Convert h.264 MP4 w/AAC 5.1 audio to AVI file w/AC3 5.1 audio for Xbox 360

[ycrazyy]

Ok, so I'm probably an idiot for asking this question but I am new to the whole video conversion stuff as I am just now getting into digitizing my video collection.

Anyway, I stream to an AppleTV in one room w/Boxee and my Xbox 360 in the other room. The issue I am having is that a video a friend gave me is in MP4 format encoded with AAC 5.1ch audio. My Xbox 360 obviously cannot play this, and the surround sound is important. What is the best way to convert this to an AVI file with AC3 5.1ch audio?

I tried using Xvid4PSP and having it copy the video output into an AVI file and convert the audio to AC3. I thought it worked fine but when I tried to play it on my Xbox, it came up as file format not supported once it tried playing it. I am sure I am missing something (probably simple). Any help is really appreciated!!

[neomaine]

The AC3 should be fine. What's the video codec? Check with gspot or mediainfo.

The 360 website has a chart that lists the compatible audio (AC3, AAC...) and video codecs (divx/xvid, h264...), their accepted combinations and what containers (avi, mp4...) that are supported.

[ycrazyy]

I checked all of the compatibility and I know that the Xbox can play an MP4 file but only with AAC-LC 2ch sound and I want the full 5.1ch sound.

The converted file info (as per GSpot)
Video Codec: h264
Name: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC
Audio Codec: 0x2000 (Dolby AC3) AC3 / 48000hz 384kb/s, 6 channels (3/2.1)

The original file
Video Codec: avc1
Name: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC
Audio Codec: mp4a MPEG-4 AAC LC / 48000hz 342kb/s, 6 channels (3/2.1)

Maybe I am using the wrong settings in Xvid4PSP when I convert? It seemed pretty straightforward, use AVI as video with copy quality settings and AC3 as output audio.

[ycrazyy]

So maybe I figured this out (I won't be able to test until tonight) but hopefully someone will chime in and let me know if I am on the right path. According to the site (now that I have read it a little closer) I can play .avi's encoded with h.264 / MPEG-4, however the audio still only supports AAC 2ch LC.

So I am using Xvid4PSP now to re-encode the video with Xvid and AC3 audio and hopefully that will work. Thoughts?

[neomaine]

Exactly where I was about 2 years ago. Or, whenever that fall update was that enabled most of it. Was looking forward to using h.264 and trying .mp4 or .mkv containers. Then I saw the compatibility list, which I doubt will change, and started using XVID4PSP. Was going the rip, dgindex, virtualdubmod route but kept having to take care of all the little nuances (which really aren't that many) and started trying front-end type tools like XVID4PSP. Takes care of all the cropping, aspect ratio and other minutia for you.

Anyway, for XVID4PSP I use AVI Hardware, fourcc of DX50, one pass CQ 2 and copy audio. Piece of cake. I'd recommend the same if you're more interested in quality but like smaller file sizes. If you're more interested in smaller file sizes than quality, go with 2-pass and find the bitrate you're happy with.

However, I'm looking to avoid all that with my WDTV Live. Best $100 bucks I've spent on electronics. Leaves the 360 in its dust for playability. 8)

[ycrazyy]

File size I am not too concerned with, at the moment I stream off of a 2TB NAS w/Twonky installed and my ATV has Boxee on it for the other room. So far they both take care of pretty much whatever I need and for Netflix, etc. I have TivoHD's in both rooms. I am looking for speedy conversion (a LOT of DVDs) as well as good quality with maximum cooperation for devices.

However, this doesn't solve my current issue of converting the MP4's w/AAC 5.1 audio to an AVI with 5.1 audio...

[neomaine]

Sorry, I thought you were most conerned with the DVDs....

What's the codec in the mp4? h264? You could always demux the video and audio. Run the audio through something like besweet or eactoac3 to convert the audio. Remux.