Hi all,

 I have about 400 ripped DVDs to H264 (using Xillisoft DVD Ripper) and they've always worked just fine in Vista Media Center using the CCCP codec pack (and on the XBox 360 using transcode 360)

 Now, I'm using Win 7 and the default microsoft codecs and some of my H264 files dont work in media center or media player, they do work in every other media player on win 7 (VLC, Quicktime, etc)

I have no idea why some files appear broken but others work just fine.

For example, I have 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later, Days doesnt work, but Weeks does work. I cant seem to see any difference in the files (other than things like screen resolution [days = 700x400 weeks = 640  x 480] but this isnt the issue as I have working files in both resolutions.

 Now this may not be a big deal as I can just download another codec pack for win 7, but my problem is I want to get a Windows Home Server and then stream the movies to my Xbox 360, and I cannot replace the Microsoft H264 codec on the 360 meaning I cannot watch half of my movies.

Now, it's going to be hard for me to send you examples of files because they are ripped DVDs and that would advocate piracy and I cant recreate the problem with Xillisoft DVD ripper as I have no idea what is causing the issue.

Please can someone help me with this, I really don't want to have to re-encode hundreds of files.

 Using Media Info, I've exported the following data:

28 Days Later [doesnt work]

General
Count                            : 259
Count of stream of this kind     : 1
Kind of stream                   : General
Kind of stream                   : General
Stream identifier                : 0
Inform                           : MPEG-4 (Base Media): 723 MiB, 1h 48mn
Count of video streams           : 1
Count of audio streams           : 1
Video_Format_List                : AVC
Video_Format_WithHint_List       : AVC
Codecs Video                     : AVC
Audio_Format_List                : AAC
Audio_Format_WithHint_List       : AAC
Audio codecs                     : AAC LC
Complete name                    : C:\Users\H\Desktop\28 Days Later.mp4
Folder name                      : C:\Users\H\Desktop
File name                        : 28 Days Later
File extension                   : mp4
Format                           : MPEG-4
Format                           : MPEG-4
Format/Extensions usually used   : mp4 m4v m4a m4p 3gpp 3gp 3gpp2 3g2 k3g jpm jpx mqv ismv isma
Format profile                   : Base Media
Codec ID                         : isom
Codec ID/Url                     : http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/standalone.html
Codec                            : MPEG-4
Codec                            : MPEG-4
Codec/Extensions usually used    : mp4 m4v m4a m4p 3gpp 3gp 3gpp2 3g2 k3g jpm jpx mqv ismv isma
File size                        : 758401539
File size                        : 723 MiB
File size                        : 723 MiB
File size                        : 723 MiB
File size                        : 723 MiB
File size                        : 723.3 MiB
Duration                         : 6508080
Duration                         : 1h 48mn
Duration                         : 1h 48mn 28s 80ms
Duration                         : 1h 48mn
Duration                         : 01:48:28.080
Overall bit rate                 : 932258
Overall bit rate                 : 932 Kbps
Stream size                      : 3747113
Stream size                      : 3.57 MiB (0%)
Stream size                      : 4 MiB
Stream size                      : 3.6 MiB
Stream size                      : 3.57 MiB
Stream size                      : 3.574 MiB
Stream size                      : 3.57 MiB (0%)
Proportion of this stream        : 0.00494
Encoded date                     : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00
Tagged date                      : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00
File creation date               : UTC 2009-09-08 20:27:14.757
File creation date (local)       : 2009-09-08 21:27:14.757
File last modification date      : UTC 2008-04-14 11:33:17.661
File last modification date (loc : 2008-04-14 12:33:17.661
Comment                          : QuickTime 6.0 or greater

