How to force mpeg 4 video to always loop.

Question

How to force mpeg 4 video to always loop.

Hello,

I've created some animated loops for for use as podcasts for video iPods. As required these files are in H.264 format and store as ".m4v" files.

Can someone please tell me how to save these files in a way that they are forces them to loop when played, not simply play once and stop.

This is critical for the iPod experience to be ideal. Thanks.

-Doug

Posted on Jul 31, 2006 10:28 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 31, 2006 10:50 AM in response to The Elastic Image

First. The iPod format doesn't require H.264 video codec. MPEG-4 Video codec (and many other .mov codecs) can also be used.
Second. "Looping" can either be a property of the QuickTime file (local playback) or altered by special html code tags (loop="true") for Web playback.
Setting a QuickTime file to loop is as simple as Alt-l (letter L key) and saving the file.
Alas, a "Save As" will place your into a .mov container and you may not want that extension. And a regular "Save" may break the fast start (progressive download) feature.
Use the html code to "override" the file properties so your file can loop.
Use the "Save" option so the loop property travels with the file.
You'll find Loop in the View menu.

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Answer 2

Jul 31, 2006 3:05 PM in response to QuickTimeKirk

QuickTimeKirk,

My goal is to create a looping animation for playback on an iPod. Should be easy right? Not with the QT!

I did the following:
1) Render a bunch of frames destined for looping.
2) Convert them to an uncompresses ".avi" file.
3) Open the ".avi" file in QT Pro.
4) Click "Loop"
5) Play movie. It loops nicely.
6) Click "Export" and select "Movie to QuickTime Movie"
7) Click "Save"

When I play the saved ".mov" file (You said QT retains the metadate requiring looping) IT DOES NOT LOOP!

To recap: This is a Quicktime movie. I selected looping when I created the bloody thing.

It
does
not
loop.

This *****.

This is REALLY, REALLY, ANNOYING! *** is going on with this QT Pro crap? I simply want to loop the movie. Is that really asking too much? I don't think so.

Can someone, anyone, please, please, tell me how to force the movie to loop on launch. Forcing an iPod user to muck about and select looping (can they even do that?) is not an option. Period.

Please help me,
Doug

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Answer 3

Jul 31, 2006 3:28 PM in response to The Elastic Image

Here is one more piece of data,

If I "Save" the .avi file as a QT movie, looping is indeed enforce. However the result of saving is an unaccetable 131 meg behemoth. So, in search of compression I am required to export rather then save, which leads to my current problems.

The maddening thing here is that exporting to QT should result in the same thing as saving to QT. No?

-Doug

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