Philips DVP642 & MPEG-4/Divx Problems

[Ronin1]

I am using an EyeTV 200 (EyeTV 1.7.1 software) to record various programs off of cable TV. With Toast (v6.0.9) I am able to make MPEG-2 DVDs which play on the Philips DVP642 OK.

The Eye TV has the option hardware encode MPEG-4 files (but not Divx). I have tried quite a few different burns without getting an MPEG-4 disc that will play on the Philips player. I have trans-coded MPEG-2 files to Divx with ffmpegX as well as converting some MPEG-2 files to MPEG-4 with EyeTV itself (which is extremely slow).

I have updated the firmware on the Philips player and spoken with their tech support (several times) without any luck at all.

In searching these forums I have found one or two references to this player and some indications that people may have gotten readable discs, but no details.

I would appreciate any assistance in getting this thing to work.

[fab98]

I have this player, and i have found both handbrake, ffmpegx, and 42 to all work fine at transcoding mpeg2 to divx. How are you burning the divx discs? Make sure you arent buring them as Mac discs.

I usually throw alot on a DVD-R and burn them as a DVD_ROM (UDF), and that works perfectly. If using CD's be sure to burn as ISO 9660's.

Goodluck

[Ronin1]

Thanks for the reply.

I have tried burning DVD-ROM (UDF) files on DVD discs as MPEG-4 and Divx files. Neither would work. I have burned some discs (on CD-RW) as ISO 9660 discs in both MPEG-4 and Divx. I only got one to play back and it was terrible. It looked like something a kid would do with crayons.

Just exactly how are you encoding the files or what options are you using. I have installed but have not had a chance to try to figure out Handbrake as yet. I have also tried various Joliet and hybrid burns without success.

[swampg8rs]

to correct the cartoonish looking video, press the system menu button on the remote twice. that should fix the problem.

[AntnyMD]

This player won't play files wrapped in an .mp4 container. It does not play standard MPEG4 content, period. You need to make an MPEG4 video using Xvid or DivX. and use MP3 audio, and wrap it in an .avi container.

Easiest way to do this is use Handbrake. For other MPEG1/2 sources, I prefer MPEG Streamclip.

1. Use MPEG Streamclip to transcode the content to a QuickTime movie using either 3ivx or Xvid codec
2. Open this .mov in D-Vision 2. Set video to passthrough, and encode audio as MP3.
3. Burn final file to ISO 9660 disc or UDF DVD-ROM.
4. Enjoy.

Final file size cannot exceed 2 gig or the player wont play the file. Also it chokes on very high bitrates so play around with settings a bit.