Video
Count                            : 146
Count of stream of this kind     : 1
Kind of stream                   : Video
Kind of stream                   : Video
Stream identifier                : 0
Inform                           : 800 Kbps, 720*400 (16:9), at 25.000 fps, AVC (Main@L20.0) (CABAC / 1 Ref Frames)
ID                               : 1
ID                               : 1
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format/Url                       : http://developers.videolan.org/x264.html
Format profile                   : Main@L20.0
Format settings                  : CABAC / 1 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 1
Format settings, ReFrames        : 1 frame
Codec ID                         : avc1
Codec ID/Info                    : Advanced Video Coding
Codec ID/Url                     : http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/standalone.html
Codec                            : AVC
Codec                            : AVC
Codec/Family                     : AVC
Codec/Info                       : Advanced Video Codec
Codec/Url                        : http://developers.videolan.org/x264.html
Codec/CC                         : avc1
Codec profile                    : Main@L20.0
Codec settings                   : CABAC / 1 Ref Frames
Codec settings, CABAC            : Yes
Codec_Settings_RefFrames         : 1
Duration                         : 6508080
Duration                         : 1h 48mn
Duration                         : 1h 48mn 28s 80ms
Duration                         : 1h 48mn
Duration                         : 01:48:28.080
Bit rate mode                    : VBR
Bit rate mode                    : Variable
Bit rate                         : 799684
Bit rate                         : 800 Kbps
Width                            : 720
Width                            : 720 pixels
Height                           : 400
Height                           : 400 pixels
Pixel aspect ratio               : 1.000
Display aspect ratio             : 1.800
Display aspect ratio             : 16:9
Rotation                         : 0.000
Frame rate mode                  : CFR
Frame rate mode                  : Constant
Frame rate                       : 25.000
Frame rate                       : 25.000 fps
Original frame rate              : 12.500
Original frame rate              : 12.500 fps
Frame count                      : 162702
Resolution                       : 24
Resolution                       : 24 bits
Colorimetry                      : 4:2:0
Scan type                        : Progressive
Scan type                        : Progressive
Interlacement                    : PPF
Interlacement                    : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.111
Stream size                      : 650551218
Stream size                      : 620 MiB (86%)
Stream size                      : 620 MiB
Stream size                      : 620 MiB
Stream size                      : 620 MiB
Stream size                      : 620.4 MiB
Stream size                      : 620 MiB (86%)
Proportion of this stream        : 0.85779
Writing library                  : x264 - core 34
Writing library                  : x264 core 34
Writing library/Name             : x264
Writing library/Version          : core 34
Encoded date                     : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00
Tagged date                      : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00

Audio
Count                            : 122
Count of stream of this kind     : 1
Kind of stream                   : Audio
Kind of stream                   : Audio
Stream identifier                : 0
Inform                           : 128 Kbps (64.0 Kbps), 48.0 KHz, 2 channels, AAC (Version 4) (LC)
ID                               : 2
ID                               : 2
Format                           : AAC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Audio Codec
Format version                   : Version 4
Format profile                   : LC
Format settings, SBR             : No
Format settings, SBR             : No
Codec ID                         : 40
Codec                            : A_AAC/MPEG4/LC
Codec                            : AAC LC
Codec/Family                     : AAC
Codec/Info                       : AAC Low Complexity
Codec/CC                         : 40
Duration                         : 6508010
Duration                         : 1h 48mn
Duration                         : 1h 48mn 28s 10ms
Duration                         : 1h 48mn
Duration                         : 01:48:28.010
Bit rate mode                    : CBR
Bit rate mode                    : Constant
Bit rate                         : 127969
Bit rate                         : 128 Kbps
Nominal bit rate                 : 64000
Nominal bit rate                 : 64.0 Kbps
Channel(s)                       : 2
Channel(s)                       : 2 channels
Channel positions                : L R
Channel positions                : 2/0
Sampling rate                    : 48000
Sampling rate                    : 48.0 KHz
SamplingCount                    : 312384480
Resolution                       : 16
Resolution                       : 16 bits
Stream size                      : 104103208
Stream size                      : 99.3 MiB (14%)
Stream size                      : 99 MiB
Stream size                      : 99 MiB
Stream size                      : 99.3 MiB
Stream size                      : 99.28 MiB
Stream size                      : 99.3 MiB (14%)
Proportion of this stream        : 0.13727
Encoded date                     : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00
Tagged date                      : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00

