Playing MPEG4 Video
 

Has anyone had any luck encoding and playing a DVD with MPEG4 (or any other video format) with the DVD changer or the rear entertainment system?
Tried encoding MP4's using differnet compression settings but the disk is only recognized as CD and the files only play the audio with no video showing (both on the DVD changer and in the back)
The files all play fine on the PC directly from the DVD.

Regular DVD's play fine of coarse but I would like to be able to encode a bunch of kids videos on to a single DVD so I don't need to switch DVD's for the kids every time...

Any ideas?
Ronnie

No chance. The DVD player is just that. A standard DVD player that will only playback DVD Video disks which are actually encoded as Mpeg2 video, per the DVD spec. I'm pretty certain it supports both PAL and NTSC colour systems, but region coding is there, and dependent on where the car is sold.

The manual states:

-----------------------
The CD/DVD player can play the following media:
- Video DVD
- CD-DA (Audio CD)
- Cds/DVDs with compressed video/audi/image files

Supported Formats

Compressed video files
VCD
SVCD
MPEG1
MPEG2
MPEG4
-----------------------

There must be a way to make this work...

You are encoding MP4 as your output? DVD format is MPEG4, whereas MP4 is ipod, Xbox etc and is a container format FOR MPEG4. Computer software (windows/Linux etc) support MP4 but not your standalone DVD players.... assuming that is not the case, what program/s are you using to convert with? Settings?

Why is the source file MP4?

Cheers

J

Commercial DVDs are encoded in MPEG-2, not MPEG-4.

You're correct about containers though, the OP needs to find out what container format(s) and profile(s) are supported for MPEG-4 video and what bit rates, resolutions, etc. The information is likely on the Internet somewhere :)

My bad! Apologies. When i get my car in a couple of weeks, I'll try a few different mpeg4 codecs and bit rates/resolutions and see if i can get it to work.

I tried using several differnet encoding settings.
- iPod video format .m4v -> DVD shows as unsupported
- Used Videofab to create .mp4 with h264 for the video and aac for audio -> DVD shows up as CD and the sound plays
- other .mp4's downloaded off the net showed the same result

I tried looking it up on the web but apparantly no one has been doing this before...

Got it!
After much experimentation and many wated DVD+R's I finally managed to get an MPEG4 video to play.
The key is to encode the file as an AVI with an MPEG4 codec that is NOT H264.
I used Videofab with the setting for AVI file and MPEG4 at 640x480 (you can use the Zen or some of the other mobile device settings). Frame rate does not affect anything as far as I could tell (30 or 29.97 both work).

It's kind of sad that BMW does not document these things...

These are for the audio system with the 6-disc DVD player, not the rear entertainment system.

Actually, its the other way around. It says only the rear entertainment DVD player is capable of playing back compressed video files.

Maybe you could try Divx files. Its a long shot, or make sure the file has a .mp4 extension at least.

For a minute I was quite excited with the thought of putting lots of mp4 files in the DVD changer, but looks like thats not supported.

I only tried it in the rear entertainment system. I will try the MPEG4 DVD in the changer as well and let you know.

Thanks for posting your results so far :thumbup:

Yaawwwn.... really!!!! ....not interested in a pissing contest, but I said a DVD format, NOT the format for Commercial DVD's.

Also, as I pointed out, he was coding to mp4 which is a computer supported format (and therefore won't work in BMW's), and DIFFERENT to Mpeg4. That is after all what he was trying to figure out and hence the question... Once an Mpeg4 was created they work...... go figure...

Just for your interest......

MPEG4

An ISO/IEC standard 14496 developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG), the committee that also developed MPEG-1 and MPEG-2. These standards made interactive video on CD-ROM, DVD and Digital Television possible. MPEG-4 is the result of another international effort involving hundreds of researchers and engineers from all over the world. MPEG-4 was finalized in October 1998 and became an International Standard in 1999. The fully backward compatible extensions under the title of MPEG-4 Version 2 were frozen at the end of 1999, to acquire the formal International Standard Status early in 2000. Several extensions were added since and work on some specific work-items is still in progress.

MPEG-4 builds on the proven success of three fields:

Digital television
Interactive graphics applications (synthetic content)
Interactive multimedia (World Wide Web, distribution of and access to content)

More information about MPEG-4 can be found at MPEG’s home page

:bustingup

Actually, you wrote "DVD format is MPEG4, whereas MP4 is ipod, Xbox etc and is a container format FOR MPEG4," with no indefinite article at the front. I don't know anyone in my field that would say "DVD format is MPEG-4." It makes no sense. Here is a good definition of MPEG-4 from the Wikipedia page I linked to in my earlier post:

MPEG-4 is a collection of methods defining compression of audio and visual (AV) digital data.


Notice that there is no mention of DVD in the entire article. Also, there is no mention of MPEG-4 on the DVD article but it does refer to MPEG-2.

:bustingup

First off, .MP4s are MPEG-4 files: MPEG-4 files with audio and video generally use the standard .mp4 extension.

