Pico projector video files- desperate to find a compatible codec!

[salukikev]

Hi,
I found this forum by desperately combing the internet for info on how to identifiy and duplicate a codec/video. Here's the deal:
I'm trying to put together a halloween prop and want to use this old 3m picoprojector I have lying around. (CP45). It's pretty obsolete but still outputs a good image/video and a nice fit for this since I wouldn't be too distraut if it got broken/stolen/whatever. It's also compact and has a nice automatic setting.. .anyway the catch is it is VERY particular about playing any videos. I think I once got something to work back in the day but presently the only way I can get a video to play is to use the integrated camera and literally record a screen playing the video I want.... yes, desperate, I know... and as you might guess the quality isn't super. I was thinking I could just analyze the output video and match its specification and codec and then I'd be good to go- right? Well, so far I haven't succeeded. I've tried a few things like quicktime video inspector and even downloaded a program called Mediainfo which delivered some info I don't understand, but the bottom line is that nothing I've done has so far yielded a playing video. Usually the projector locks up and requires a hard reset, sometimes it pauses and returns. If I'm REALLY lucky it plays a squiggley green and pink line image like I'm watching scrambled dirty movies.. anyway, so here is the info, and an original test video that works. Can somebody please help me get a file to play on this thing? It's almost halloween!


(from quicktime inspector)
H.264 1280 x 720 Millions
AAC, Stereo (L R), 48.000 kHz
Movie FPS: 29.97
Playing FPS: 29.97
Data Size: 166.84 MB
Data Rate 7.39 mbits/sec

From Mediainfo (program):
Container & general information:
MPEG-4 (Sony PSP): 15.7 MiB, 17 s 618 ms
1 video stream : AVC
1 audio stream: AAC LC
First video stream:
Japanese, 7.387 kb/s, 1280 * 720 (16:9) at 29.970 (30000/1001) FPS AVC (Main@L4) (CABAC/ 1 Ref Frames)

[LigH.de]

I'm quite confident that MeGUI can help you, but you will need to restrict the x264 encoder to stay below some thresholds, using a suitable Profile@Level (possibly Main@L4) or a pre-made Preset for Sony PSP, and use the MP4 multiplexer tool manually to maybe even add Sony PSP specific tags to the MP4 container?

Setting up a good AAC audio encoder for MeGUI can be a bit tricky. but there are documentations how to extract CoreAudioToolbox files from the iTunes installer, using a makeportable.bat from the author of qaac.

[ProWo]

This is a normal avc (x264) video.
Many video converters can make you a compatible video from any source. You should first of all specify here which video you want to convert, then we can give you additional info about programs and/or settings.

[salukikev]

Hey guys, I'm just delighted to report that I sorted this out with a real hail mary manouver. The one utility that shipped with this device was on a cd up in the attic that I found, and was even able to read thanks to an old laptop! The CD contained arcsoft media converter v3.1 That's software you can't get buy or download anywhere presently, but I will be glad to share with anyone else who has this problem- I really just got quite lucky, but also am surprised that what I formerly considered to be a common h.264 format file which reads on any common player can be (intentionally?) so difficult to play only on that one device. Mysteries of video codecs I suppose. Anyway, I now hate 3m for putting me thru that but am so happy to have resolved it. Thanks all!