28 Weeks Later [Does Work]

 General
Count                            : 259
Count of stream of this kind     : 1
Kind of stream                   : General
Kind of stream                   : General
Stream identifier                : 0
Count of video streams           : 1
Count of audio streams           : 1
Video_Format_List                : AVC
Video_Format_WithHint_List       : AVC
Codecs Video                     : AVC
Audio_Format_List                : AAC
Audio_Format_WithHint_List       : AAC
Audio codecs                     : AAC LC
Complete name                    : C:\Users\H\Desktop\28 Weeks Later.mp4
Folder name                      : C:\Users\H\Desktop
File name                        : 28 Weeks Later
File extension                   : mp4
Format                           : MPEG-4
Format                           : MPEG-4
Format/Extensions usually used   : mp4 m4v m4a m4p 3gpp 3gp 3gpp2 3g2 k3g jpm jpx mqv ismv isma
Format profile                   : Base Media
Codec ID                         : isom
Codec ID/Url                     : http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/standalone.html
Codec                            : MPEG-4
Codec                            : MPEG-4
Codec/Extensions usually used    : mp4 m4v m4a m4p 3gpp 3gp 3gpp2 3g2 k3g jpm jpx mqv ismv isma
File size                        : 663521559
File size                        : 633 MiB
File size                        : 633 MiB
File size                        : 633 MiB
File size                        : 633 MiB
File size                        : 632.8 MiB
Duration                         : 5758920
Duration                         : 1h 35mn
Duration                         : 1h 35mn 58s 920ms
Duration                         : 1h 35mn
Duration                         : 01:35:58.920
Overall bit rate                 : 921730
Overall bit rate                 : 922 Kbps
Stream size                      : 3315497
Stream size                      : 3.16 MiB (0%)
Stream size                      : 3 MiB
Stream size                      : 3.2 MiB
Stream size                      : 3.16 MiB
Stream size                      : 3.162 MiB
Stream size                      : 3.16 MiB (0%)
Proportion of this stream        : 0.00500
Encoded date                     : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00
Tagged date                      : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00
File creation date               : UTC 2009-09-08 20:34:20.287
File creation date (local)       : 2009-09-08 21:34:20.287
File last modification date      : UTC 2007-11-24 21:32:38.918
File last modification date (loc : 2007-11-24 22:32:38.918
Comment                          : QuickTime 6.0 or greater

Video
Count                            : 146
Count of stream of this kind     : 1
Kind of stream                   : Video
Kind of stream                   : Video
Stream identifier                : 0
ID                               : 1
ID                               : 1
Format                           : AVC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Video Codec
Format/Url                       : http://developers.videolan.org/x264.html
Format profile                   : Main@L3.2
Format settings                  : CABAC / 1 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, CABAC           : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames        : 1
Format settings, ReFrames        : 1 frame
Codec ID                         : avc1
Codec ID/Info                    : Advanced Video Coding
Codec ID/Url                     : http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/standalone.html
Codec                            : AVC
Codec                            : AVC
Codec/Family                     : AVC
Codec/Info                       : Advanced Video Codec
Codec/Url                        : http://developers.videolan.org/x264.html
Codec/CC                         : avc1
Codec profile                    : Main@L3.2
Codec settings                   : CABAC / 1 Ref Frames
Codec settings, CABAC            : Yes
Codec_Settings_RefFrames         : 1
Duration                         : 5758920
Duration                         : 1h 35mn
Duration                         : 1h 35mn 58s 920ms
Duration                         : 1h 35mn
Duration                         : 01:35:58.920
Bit rate mode                    : VBR
Bit rate mode                    : Variable
Bit rate                         : 789158
Bit rate                         : 789 Kbps
Width                            : 640
Width                            : 640 pixels
Height                           : 480
Height                           : 480 pixels
Pixel aspect ratio               : 1.000
Display aspect ratio             : 1.333
Display aspect ratio             : 4:3
Rotation                         : 0.000
Frame rate mode                  : CFR
Frame rate mode                  : Constant
Frame rate                       : 25.000
Frame rate                       : 25.000 fps
Original frame rate              : 12.500
Original frame rate              : 12.500 fps
Frame count                      : 143973
Resolution                       : 24
Resolution                       : 24 bits
Colorimetry                      : 4:2:0
Scan type                        : Progressive
Scan type                        : Progressive
Interlacement                    : PPF
Interlacement                    : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)               : 0.103
Stream size                      : 568087011
Stream size                      : 542 MiB (86%)
Stream size                      : 542 MiB
Stream size                      : 542 MiB
Stream size                      : 542 MiB
Stream size                      : 541.8 MiB
Stream size                      : 542 MiB (86%)
Proportion of this stream        : 0.85617
Writing library                  : x264 - core 34
Writing library                  : x264 core 34
Writing library/Name             : x264
Writing library/Version          : core 34
Encoded date                     : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00
Tagged date                      : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00

