Transcode issue

[Christian]

I use mainly apple devices for playback. The program on the devices playing the videos is 8Player. Most of my videos have either been created on a canon camcorder or an iPhone.
I noticed that a few of my videos created on the iPhone have a much wider aspect ratio than others of that same type of video when played back on my Apple devices.

When I go to the transcode tab for each of these "wider" videos and set it to play "original file" it will play with the correct aspect. This seems logical to me given the file was originally created on Apple platform and the playback device is an Apple format. Still confusing is why "some" of the iPhone created movies do this and not others. However, my question is this....

How do I select as a whole that I only want to use the original file for all of my iphone created movies on my Apple devices without having to go into each individual movie's transcode tab?

Thank you for your help in advance.
Christian

[Christopher]

We understand that wider video is a result of transcoding by Mezzmo, where setting "original file" is also playing the file well. That is a little confusing, as there is no need to transcode, what more transcoding is producing unexpected wider results. This should be investigated further.
You may try to "switch off" transcoding for all files, for particular media player by [Menu]][MediaServer][MediaDevices], choose to edit selected device, and switch off "transcode incompatible media files so they can be played on the device" under [Transcoding] tab.

[Christian]

Turned off transcode incompatible files as suggested for that device. When trying to play video again, wide screen still played. However, when I went to the individual video, clicked on edit, transcode tab, and "use original file", it played with correct aspect.

If the file has already been transcoded and I perform your action mentioned in your response, it would seem it is going to still play the incorrect aspect until I go to that individual movie and edit to play original file. So..., how do I auto fix all of my videos of a certain file type to play the original file for a specific device?

It would seem that your suggestion might prevent the problem before it is transcoded but after transcoded, it will still do this. As to why it did it for some of that file type when originally played then transcoded and not others of the same file type is a mystery.

Thank you for your help.
Christian

[Peter]

You can go to 'Media Devices' and double-click the device in the list then on the Transcoding tab click the button to delete transcoded files and this will remove any transcoded files with the incorrect aspect ratio. Then you can turn off transcoding by unchecking the box to transcode incompatible files so that they can be played on the device.

If you have some files that require transcoding then you can pre-transcode them or you can right-click on one of the iPhone movies that is wider when transcode and select 'Get FFmpeg Information' then either post this here or send it to support [at] conceiva [dot] com and we will send you an updated device profile that will play these files without transcoding.

[Christian]

You can go to 'Media Devices' and double-click the device in the list then on the Transcoding tab click the button to delete transcoded files and this will remove any transcoded files with the incorrect aspect ratio. Then you can turn off transcoding by unchecking the box to transcode incompatible files so that they can be played on the device.

If you have some files that require transcoding then you can pre-transcode them or you can right-click on one of the iPhone movies that is wider when transcode and select 'Get FFmpeg Information' then either post this here or send it to support [at] conceiva [dot] com and we will send you an updated device profile that will play these files without transcoding.

I'm going to post two separate files below that I'm having trouble with for two reasons. The first, no sound when played on iphone from server. Will play sound to ipad however. The second is one having aspect issues when played back on iphone although created on iphone (issue discussed in previous posts above).

