Can I stream my hd camera movies on ATV?

[Itogator]

Hello and thanks in advance.

I am getting a new Canon Rebel T1i SLR camera that takes movies in HD. The resolution is 1920x1080 and they are .mov (h.264 linear PCM files). Will I be able to stream these from my macbook to my Apple tv? I imagine I would have to convert them using handbrake or some other software. Is this correct? If so, what would that do to the video quality? Any tips on how to best do this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again.

 

[spice weasel]

Not at that resolution. The ATV can do 720p24fps max. If you are going to edit in iMovie, for example, import at half resolution (I think iMovie calls it "Optimized") and it will work. The downside is that it cuts the vertical resolution down to 540. If you aren't going to edit the clips, then you will need to use something like Handbrake to get it within the ATV's specs.

 

[Itogator]

Not at that resolution. The ATV can do 720p24fps max. If you are going to edit in iMovie, for example, import at half resolution (I think iMovie calls it "Optimized") and it will work. The downside is that it cuts the vertical resolution down to 540. If you aren't going to edit the clips, then you will need to use something like Handbrake to get it within the ATV's specs.

At 720p, the camera can do 30 fps. What would be the best way to watch these videos on my tv in the best resolution? My concern is that I will record a high quality clip but handbrake will cut it way down to get it into an atv playable format.

Thanks

 

[spice weasel]

I only recently started getting into HD video, so others might have a better solution. I import and edit all my video at full resolution and then hook up my MBP to my television when I want to watch or show it on the big screen. It's not nearly as convenient as having it on the ATV, but I'd much rather have the 1080 version than the 540, especially since I paid good money for my camera equipment!

I suppose you could do both - keep a full res copy on the computer and then a downscaled version to use with the current ATV. Then, if and when Apple ever decides to upgrade the ATV, you will have a version that can play on it.

 

[Itogator]

That might be my best option. I could keep a full res copy and hook up my macbook to my tv. I guess I would use a mini-dvi to hdmi cable and then an audio out cable, right? Would imovie be able to edit hd video? What software do you use to play it back on your tv?

On another note, could handbrake encode 720p at 24 fps? If that's the case, I don't think they'd be a huge difference and I could stream that quality video using apple tv...

 

[Cave Man]

At 720p, the camera can do 30 fps. What would be the best way to watch these videos on my tv in the best resolution? My concern is that I will record a high quality clip but handbrake will cut it way down to get it into an atv playable format.

Thanks

Your choices are 540p/30 fps or 720p/24 (really 25) fps AAC for the Apple TV. Handbrake will do both with your camera files.

 

[Itogator]

Your choices are 540p/30 fps or 720p/24 (really 25) fps AAC for the Apple TV. Handbrake will do both with your camera files.

Thanks.

What would look better, a 540p/30 fps or a 720p/24 fps?

One other question: If I wanted to keep these files in full resolution, could I just burn them to a standard DVD and play them on an upscaling dvd or blu ray player? Would that play in the same resolution as they were recorded in?

 

[spice weasel]

Thanks.

What would look better, a 540p/30 fps or a 720p/24 fps?

Keeping the same framerate as the source is going to look better, despite the drop in resolution. Dropping five frames per second is going to make your video stutter.