Best way to view MP4 movie: USB or DVD?

[3.0]

Hi Guys,

I am new so please forgive my lack of technical knowledge!

I have made an in-store advertising movie for a retail shop. It is in MP4 format and will be played on a Full HD 42" LCD Hannspree TV. The TV has a USB port but not with the playback function. This has lead me to consider using a DVD player (with USB playback function) to run the MP4 movie. Whilst I have got that covered, it got me thinking:

Is there a difference in viewing quality if the MP4 is played from the USB stick or through a DVD? I can burn the MP4 file to the DVD but is there a difference?

Thanks in advance for helping me

BPv3.0

[TreeTops]

Couldn't you just use a laptop and use the HDMI out (If the TV has a HDMI port). I have a 42 inch LCD screen that I play back DVD's that are up scaled by a blue ray player and the result looks super. High res blue rays would look even better.

[yoda313]

Just note if its a high def file it won't playback on a dvd player even if it can play the file type you give it - dvd players can only do sd files. You would need a bluray player that can play that file type. Note its requirements and make sure it will play smoothly.

Also if its a large file you would have to deal with the fat32 limit on a flash drive, ie no larger than 4gb file. A dual layer dvd should let you do more than 4gb obviously but than again be sure you use a bluray player if its high def and check that it meets its minimum file compatibility requirements.

[DB83]

MP4 is NOT a format. It is a container for a video stream and an audio stream. You have possibly authoured these streams in High Definition maybe using the AVC codec for the video. The problem is that most players can not handle this stream.

Sure it plays back fine on your PC since that knows all about the codec etc. The simplest solution is to create a dvd (SD unfortunately) but have that to loop continiously if that is what you want. Many players can now upscale that SD to HD so that it looks respectable on the large size tv.

Alternatively, create a blu-ray disk - this can now be HD at source.

[ricardouk]

Since you live in the uk, i'm guessing almost everyone has a freeview/freesat box nowadays, the store owner probably has a spare one that you can use, some of them can play mp4 avc from usb or sdcard.

[DB83]

Since you live in the uk, i'm guessing almost everyone has a freeview/freesat box nowadays, the store owner probably has a spare one that you can use, some of them can play mp4 avc from usb or sdcard.

Would you care to suggest an actual model for the OP. The freeview boxes that I am familiar with are just dumb receivers.

A dvd-recorder with built-in freeview may have usb/sd input but I would have thought we are back again to playback compatability.

[ricardouk]

ok, it seems the cheap freeview receivers in the uk dont have usb input, since over here (Portugal), Spain, France the receivers even the really cheap ones have usb input/record/play capability i honestly thought the same would happen in the uk.

have a look at this one:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Energy-Sistem%C2%AE-Receiver-EnergyTM-MPEG-4/dp/B00718Z0HM/ref...5319344&sr=8-1

Tune and record HDTV channels.. - Fully comply with DVB-T, MPEG-2, MPEG-4/H.264 standards.. - Play Full-HD 1080p video files.

if you look around online you might get this one (or others) cheaper, second hand stores etc

[3.0]

Massive thanks everyone so quickly, and with so much detail!

I really appreciate that and will check about the Blu-Ray stuff and let the owner know as it may cost more etc.

I learnt a lot here so I'm sure I will be back asking questions!

Thanks again.

[yoda313]

will check about the Blu-Ray stuff

You'd only really need that option if you have high def files to contend with. If they are standard def you should be able to get by with dvd players. Though I don't believe you mentioned what the files are. Make sure whatever device you use the files will actually play on it. - ie if they are h264 files it has to be able to play h264 and check for container compatibility as well - you might have to remux with something like winff if you have a h264 in a mkv and it will only read h264 in an mp4 for example.

But the benefit of a bluray player would be many can do ntfs drives without the 4gb fat limit. Again read all the specs carefully to know what you are getting. And a settop unit like a wdtv media player would be very ideal though you'd have to have a harddrive (can be ntfs for wdtv media player) or a flash drive plugged into the usb jack - though fat32 most likely - you might be able to format a flash drive to ntfs but no promises that your intended player will recognize it that way.