ffmpeg version N-78742-gf477849 Copyright (c) 2000-2016 the FFmpeg developers
built with gcc 4.9.2 (GCC)
configuration: --enable-memalign-hack --arch=x86_64 --target-os=mingw32 --cross-prefix=x86_64-w64-mingw32- --enable-static --disable-shared --enable-zlib --disable-postproc --prefix=/home/peter/ffmpeg/build/gpl64 --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libx264 --enable-gpl --extra-libs='-lx264 -lpthread -lstdc++' --enable-runtime-cpudetect --extra-cflags=-I/home/peter/cc32/include --extra-ldflags=-L/home/peter/cc64/lib --pkg-config=pkg-config --pkg-config-flags=--static --disable-w32threads --enable-libvpx --enable-libvorbis --enable-libtheora --enable-libx265 --enable-libmfx --enable-gnutls --extra-libs='-lz -lnettle -lhogweed -lgmp -lidn -lws2_32 -lcrypt32'
libavutil 55. 19.100 / 55. 19.100
libavcodec 57. 25.101 / 57. 25.101
libavformat 57. 26.100 / 57. 26.100
libavdevice 57. 0.101 / 57. 0.101
libavfilter 6. 36.100 / 6. 36.100
libswscale 4. 0.100 / 4. 0.100
libswresample 2. 0.101 / 2. 0.101
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'G:\iphone movies\birthday\birthday (1).MOV':
Metadata:
major_brand : qt
minor_version : 0
compatible_brands: qt
creation_time : 2014-10-01 00:30:47
encoder : 7.1.2
encoder-eng : 7.1.2
date : 2014-09-30T20:30:47-0400
date-eng : 2014-09-30T20:30:47-0400
location : +34.6028-082.6238+249.937/
location-eng : +34.6028-082.6238+249.937/
model : iPhone 5s
model-eng : iPhone 5s
make : Apple
make-eng : Apple
com.apple.quicktime.creationdate: 2014-09-30T20:30:47-0400
com.apple.quicktime.model: iPhone 5s
com.apple.quicktime.software: 7.1.2
com.apple.quicktime.location.ISO6709: +34.6028-082.6238+249.937/
com.apple.quicktime.make: Apple
Duration: 00:01:27.70, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 16416 kb/s
Stream #0:0(und): Video: h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p(tv, bt709), 1920x1080, 16342 kb/s, 29.98 fps, 29.97 tbr, 600 tbn, 1200 tbc (default)
Metadata:
creation_time : 2014-10-01 00:30:47
handler_name : Core Media Data Handler
encoder : H.264
Stream #0:1(und): Audio: aac (LC) (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 44100 Hz, mono, fltp, 62 kb/s (default)
Metadata:
creation_time : 2014-10-01 00:30:47
handler_name : Core Media Data Handler
At least one output file must be specified

<MEZZMO>: Child process ended with code: 109, ExitCode=1


---> DB Level Info: 41, 100
---> Frame rate: 29.98


ffmpeg version N-78742-gf477849 Copyright (c) 2000-2016 the FFmpeg developers
built with gcc 4.9.2 (GCC)
configuration: --enable-memalign-hack --arch=x86_64 --target-os=mingw32 --cross-prefix=x86_64-w64-mingw32- --enable-static --disable-shared --enable-zlib --disable-postproc --prefix=/home/peter/ffmpeg/build/gpl64 --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libx264 --enable-gpl --extra-libs='-lx264 -lpthread -lstdc++' --enable-runtime-cpudetect --extra-cflags=-I/home/peter/cc32/include --extra-ldflags=-L/home/peter/cc64/lib --pkg-config=pkg-config --pkg-config-flags=--static --disable-w32threads --enable-libvpx --enable-libvorbis --enable-libtheora --enable-libx265 --enable-libmfx --enable-gnutls --extra-libs='-lz -lnettle -lhogweed -lgmp -lidn -lws2_32 -lcrypt32'
libavutil 55. 19.100 / 55. 19.100
libavcodec 57. 25.101 / 57. 25.101
libavformat 57. 26.100 / 57. 26.100
libavdevice 57. 0.101 / 57. 0.101
libavfilter 6. 36.100 / 6. 36.100
libswscale 4. 0.100 / 4. 0.100
libswresample 2. 0.101 / 2. 0.101
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'G:\iphone movies\cheer\cheer (32).MOV':
Metadata:
major_brand : qt
minor_version : 0
compatible_brands: qt
creation_time : 2014-05-26 20:57:55
model : iPhone 5
model-eng : iPhone 5
encoder : 6.1.4
encoder-eng : 6.1.4
date : 2014-05-26T16:57:55-0400
date-eng : 2014-05-26T16:57:55-0400
location : +34.5483-082.6737+232.176/
location-eng : +34.5483-082.6737+232.176/
make : Apple
make-eng : Apple
com.apple.quicktime.make: Apple
com.apple.quicktime.creationdate: 2014-05-26T16:57:55-0400
com.apple.quicktime.location.ISO6709: +34.5483-082.6737+232.176/
com.apple.quicktime.software: 6.1.4
com.apple.quicktime.model: iPhone 5
Duration: 00:00:04.88, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 17572 kb/s
Stream #0:0(und): Video: h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p(tv, bt709), 1920x1080, 17635 kb/s, 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 600 tbn, 1200 tbc (default)
Metadata:
rotate : 90
creation_time : 2014-05-26 20:57:55
handler_name : Core Media Data Handler
encoder : H.264
Side data:
displaymatrix: rotation of -90.00 degrees
Stream #0:1(und): Audio: aac (LC) (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 44100 Hz, mono, fltp, 63 kb/s (default)
Metadata:
creation_time : 2014-05-26 20:57:55
handler_name : Core Media Data Handler
At least one output file must be specified

