)

Mine's in the attic to be more accurate along with the BBC Model B. ! Risc PCs were years ahead of anything Windows or Mac at the time in my opinion. Shame Acorn ran into trouble.

Yes... mine too. I think there's a BBC B with a co-processor in there somewhere too. Never did figure out how to use that!

I keep all sorts of rubbish for nostalgia reasons, but need a ruthless clear out - can't see me getting rid of the Acorn stuff though. There's a virtual Risc PC app available these days, but I've not been able to justify trying it because of the cost.