[DB83]

ok, it seems the cheap freeview receivers in the uk dont have usb input, since over here (Portugal), Spain, France the receivers even the really cheap ones have usb input/record/play capability i honestly thought the same would happen in the uk.

have a look at this one:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Energy-Sistem%C2%AE-Receiver-EnergyTM-MPEG-4/dp/B00718Z0HM/ref...5319344&sr=8-1

Tune and record HDTV channels.. - Fully comply with DVB-T, MPEG-2, MPEG-4/H.264 standards.. - Play Full-HD 1080p video files.

if you look around online you might get this one (or others) cheaper, second hand stores etc

Ok. I checked that one out. I even found the manual for it online and, yes, it does appear to support h.264 playback through usb.

What I could not find though was any way to control the playback i.e. having a continuos looping. I am sure the store owner would just love re-starting his promo every few minutes. Granted that dvd players do not normally (I think) do that either but you can author the dvd itself to achieve it.

[ricardouk]

good point (loop video), never thought about that, well it was a cheap way of playing h264, instead of having a 1min video why dont you repeat it (edit) and have 8 hour one?

8 hours video @4000k x264 audio @128 aac should be around 14gb, fits on a 16usb key playable from that device, device costs around 25 pounds, you can get a 16b usb key for around 6 pounds, so the total would be around 30 pounds, very cheap solution and it works.

a blue ray player would be more expensive.

[DB83]

Doesn't the whole video have to loaded into memory BEFORE playback starts ?

[yoda313]

8 hours video @4000k x264 audio @128 aac should be around 14gb, fits on a 16usb key playable from that device, device costs around 25 pounds, you can get a 16b usb key for around 6 pounds, so the total would be around 30 pounds, very cheap solution and it works.

What about the fat limit? Are there players that can read from ntfs formated flash drives? If there are than that would work otherwise you'd have the 4gb limit to contend with.

[ricardouk]

well i have a similar device and altough i never played files that long it plays almost instantly a 2 hour video, but im not an expert, lets hear more opinions, but in theory it should work, the device plays baseline, main and high h264 profiles, you can even remux those blue ray rips (mkv) to mp4 and play it with that device.

[ricardouk]

yoda313 mine reads ntfs formated drives altough i only used 8gb usb key on it.

[ricardouk]

found something that plays from ntfs drives, for 27 quid...cant beat that lol:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cyclone-Micro-MultiMedia-Player-Adaptor/dp/B00534L3B8/ref=sr_1...5327661&sr=1-9

Media Storage Support: USB devices with file systems: FAT, FAT32 and NTFS only. SD, MMC, SD and SDHC Memory card devices with file systems: FAT and FAT32 only. Video: Container (MKV, AVI, TS / TP, MP4 / MPV , MOV, VOB, PMP, RM / RMVB, MPG,M2TS, FLV, WMV) Codec (MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, XVID, DIVX, H.264, H.263, WMV / VC-1 and RMVB). Resolution up to 1920 x 1080 (30fps) Audio: MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, APE, AAC, AC3, ATRA and DTS Photo: JPEG, BMP, PNG and GIF" Support 1080p when using HDMI output to TV E-book: TXT, LRC and .C Other Formats: ISO "only supports above media files" Subtitles: Subtitle Support:SSA, ASS, SUB, ACSII and UTF8 Functions: Playback Input Connections: 1x USB2.0 and 1x SD / MMC / SDHC Card Output Connections: 1x HDMI 1.3 and 1x Composite (AV) HDMI: Up to 1080p OS Language: English, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese DC Power: 5V 2A

[yoda313]

yoda313 mine reads ntfs formated drives altough i only used 8gb usb key on it.

Good to know. Thanks for confirming one unit anyway. Also did your flash key have a file larger than 4gb+ that did play ok on it? I assume if its ok for ntfs its probably ok but it might be finicky player to player you never know.

That was an interesting link you gave. Although I'm sure you could probably get a used wdtv gen 1 for a good price to and would do nearly all or most of that - sans streaming of course no lan port on a gen 1.

[ricardouk]

no i didnt try a file larger than 4gb, from what i read he wants a way of playing hidef mp4 on a tv (shop advert), that small device can be hidden in the back of the tv and plays lots of video formats as well, i own a wdtv live but for that specific task isnt a wdtv a bit too much? even a used one costs more than that device on amazon, it does a bit more but he only wants to show a video.

you're completely right on what you said... im just being cheap lol lol lol... thats what the economic crisis does to us