ATV2 and 5.1 sound issues.

sounds like a problem with the encoding program or settings used

It is frustrating that the software is able to produce a file that will playback through iTunes and not ATV.

If you have QT 7 Pro installed, it might be beneficial to post a copy of the "Properties" window to the discussion to help determine particular problems or settings required for TV2 playback. As to files playing in iTunes but not via TV2, there could be many different reasons for this to happen and many are easily solved.

Audio Codec aac

Audio sample rate 48000

Audio Bitrate 96000

Is this the file that won't play audio? Apple products would not like a "stereo" audio track encoded at 96 Kbps and 48 KHz sampling rate. (Mono would be OK here.) Either up the audio data rate to 128 or 160 Kbps for 48 KHz or reduce the sampling rate to 44.1 KHz for a 96 Kbps data rate. The context adaptive presets used by QT apps for TV would be 128 Kbps and 44.1 KHz. (I prefer 160 Kbps at 48 KHz.)

Video bitrate 768

Generally speaking, this is a somewhat low video data rate for average graphic complexity. I would normally use something in the 3.5 to 5 Mbps range unless the content is an anamorphic encode. (As an example, an iPhone 3gs file would normally be encoded with a total target data rate on the order of 1.0 Mbps (and I would usually use something more in the 1.5 to 1.7 Mbps range for my own content). While I don't think this would create a movie with an all "black" screen, that can happen id the video data rate drops too low and is usually preceded by a pixellation of the macro blocks before reaching the "black" screen stage.

Is this issue being worked on by Apple?

I am so frustrated and wasted so much time playing around with this to try to get it working again. I expected more from Apple. This really makes me think twice about putting money into other Apple products.

Is this issue being worked on by Apple?

What issue? With the exception of the change to reading descriptions, everything continues to work fine on my system under the latest IOS. As to encoding problems, Apple QT presets would normally prevent improper/incompatible setting combinations while third-party apps may not. With regard to what Apple is or is not working on, only they know for sure and have a well established history of not saying.

There continues to be issues with Dolby Digital that needs to be resolved. I have files that worked fine earlier, but now have issues and take a lot of workaround to be played properly by ATV2.

There continues to be issues with Dolby Digital that needs to be resolved. I have files that worked fine earlier, but now have issues and take a lot of workaround to be played properly by ATV2.

Only for some people—not for all. The point I was trying to make in my own left-handed manner is that there must be something other than simply a firmware update causing the problem here. All three of my TV devices continue to play standard mono, stereo, and 5.1 surround AC3 audio in the same default "Auto" mode as with previous versions of the firmware without any problems or forced workarounds. (I have not, however, checked to see if this latest update will support extended 640 Kbps passthrough AC3 audio.) The real question is what non-firmware factors are triggering the problem for some users but not for others, Until this can be determined, it is unlikely that Apple will be able to fix "the problem."