Handbrake .m4v question

[thekb]

OK, so I am happily ripping my DVD collection ...

What would cause a .m4v file to not play with "preview" where you just hit the space bar?

I ripped 2 DVD's, same EXACT settings, both .m4v files saved in the same directory, one plays when I hit space bar, one just shows a still image preview.

Any suggestions on what could be different between the two?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Use VideoSpec (I prefer that, though it hasn't been updated since 11/2009), MediaInfo Mac (10/2010) or MediaInfo (4/2011, there is a Mac OS X version to download, VideoSpec and MediaInfo Mac are using the same library as MediaInfo) to analyse both videos and attach both reports to your next post.

 

[thekb]

OK, first one is the one that will preview, the second one will not:
______________________________

***** Analyzed File Results *****

*** General Parameters ***
- Name: 01-15 Haven.m4v
- Container: M4V - QuickTime
- Size: 466.62 MB
- Duration: 43mn 48s
- Bitrate: 1 422 Kbps

*** Video Track Parameters ***
- Format: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC
- Bitrate: Max.: Undefined / Average: 1 061 Kbps / Min.: Undefined
- Frame rate (fps): Max.: 29.970 / Average: 29.970 / Min.: 11.655
- Encoding profile: High@L3.0
- Width (Pixel number): 640*480
- Pixel Aspect Ratio: Undefined
- Display Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Interlacing: Progressive

*** First Audio Track Parameters ***
- Format: AAC - MPEG-4 audio
- Bitrate: 163 Kbps
- Resolution: Undefined
- Profile: Low Complexity
- Channel(s): 2 (stereo)
- Position: Front: L R

*** Miscellaneous ***
- Subtitle(s): #1 : Timed text - English / #2 : Apple text - English /
- Album: Undefined
- Performer: Undefined
- Genre: Undefined
- Encoded date: UTC 2011-06-13 15:07:21
- Album artist: Undefined

_______________________________________

***** Analyzed File Results *****

*** General Parameters ***
- Name: 01-06 Chuck Versus the Sandworm.m4v
- Container: M4V - QuickTime
- Size: 574.62 MB
- Duration: 41mn 14s
- Bitrate: 1 857 Kbps

*** Video Track Parameters ***
- Format: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC
- Bitrate: Max.: Undefined / Average: 1 302 Kbps / Min.: Undefined
- Frame rate (fps): Max.: 29.970 / Average: 23.976 / Min.: 7.951
- Encoding profile: High@L3.0
- Width (Pixel number): 720*400
- Pixel Aspect Ratio: Undefined
- Display Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Interlacing: Progressive

*** First Audio Track Parameters ***
- Format: AAC - MPEG-4 audio
- Bitrate: 165 Kbps
- Resolution: Undefined
- Profile: Low Complexity
- Channel(s): 2 (stereo)
- Position: Front: L R

*** Miscellaneous ***
- Subtitle(s): #1 : Timed text - English / #2 : Apple text - English /
- Album: Undefined
- Performer: Undefined
- Genre: Undefined
- Encoded date: UTC 2011-06-13 10:55:19
- Album artist: Undefined

 

[simsaladimbamba]

The only difference I can see are the resolutions (640 x 480 vs. 720 x 400), the bit rates (1062 vs. 1302 Kb/s), frame aspect ratio (4:3 vs. 16:9) and different frame rates (29.970 vs. 23.976).
Does QT Player (7 or X) play them back both?

 

[thekb]

Quick time will not play the non-previewable one either, but VLC and itunes do.

I would love to understand what could be the difference so I can prevent the error in the future. But seriously, I was going through and adding episodes to a queue and did not change any settings at all. ????

 

[thekb]

Some more info that could be relevant.

All were encoded using Apple TV 2 preset with DeInterlace Slow turned on and subtitles included.

Could the problem have to do with the DeInterlacing?

 

[thekb]

Anyone have a guess on why the files behave differently?

 

[simsaladimbamba]

The sources seem to be different. Chuck is shot in 16:9, but you once have a 4:3 source that works and seems to be an NTSC source (USA or Japan), and you have a 16:9 source, which has an odd frame rate closer to 24p footage.
Where does the not working source come from and why is the 4:3 footage 4:3?

 

[thekb]

The "working" one is Dark Angel Season 1 and the "non-working" one is Chuck Season 1. Both USA region. Dark Angel is 4:3 and Chuck is 16:9.

Near as I can tell, there is no other diffence btween the two.