Official AppleTV Settings - Yet?

[HelixOmnimedia]

Hello,

It's been over a week (maybe more I've lost track) since the AppleTV was released and within that time there are been hundreds of post in numerous forms all over the net, asking what settings to use to rip DVD content for the AppleTV. But no one has mentioned an 'official' settings - which everyone can jump on the bandwagon and use.

I'm surprised that there hasn't been a sticky made with the best settings, which gets fantastic picture quality and sound with small file size.

Someone out there has to have found a good balance between the two requirements.

I'm calling out for these settings, and maybe in a weeks time an official settings can be posted.

So...
List the application, all the settings, and why 'said' settings you think are the best - pictures could help compare qualities (if people are created small test files).

 

[omnirune]

I have just finished writing up the following post for a windows-based encoding solution:

My expectations are for my encodes to be compatible with Macintosh and PC computers, as well as with the AppleTV in its current state. The below settings are set up in a way so that, if Apple chooses to update the AppleTV software, the files will eventually gain 5.1 AAC surround and subtitles without re-encoding. Currently, the below settings merely output stereo audio, do not have subtitles, and cannot be tagged within iTunes. Hopefully, this will all change.

Below are the settings I use for Nero Recode that I have settled upon as being most optimal for encoding my personal DVDs:

Nero Digital Category: Nero Digital AVC
Nero Digital Profile: HDTV - AVC
Fit to Target: Disabled
Video Quality: 1.79 Mbps
De-Interlace: Disabled, unless interlaced source file exists
Crop: Automatic
Resize: Automatic, Letterboxing (Square Pixel) enabled. Typical dimensions are around 7XX x 3XX.
Audio #1: 5.1-channel Surround, Automatic Settings, Standard Volume
Subtitle: 1: (Select Correct Subtitle File)
Nero Digital Settings: Expert Mode
AVC Encoder: Auto
Rate Control: Fast Encoding (1-Pass)
Min Quantizer: 0
Max Quantizer: 51
Decision Quality: Best
Maximum Vector Range: -32 to 31.75
Max Reference Frames: 1
Max GOP size: 300
Max B-frames: 3
CABAC: Enabled
Bidirectional Prediction: Enabled
Macroblock Partitions: Enabled
Weighted Prediction: DISABLED. DO NOT ENABLE, AS THE APPLETV WILL BLOCK UP!
8x8 Transform: Disabled
Deblocking: On, -2 strength
Visual Enhancements: Picture Level, Macroblock Level, Advanced, and Enhanced Chroma Prediction turned on

Why did I use the above settings?

1. Embeds 5.1 AAC audio and Subtitles, for possible future AppleTV updates that might enable this functionality. The AAC track and subtitles will be accessible from any computer with the proper decoder.
2. Damn-close to DVD quality on my LCD HDTV. With H.264, brightness and sharpness are preserved, versus MP4 files that appear much darker.
3. Encoding time averages about 2-3 hours a movie, and the end result is quite good.
4. Output files are between 1 - 2 GB, resulting in many movies I can squeeze on my 400 GB hard drive. This drive is streamed to my AppleTV via 802.11g.
5. Output files are 100% compatible with my Windows XP-based computer, my iMac G5 1.6, and my first-edition AppleTV.
6. My encoding PC is an Intel Core 2 Duo 1.6, 1 GB RAM, Windows XP SP2. Nero Recode version 2.5.2.0.

I hope this information might help someone.

 

[gavd]

This post might help. MultiMedia has written a guide.

Link

 

[Steven Jackson]

That guide was written for people who want to produce files that play on a video iPod (and consequently on AppleTV). There are many of us, however, that need settings that will produce excellent quality on just the Apple TV (iPod be damned...).

Steve.

 

[pickerin]

Hello,

It's been over a week (maybe more I've lost track) since the AppleTV was released and within that time there are been hundreds of post in numerous forms all over the net, asking what settings to use to rip DVD content for the AppleTV. But no one has mentioned an 'official' settings - which everyone can jump on the bandwagon and use.

I'm surprised that there hasn't been a sticky made with the best settings, which gets fantastic picture quality and sound with small file size.

Someone out there has to have found a good balance between the two requirements.

I'm calling out for these settings, and maybe in a weeks time an official settings can be posted.

So...
List the application, all the settings, and why 'said' settings you think are the best - pictures could help compare qualities (if people are created small test files).

Here is what I use to rip DVDs and get VERY nice quality without tons of space taken up:

Using Handbrake (avoid MediaFork right now if you can, because I've had sound to video sync issues):

1) Open DVD
2) Set "File Format" to MP4
3) Set the File location (if you do this after the below, it'll reset)
4) Set "Codecs" to AVC/H.264 Video / AAC Audio
5) Set "Average bitrate (kbps)" to 2500
6) Check "2-pass encoding"
7) Set "Bitrate (kbps)" under Audio to 160

This results in about a 2.5GB file that will import into iTunes just fine and sync over to the AppleTV.

If you want to get really fancy, use Lostify to add all the tags to the video, then add cover art in iTunes prior to syncing over (you'll really want to do this for the full experience).

-Rob

 

[gavd]

That guide was written for people who want to produce files that play on a video iPod (and consequently on AppleTV). There are many of us, however, that need settings that will produce excellent quality on just the Apple TV (iPod be damned...).

Steve.

That would be why I said the post might help and I didn't say that it was a definitive guide on the settings to be used.

 

[Steven Jackson]

That would be why I said the post might help and I didn't say that it was a definitive guide on the settings to be used.

Sorry -- no offence intended. It's just that multimedia's guide has been frequently linked in posts that seem to be asking for something quite different...

Steve.

 

[gavd]

Sorry -- no offence intended. It's just that multimedia's guide has been frequently linked in posts that seem to be asking for something quite different...

Steve.

No worries, I wasn't offended. I just wanted to get over why I had suggested the OP might want to look at the post. I should have made it clearer when I provided the link.

Less confusion for all!

 

[arcsbite]

I caved and just bought Visualhub.
I now just tick "Apple TV" and start.
best £12 ever!

the only prob I have on occasion is that i'll ask it to convert a 350mb TV ep under "go nuts" quality (anything lower produces lower quality than the original .avi
but it gies me a 500mb+ file...nightmare, so I just tell it to limit the file to 350mb, looks great, the picture quality is a little darker and therefore feels ritcher too.