Sony DVD Player DVP-SR300 - trouble with file format

[andreav]

Hi everybody,
I have trouble playing files from usb with my Sony DVD Player DVP-SR300.
I have tried to encode mp4 many ways but none have worked.
I insert usb storage device and the player recognize mp4 but when I try to play it says that the player doesn't support the format.
Someone could help me?

[yoda313]

You have to read the manual to know what codecs it will play. Mp4 is just a container. It can hold many types of video.

Also if its high def it most likely won't play. There are very few if any dvd players that will play high def video files, there may be some but it it is not common.

It could also be a file size issue. If it only supports the older divx it may need to be less than 2gb in size. There is also a chance it might be an audio codec issue - if its something like flac or aac your player may not recognize that if its really old.

So either get your manual or go online and search your model number to identify exactly what type of video files it will play. Than you will have to encode to those specifications. Format factory and handbrake are two such programs that are relatively easy to use.

You can use the program mediainfo to identify what the codec is inside the video and audio as well as the resolution (720x480/576 is standard definition fyi, 480 is ntsc for North America and 576 is Pal for Europe and other regions around the world).

Good luck and report back when you get more detail.

FYI even if your player says it supports mp4 it might be relatively old and only support the old school divx format and not the more recent and more popular h264 video.

Edit - also even if these are plain old divx files they may have been tweaked so much that a regular settop player that can play divx files won't like the internal settings that were used to encode the video. Things like qpel and stuff that I don't fully understand. That would require a reencode to a basic level divx or xvid file.

There is also a chance it might be variable bit rate audio and the player might not like and require constant bit rate audio, though I don't know why it wouldn't at least play the video if the audio is non compliant.

Suffice it to say look up what it can and can't play and then convert your video file as needed.

[jman98]

I can't say whether this is true for this particular player, but some players only use the USB port for firmware updates and it's not possible to play files at all via USB.

Your player does not have MP4 listed as being supported. It seems to only support Divx (Xvid should also be OK although you may have to change the FourCC code in the file if the player won't play an Xvid file).
http://www.sony.ee/product/dvd-player/dvp-sr300/technical-specifications#tab
I think that only standard definition (720x576 or smaller) resolution Divx files will play on it.

Please note that in the past there was some confusion on customers because some players said that they support "MPEG-4" - this is NOT MP4 but MPEG-4. MPEG-4 means Divx/Xvid. Manufacturers have to pay a fee to get certified for Divx and I think that some of them were too cheap to pay it, so they said that they supported MPEG-4 as a code word to mean Divx. Many consumers confuse MPEG-4 and MP4 and assume that MP4 containers are OK when they are not.

[yoda313]

but some players only use the USB port for firmware updates and it's not possible to play files at all via USB.

Well the poster does say the mp4 file is visible so that does not seem to be the case. Edit although I suppose it could read the file but if it really is only firmware that is all it would do is read that there is a file in the folder.

One last thing I though of is to try out a powered external usb drive. If the poster is using an unpowered drive the dvd player may not have enough juice to power the drive properly.

[andreav]

Hi, thanx you all for answering me in such a professional and complete way.
After reading I've tried to encode mi clip in many format using Freemake video converter.
What works for me (and for my player)is xvid 720X576 25fps
mp3 stereo 48000Hz 320 Kbps.
User's manual says that many other format are supported (.avi, .divx, .mpg, .mpeg, .mp4, .jpg, .mp3...)
So far I can't really find the right way to encode mp4 the right way.
If I'll find a way I'm going to make you know.
Thanks a lot anyway!
Greetings from Italy
Andrea

[jman98]

I can tell you only that the official Sony website does NOT list any formats other than Divx (this also means AVI) for this player. I cannot say whether that is really true or not, but it is what their website says. Maybe it would be better for you to try make a Divx file. To be honest with you, I have NEVER heard of a Sony DVD player supporting MP4 at all so while it is always possible that you are right and I am wrong, the odds are not in your favor.

Some players that do not officially support MP4 can attempt to play the files, but something will go wrong like the audio won't play. Again, it has not been established that this player is capable of playing ANYTHING via USB.

Put an Xvid file that works on a USB flash drive. If it won't play, then probably your player can't play anything via USB.