ffmpegX and AppleTV-compatible files?

[Scallywag]

Can ffmpegX convert AVIs, etc so they're compatible with the new AppleTV? If so, what would be the conversion settings in ffmpegX?

[rumplestiltskin]

I'm running some tests right now exporting from QuickTime Player Pro to the new AppleTV setting. When done, I'll post the specs; perhaps it's not much more than enhanced resolution (potential) and bitrate.

It's an interesting question and one, I'm sure, on which Major is working; no flies on that guy.

[rumplestiltskin]

Just for grins (as I don't have an AppleTV) I exported a short segment from iMovie using the "AppleTV" option (in the Expert section). Here are the specs from the result:

Bit Rate: 1.45 Mbps
Video Tracks:
H.264, 720 × 480, ~21.782 fps, 1.32 Mbps
Audio Tracks:
MPEG-4 Audio stereo, 44.1 kHz, 128 kbps

Kind of funny-looking, eh? As I indicated above, this was from a 4:3 iMovie project (NTSC) yet it's apparent that QT left the 720 pixel width alone even though the project would export to iPod as 640x480. One might wonder whether the AppleTV will "pillar-box" the result automatically or play it, distorted, at 720w.

I realize this post doesn't answer all of the questions (and I invite anyone with an AppleTV to contribute) but I'd like to see this thread stay active.

[major]

Probably, files encoded with the iPod h264 format should work on the AppleTV.

[zerodefect]

Yeah anything encoded for the iPod will definitely work. The max setting for screen sizes and bitrate are available on apple.com. You should basically be able to retain all the quality of xvid or divx video, even 720p Xvids using H.264. The only question yet to be answered would be what profile level the AppleTV supports.

[mortenosx]

I just done a MP4 H.264
Mencoder H264, 720x576,
1214 Kbps, 25 fps, no crop

How can i make it with 5.1 sound
Under Audio i selected (channels: 5:1)
But when i playback the file i quicktime - it says stereo ?

[rumplestiltskin]

I just done a MP4 H.264
Mencoder H264, 720x576,
1214 Kbps, 25 fps, no crop

How can i make it with 5.1 sound
Under Audio i selected (channels: 5:1)
But when i playback the file i quicktime - it says stereo ?

5.1 is not currently supported. Give it a few months. Leopard (OSX 10.5) supports this.