Lots of consumer DVD players, including those for vehicles, play .MP4s. Samples:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw...20dvd%20player

The container format that worked for the OP is .AVI. This is used primarily on computers and was originally created by Microsoft in 1992 before vehicle DVD players existed. So much for your "computer supported format" theory :rolleyes:

The key to solving the problem was the container format and what part of MPEG-4 video was supported by the player, as I suggested.

:bustingup

I know what MPEG-4 is.

The link http://mpeg.telecomitalialab.com/ you provided doesn't even work. Next time try posting about something you know something about and we might be able to have a pissing contest :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

My guess is that the rear entertainment system is based on Windows CE, hence the (Microsoft) AVI support.
Unfortunately, the DVD changer up front does not support AVI compressed video (I tried the AVI DVD's which work in the rear). In any case, it's a major design flaw in my opinion that you can't use the DVD changer to play video in the rear entertainment system nor can you control it from idrive.
Oh well, at least now I can have DVD's with a few movies on each to keep the kids entertained in the back without having to reach back to change DVD's too often...

Quite possible but there are Linux parsers for AVI and it has MPEG-4 support. AVI is not a complicated format to parse and, AFAIK, there are no licensing fees required to use it.

BTW, here is a good summary of the container formats and which video and audio formats they can contain.

Too bad the changer doesn't support playing back the .AVI videos :(

my turn....:bustingup:bustingup:bustingup:bustingup you reckon you know all about this yet are only quoting from wiki.... well let me indulge you..... MPEG-4 is used for HD DVD! yes, you read correctly, D...V...D.... now, since you know so much, I'm sure you know from the below 'where' it says MPEG-4 (hint... you can even use wiki)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...HD-DVD.svg.png
Media type High-density optical disc Encoding VC-1, H.264, and MPEG-2 Capacity 15 GB (single layer) 30 GB (dual layer) Read mechanism 1× @ 36 Mbit/s & 2× @ 72 Mbit/s Developed by DVD Forum Usage Data storage, including high-definition video

:yawn::yawn::yawn::yawn: gee that was an AMAZON (sic) leap of web searching. Of course some dedicated DVD players can play MP4, just like they can play audio CD's as do heaps of other items (ipod, PSP, iphone ring a bell????). My questions were trying to point out the difference between Mp4 (NOT supported by the BMW car player according to his list) and MPEG-4.... The OP wasn't getting anywhere was he, but we already knew that because it was playing the sound only and not his video. Secondly, assuming he understood the difference and I was misunderstanding his use of Mp4 and Mpeg-4 in his post, I simply asked for further info.

http://blog.wabbadabba.com/wp-conten...2/spanner1.jpg !!!!! (tool - australian slang)

:loser2::loser2:

You really can't read can you.... Mp4 is a container format and so are avi's. The MP4 file format is originally based on Apple's Quicktime file, which is a computer supported format.

reaallly??? 'and provides link to wikipedia' ...... errr :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

My Bad...... would you like me to point you to the proper information that you know all about? I can even point you to the web site if you like.... if you're talking about a pissing contest I suggest you check your pants..... there's a little bit of dribble...

obviously you cannot read, so let me spell it out for you

THE

STATEMENT

WAS

FRAMED

IN

THE

CONTEXT

OF

DO

YOU

REALIZE

MP4

IS

NOT

MPEG4

oh, and by the way, if you're gonna quote 'official definitions' why don't you try a little harder instead of 'imadeitupedia'??

Now.... to point out the obvious, you really are a KNOB (end of an appendage) coming in and 'expertly' correcting someone who was trying to assist the OP? Offer your help to the OP and leave it at that....

Why don't you try the methods outlined using the following Mp4 to DVD for standalone players software tutorials?

DVDFLICK

NERO

Cheers

J

HD DVD is not DVD and has nothing to do with the OP. You are clutching at straws, straw man.

Do you have a point here besides illustrating your twisted way of admitting that I was correct?

What was wrong with using an Amazon search to illustrate that some consumer DVD players, including in-vehicle ones, support .MP4?

You were trying to help the OP but wrote misleading information. Too bad that you cannot understand that.

I can read. It's unfortunate that you don't know how to write well or accurately.

Point out any inaccuracies in the Wikipedia articles that I quoted.

:bustingup

You cannot admit to a mistake can you? And there is no contest here. You were knocked out in the first round. Time to wipe yourself off the floor and go home before you show more evidence of your brain damage.

Instead of admitting you were, at best, unclear you resort to shouting. LOL

LVR again shows his ignorance. The Wikipeida pages contain accurate information and are readable. I never suggested they were "official defintions."

They are much easier to read than the specs. But if you're interested, here's a book:

http://www.amazon.com/MPEG-4-Book-IM.../dp/0130616214

and an overview of the standard:

http://www.chiariglione.org/mpeg/sta...G-4/MPEG-4.htm

I was helping the OP, partly by pointing out the inaccuracies in your posts. Too bad you can't see that.

Keep posting your loquacious laughable lilts, LVR. You are quite amusing.

:bustingup

This is a good idea :thumbup:

:tapping::tapping:look up the definition of delusional..... it's quite apt for you......