Audio
Count                            : 122
Count of stream of this kind     : 1
Kind of stream                   : Audio
Kind of stream                   : Audio
Stream identifier                : 0
ID                               : 2
ID                               : 2
Format                           : AAC
Format/Info                      : Advanced Audio Codec
Format version                   : Version 4
Format profile                   : LC
Format settings, SBR             : No
Format settings, SBR             : No
Codec ID                         : 40
Codec                            : A_AAC/MPEG4/LC
Codec                            : AAC LC
Codec/Family                     : AAC
Codec/Info                       : AAC Low Complexity
Codec/CC                         : 40
Duration                         : 5758848
Duration                         : 1h 35mn
Duration                         : 1h 35mn 58s 848ms
Duration                         : 1h 35mn
Duration                         : 01:35:58.848
Bit rate mode                    : CBR
Bit rate mode                    : Constant
Bit rate                         : 127969
Bit rate                         : 128 Kbps
Nominal bit rate                 : 64000
Nominal bit rate                 : 64.0 Kbps
Channel(s)                       : 2
Channel(s)                       : 2 channels
Channel positions                : L R
Channel positions                : 2/0
Sampling rate                    : 48000
Sampling rate                    : 48.0 KHz
SamplingCount                    : 276424704
Resolution                       : 16
Resolution                       : 16 bits
Stream size                      : 92119051
Stream size                      : 87.9 MiB (14%)
Stream size                      : 88 MiB
Stream size                      : 88 MiB
Stream size                      : 87.9 MiB
Stream size                      : 87.85 MiB
Stream size                      : 87.9 MiB (14%)
Proportion of this stream        : 0.13883
Encoded date                     : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00
Tagged date                      : UTC 1970-01-01 00:00:00

 

If you're going to stream from WHS to your Xbox then you need to have files that confirm to the abilities of the Xbox decoder. These are described here:

http://blogs.msdn.com/xboxteam/archive/2007/11/30/december-2007-video-playback-faq.aspx

One difference I've spotted in your files is that 28 Days has a video profile of Main@ L20.0 where 28 Weeks has a video profile of Main@ L3.2. The Xbox decoder can handle up to L4.1. L20.0 seems a little erroneous.

I don't know the limitations of the Win7 decoder to know if that could be causing an issue there as well.

 How can I change my video profile of a file from Main@L20.0 to Main@L3.2 (or within the range allowed)?

 I've tried WHS 90 day trial in a VM and it streamed 28 Weeks Later perfectly fine, but failed with 28 Days later (as long as i renamed the files to .avi rather than .mp4)

The files work in every other player (using alternative codecs)  they just fail when using the Microsoft H264 codec.

thestonefox

 How can I change my video profile of a file from Main@L20.0 to Main@L3.2 (or within the range allowed)?

Sorry, I don't know if this can be done without re-encoding the video.

thestonefox

 I've tried WHS 90 day trial in a VM and it streamed 28 Weeks Later perfectly fine, but failed with 28 Days later (as long as i renamed the files to .avi rather than .mp4)

With XP/Vista there was a registry tweak required so that mp4 files would be added to the WMP library for streaming. Again, not sure if that would work with WHS. But if just renaming works, then that's probably easier.

I've checked a few more of the movies that wont play and they all seem to have a video profile of Main@L20.0

 So I'm guessing this is the problem.

How come they all work in every other movie player but they dont work in the Microsoft codec?

I have no idea what the Main@L20.0 means and how I even set it to that in the first place when ripping from Xiilisoft DVD ripper.

I have about 250 films with this Main@L20.0 thing, I really dont want to have to re-encode them all :( isnt there a way of remuxing or something and changing it?

 Anyone have a clue about these video profile things and how/if I can change them somehow in a file?

 You can change the level with TSmuxer.

Hi Thanks for the link.

 However, That tsMuxer only seems to allow me to export to .ts files?

I want to output back to h264 mp4 files. I can see it will extract the audio and video streams but no way of auto putting back into mp4.

By the way, changing the level from 20 to 3.2 and exporting out as .ts means the files now play on windows 7 :D

But........ I found a more techy way of doing it! Hex editing :)

I found this link http://www.ode2.com/?p=12 and i've followed the instructions and edited the hex of the profile from 20 down to 3.2 and the mp4 files work :)

But, I'm not looking forward to hex editing a couple of hundred files :p so if I can get a batch way of doing it, I'll be very happy.

FYI, this is what I did in the Hex Editor:

Searched for avcC (hex: 61 76 63 43) and then that is followed by 4 hex number 00 4D 00 C8

00 is just a spacer

4D 00 C8 is the profile and level

Main L20

so then i just did a find and replace for 4D 00 C8 for 4D 00 20

this changes the level to 3.2 and now streams fine to the xbox and works fine in win 7 :)