<MEZZMO>: Child process ended with code: 109, ExitCode=1


---> DB Level Info: 41, 100
---> Frame rate: 29.97
---> Aspect ratio:
---> Duration: 00:00:04

[Peter]

The audio is encoded as mono so this might not be supported by 8Player or this is triggering transcoding on the fly and the bitrate is too high for smooth playback. The aspect ratio issue would be caused by Mezzmo transcoding and not including the metadata 'displaymatrix: rotation of -90.00 degrees' from the file so that the iPhone does not know to rotate the video. Please try going to the properties of the file in Mezzmo and on the Transcoding tab click on Use Original file... to see if it plays the audio without transcoding and if it does then send an email to support [at] conceiva [dot] com and we will send you an updated device profile.

[Christian]

The audio is encoded as mono so this might not be supported by 8Player or this is triggering transcoding on the fly and the bitrate is too high for smooth playback. The aspect ratio issue would be caused by Mezzmo transcoding and not including the metadata 'displaymatrix: rotation of -90.00 degrees' from the file so that the iPhone does not know to rotate the video. Please try going to the properties of the file in Mezzmo and on the Transcoding tab click on Use Original file... to see if it plays the audio without transcoding and if it does then send an email to support [at] conceiva [dot] com and we will send you an updated device profile.

Oddly enough, I had to reboot my computer for another issue and when going back to work on this problem, the first video audio file worked fine then when played on iphone.

However, did a couple of things for the second video. First, followed your advice...went to transcode tab for that video and clicked use original file as "preferred" (by the way for the iphone it showed "original file" and a transcoded file there and both were originally checked). When I tried to play it, it still was wide and then when I went back to file's transcode tab, it showed that both check marks were selected again for the iphone, almost as if I did not unclick the transcode tab first time. So..I then deleted the transcoded option that existed for the iphone listed for that particular movie but when played, was still incorrect. I was curious so I went back to the transcode tab again and out of nowhere, the transcode version appeared for iphone again along with "original" and both options checked. So I then went to "media devices", chose the iphone, edited and unselected the transcode tab there. Went back to the individual movie and made sure "original file" was only selected option, then tried to play and still was incorrect. When going back to the transcode tab once more for the file, it then showed the transcode option again. Not sure what to do at this point.

Again, thanks for your help.

[Peter]

When you try to play the file on the iPhone if you don't refresh the listing then the URL will still have the information set to transcode the file. If the app you are using caches the listing then you may need to exit the app and then restart it and browse to the file so that the URL for the original file is used.

[Christian]

When you try to play the file on the iPhone if you don't refresh the listing then the URL will still have the information set to transcode the file. If the app you are using caches the listing then you may need to exit the app and then restart it and browse to the file so that the URL for the original file is used.

I'll give that a try and report back.

[Christian]

When you try to play the file on the iPhone if you don't refresh the listing then the URL will still have the information set to transcode the file. If the app you are using caches the listing then you may need to exit the app and then restart it and browse to the file so that the URL for the original file is used.

Okay, today closed the Mezzmo app on phone the way to close all apps for iphone so as to not have that cached data an issue. In Mezzmo on server, made sure for that one video, all transcodes under transcode app was cleared out and closed. Went back in to ensure that happened and it did. clicked then on "use original file" and ascribed that to the iphone. Went to media devices to make sure that the iphone was not going to be able to transcribe. The video still played wide. I then went to the video transcribe button and once again both a transcoded file and the original file had reappeared and were both clicked. I'm not sure what else I could have done in this case.

Christian