(LVR rolls eyes) after all this, your 'expert advice', suggestions that don't work, correction of me and rants about knockouts, we get to a solution.....

it's been a fun journey, but I'm glad we're finally there......

Cheers

J

I do not need to look up the definition of delusional. You are the one that is deluded in thinking "DVD is MPEG-4." Or have you figured out that doesn't make sense even in the context you wrote it?

Which suggestions did I make that didn't work?

The OP found a solution himself. I provided a few tips that may have helped him including correcting your "DVD is MPEG-4" mistake.

Later, you came up with a solution for those who want to use the DVD changer (which cannot be used with the rear entertainment system, according to the OP).

A solution was found by the OP on the 21st. You must have missed that part. Your idea is a good one for the DVD changer but it is unlikely to be a better or faster solution for creating DVDs that play in the OP's rear entertainment system. MPEG-4 almost always provides higher quality video than MPEG-2, which is used for standard movie DVDs, at the same resolution and bit rate. Therefore, you can get more movies on one disc at the same quality using MPEG-4 .AVIs.

sigh!!! LVR considers that people like you will continue arguing regardless of the position...further ponders the merits of wasting any further effort on this...... then decides that even a delusional person has the right to remain so and is a source of amusement to me and the others reading this thread...... so tally ho... cannot resist one final comment...

HD DVD - stands for (according to your reference site wiki) High-Definition/Density Digital Versatile Disc

DVD -stands for Digital Versatile Disc.

:tapping::tapping::tapping: Can you join the dots?

If you want to look up definitions, try the one for HD DVD, I think you will find that I am correct as it uses Mpeg-4 AND (is that shouting?) Mpeg-2.

Now, I said DVD is Mpeg-4, and for someone anally retentive I probably should have said HD DVD is Mpeg-4... ok my bad I didn't realize you needed laxatives.

My apologies for that one.... I misread your post.

See HD DVD definition above....

Actually had that from day one, but didn't bother due to my impression that the OP had it sorted and someone 'from my field' who claimed to know way more about it than me was on the case..... kind of revealed your true level of 'expertise' with your post below instead of doing as I did and providing a solution....

Yet again you miss the sarcasm.... it was directed at you, and in part my observation that the solution hadn't been found as the OP still hasn't got it to play in the other player...... you must have missed that part eh?

Ok then....

haigha, it truly has been a blast and you have entertained me mightily with your myopic interpretation of my original attempts to get further info. I know that you will reply with further arguments. I know that you cannot let it be, and will argue to the last, but I can.....

Cheers

J

What I wrote was: "HD DVD is not DVD."

"HD DVD" is considered a distinct term from "DVD" in the context of optical discs. It is a source of confusion and is one reason people had trouble understanding that they couldn't play HD DVDs in their existing DVD players. This was one of several advantages BD had over HD DVD and possibly played a minor role in BD's victory in the format war. A clear statement would be "HD DVD was planned as the successor to DVD by the DVD forum."

The definitions in Wikipedia say:

"HD DVD - HD DVD or High-Definition/Density Digital Versatile Disc is a discontinued high-density optical disc format for storing data and high-definition video. HD DVD was supported principally by Toshiba, and was envisaged to be the successor to the standard DVD format."

"DVD (also known as "Digital Versatile Disc" or "Digital Video Disc") is a popular optical disc storage media format. Its main uses are video and data storage. Most DVDs are of the same dimensions as compact discs (CDs) but store more than six times as much data."

If you look at the format and capacities for DVD in its article, you will see that they do not include the ones for HD DVD. Similarly, the HD DVD article does not include those for DVD because they are different animals. In other words, to quote my earlier statement, "HD DVD is not DVD."

Additionally, your belated introduction of HD DVD is a straw man since the OP's problem has nothing to do with HD DVD.

I never wrote that HD DVDs don't use MPEG-4 as a video encoding format. But that doesn't mean your assertion that "DVD is MPEG-4" is valid.

Video in HD DVDs for use in standard HD DVD players can be encoded using any of MPEG-4, MPEG-2 or VC-1. MPEG-4 is not required. So even writing "HD DVD is MPEG-4" is, at best, inaccurate.

The problem with your attempts at sarcasm is they are based on your ignorance and your straw man attempt to introduce HD DVD into the discussion so they fall flat.

The thread was about the DVD rear entertainment system and the DVD changer in a BMW at the time. Nothing to do with HD DVD.

I didn't miss your solution: first post "This is a good idea." and second post "Your idea is a good one for the DVD changer but it is unlikely to be a better or faster solution for creating DVDs that play in the OP's rear entertainment system. MPEG-4 almost always provides higher quality video than MPEG-2, which is used for standard movie DVDs, at the same resolution and bit rate. Therefore, you can get more movies on one disc at the same quality using MPEG-4 .AVIs"

Continue to introduce straw man arguments, post juvenile insults, and display your ignorance and boorishness, if you want.

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

then again, no forget it, not taking my time to read ALL THAT!

good luck:thumbup: stop fighting