Can't Play MP4 Files from Handbrake.

[pscaldwell]

So I started ripping and converting DVDs for my apple tv 2.0. I used Mac the Ripper and then Handbrake to convert to mp4. I have an imac 2.4 ghz, 24". I used the apple tv preset, turbo first pass, and changed audio quality bitrate to 160.

I ran the Matrix Reloaded through the process, synced with apple tv, and it worked great. So I started the assembly line, ripping DVD's and then queing them in handbrake. Occassionally I would add mp4s to my itunes library and test them out, either by playing on imac or syncing with apple tv. Worked fine.

But then I encountered a problem. I have probably 30 mp4 files sitting on my desktop that I encoded with handbrake and I am unable to import them into my itunes library. Also, when I double click one of these mp4 files to try to play it from the desktop I get the message "The Movie Could Not Be Opened" - "Invalid Sample description found in file."

What happened? I am not doing anything different that I know of. Any suggestions. This is my first mac so maybe I am doing something obviously stupid.

Any help would be appreciated. I have many hours invested in these encodes so I would love to not have to go through it again.

 

[bergmef]

I had this problem, try changing the extension to .m4v then see if it plays. I have to hit the appletv preset to force the m4v extension. I beat my head against the wall till I figured out all I had to do was change it to .m4v. Let me know if it works.

 

[dynaflash]

As well, in the preferences you can tell HB to always use the .m4v file extension for mp4 encodes. This tends to avoid any errors in naming for use with iTunes and ATV.

 

[bergmef]

Good point, forgot that.

 

[pscaldwell]

That did it.

Thanks a lot. Seems kind of silly that I couldn't figure that out. But now I know. I appreciate it.

 

[hualon]

I ran into this same problem and while changing the extension to .m4v will now let me play the encoded file inside of iTunes, I'm getting an error during Apple TV synchronization. iTunes says that the file cannot be played on this Apple TV. I used the Apple TV preset but changed the "Audio Codecs" to "AVC/H.264 Video / AAC + AC3 Audio".

Any ideas why my ATV won't play the file?

 

[dynaflash]

Did you update your built in presets after updating to 0.9.2 ? The AppleTV preset should already use those codecs if you did.

 

[hualon]

I just updated the presets and yes, now the ATV preset includes those codecs by default. Does the new preset change something else? Will encoding it using the new ATV preset do the trick?