Apple TV and 720p

[northy124]

Hi guys,

I read somewhere that the Apple TV has a hard time with 1280x544/720 films/tv shows and that is the reason for HB's Apple TV Preset not being at normal 720p res.

I'd like to know what causes the problem is it just a framerate issue (heard that it is particular about it) or is something bigger as I would like to have full 720p films on the Apple TV my uncle is giving me lol

Please advise, thanks.

Northy

 

[roidy]

The AppleTV has no problems with 720p video as long as the frame rate is not higher that 24fps. All the HD content from the iTunes store is 1280x720 at 24fps. I cant speak about encoding HD content in HB as I encode all my HD video using RipBot264 and have no problems playing them on my AppleTV.

 

[dynaflash]

actually the limit is 25 fps (which covers pal). so if you know your source is 24 fps, go ahead and up the hb res size to 720p.

 

[northy124]

Oh OK so it is a framerate issue, well that makes it easier now lol

Most of my content is 59.940 fps which is forced down to 29.97 fps, but that is still to much

Anyway at least I know now that it is a framerate issue which I should be able to deal with

 

[Shoesy]

The AppleTV has no problems with 720p video as long as the frame rate is not higher that 24fps. All the HD content from the iTunes store is 1280x720 at 24fps. I cant speak about encoding HD content in HB as I encode all my HD video using RipBot264 and have no problems playing them on my AppleTV.

IMO I wouldnt say that Appletv has 'no problem' playing HD 720p. Downloaded movies seem to have trouble keeping up in panning / fast action shots, and the machine is very choosy over file formats acquired from anywhere other than the apple store.

Just my toosents.

 

[ftaok]

Oh OK so it is a framerate issue, well that makes it easier now lol

Most of my content is 59.940 fps which is forced down to 29.97 fps, but that is still to much

Anyway at least I know now that it is a framerate issue which I should be able to deal with

Another option would be 960x540/30p, which the aTV can handle. Depending on your source material, it might look better converted to 540/30p.

ft

 

[Cave Man]

IMO I wouldnt say that Appletv has 'no problem' playing HD 720p. Downloaded movies seem to have trouble keeping up in panning / fast action shots,

That's probably more of a bit rate issue. My Blu-ray transcodes are typically around 6 mbps for the video. Anything much above that won't sync.

and the machine is very choosy over file formats acquired from anywhere other than the apple store.

Pretty much has to be an MPEG-4 no more than 1280 wide with h.264, less than 6 mbps, 24/25fps, AAC (and AC3) audio for it to work well.

 

[roidy]

IMO I wouldnt say that Appletv has 'no problem' playing HD 720p. Downloaded movies seem to have trouble keeping up in panning / fast action shots, and the machine is very choosy over file formats acquired from anywhere other than the apple store.

Just my toosents.

I`ve had no problems playing both iTunes purchased HD content or HD content I`ve encoded myself, as long as your careful to keep your encodes within spec then there should be no problems. I certainly have had no problems with the AppleTV "keeping up in panning / fast action shots".

As for the AppleTV being choosy over file formats, well Apple did design it as a player for there own iTunes content and so naturaly limited it to those formats.