PS3 no video

[brucexx]

I am getting really annoyed with one of the MKV movies I am trying to play on my PS3. I have no clue what PS3 does not like about it. Here is what I have:

Output from MediaInfo:

Format : Matroska
File size : 7.95 GiB
Duration : 2h 10mn
Overall bit rate : 8 717 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2007-08-08 17:53:58
Writing application : mkvmerge v2.0.2 ('You're My Flame') built on Feb 21 2007 23:40:55
Writing library : libebml v0.7.7 + libmatroska v0.8.1

Video
ID : 3
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L5.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 8 frames
Muxing mode : Container profile=Unknown@5.1
Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC
Duration : 2h 10mn
Bit rate : 8 160 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 8 329 Kbps
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 816 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 2.35:1
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Resolution : 8 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.208
Stream size : 7.44 GiB (94%)
Writing library : x264 core 56 svn-667C
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:-4:-4 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=6 / brdo=1 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=2 / deadzone=4,6 / chroma_qp_offset=0 / threads=3 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / mbaff=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=1 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / wpredb=1 / bime=1 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40(pre) / rc=2pass / bitrate=8329 / ratetol=1.0 / rceq='blurCplx^(1-qComp)' / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / pb_ratio=1.30 / zones=187687,195786,b=0.15 / aq=1:0.3:15.0
Language : English

Audio
ID : 1
Format : AC-3
Format/Info : Audio Coding 3
Codec ID : A_AC3
Duration : 2h 10mn
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 384 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Surround: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 358 MiB (4%)
Language : English

Text
ID : 2
Format : UTF-8
Codec ID : S_TEXT/UTF8
Codec ID/Info : UTF-8 Plain Text
Language : English

I used Xvid4psp to change the container to mp4 copying the video stream but the PS3 plays only audio. I thought that this is the high profile 5.1 problem so I used tsMuxeR to change the level to 4.1 with no success still no video on my PS3 (only audio). Is there anybody who can help me with this saying what PS3 is not liking about this particular video stream.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks

[guns1inger]

I have seen this before on my PS3, and I believe the issue is in fact the audio. I don't think the pS3 handles AC3 in an MP4 container very well. Try using the m2ts container (much higher overhead, unfortunately), or converting the audio to AAC.

[brucexx]

I converted the audio to AAC with no difference, moreover I have audio I have no video. This is only an example of the file I am having problems with. Here is the file after conversion to 4.1 and with AAC audio:

MediaInfo:
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media
Codec ID : isom
File size : 7.77 GiB
Duration : 2h 10mn
Overall bit rate : 8 526 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2010-03-16 22:29:41
Tagged date : UTC 2010-03-16 22:29:41
Video
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L4.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 8 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 2h 10mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 8 329 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 23.3 Mbps
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 816 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 2.35:1
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 25.000 fps
Resolution : 8 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.213
Stream size : 7.60 GiB (98%)
Title : Imported with GPAC 0.4.6-DEV (build 1)
Writing library : x264 core 56 svn-667C
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:-4:-4 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=6 / brdo=1 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=2 / deadzone=4,6 / chroma_qp_offset=0 / threads=3 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / mbaff=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=1 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / wpredb=1 / bime=1 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40(pre) / rc=2pass / bitrate=8329 / ratetol=1.0 / rceq='blurCplx^(1-qComp)' / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / pb_ratio=1.30 / zones=187687,195786,b=0.15 / aq=1:0.3:15.
Encoded date : UTC 2010-03-16 22:29:41
Tagged date : UTC 2010-03-16 22:35:21
Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format version : Version 4
Format profile : LC
Format settings, SBR : No
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 2h 10mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 192 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 288 Kbps
Channel(s) : 6 channels
Channel positions : Front: L C R, Rear: L R, LFE
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Stream size : 177 MiB (2%)
Encoded date : UTC 2010-03-16 22:35:15
Tagged date : UTC 2010-03-16 22:35:21

Audio plays fine no video.

[lowellriggsiam]

Try converting your file using handbreak and see if it will play it then.

[Lawbringer]

b_pyramid=1

PS3 does not like b-pyramids. Pretty sure most BD players don't

also, AC3 audio is fine on the PS3.

[brucexx]

Thank - do you know what I should change the b_pyramid to =0 or just erase this from the CLI

[Lawbringer]

Thank - do you know what I should change the b_pyramid to =0 or just erase this from the CLI

The default for b-pyramid is 0, I believe, but just to be on the safe side I'd specify that. Also, keep an eye on the level and the video bitrate - level should be 4.1 (as you've already surmised) and bitrate I'm not entirely certain - try the "What is -> Blu-Ray" link on the top left.
So, yeah, you'll need to re-encode. Either that, or you can install PS3 Media Server on your PC and stream it to the PS3. Keep in mind that you need pretty good processing power and connection to stream HD content, and you can't really rewind or fast-foward

[brucexx]

Thanks - I will try that. In the mean time I was using mkv2vob with the h264 which did the job but needed to re-encode.