How can I play mp4-x264 files from a dvd on a PS3?

[Friendo]

I have lot of mkv files that I want to try on the PS3, I tried it once and it won't reconize the mp4 file with a nVidia cuda app after transcoding, do I have to burn it with udf 2.5 format or would any UDF format work?

And Do I have to put the file inside VIDEO folder like I do with Xvids?

And how would subtitle (size, color, outline, height) work?

Is there a limitation to Profiles (4.1, 5.1), ReFrames, Vid bitrate, audio format, framerate and the entire file size?

I need to do this without re-encoding the video. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[thomsbrain]

My understanding is you need to use a program like mkv2vob to create a file the PS3 will recognize. I'm not sure exactly what it does to the files, though. The file comes out slightly larger than the source file, but it can't be a straight re-encode because it cranks out the new file as fast as your hard drive can write it, and CPU usage is super low. Also video quality doesn't seem to be affected at all.

 

[MStele]

if they are compatible it will play them. If they aren't showing up then either your PS3 cannot read the dvd or your files simply won't work as encoded. They don't have to be in a special directory or anything. It could be a profile limitation. Not many devices can handle high level profile settings yet. An easy way to check is to run it through handbrake's normal profile and see if it works then.

I've personally played x264 files that i've created and burned on dvd with my PS3.

 

[smitbret]

.MKV is an incompatible container for PS3. MKV2VOB checks each stream to make sure it is comapatible and just remuxes the .mkv file into an .mpg or .mp4 file that is compatible with the PS3 without actually changing any of the streams inside.

If mkv2vob senses an incompatible video or audio stream, then it will transcode where necessary. For instance, if the .mkv file has an .h264 stream that is level 5.1 and an AAC-HC audio stream then it knows it needs to convert the .h264 stream to level 4.1 and the audio stream to AC3 or AAC-LC and then remux to .mpg since AAC-HC and level 5.1 are not supported. Although, I don't believe it is a true transcode and leaves the video and audio as untouched as possible.

Unfortunately, .mp4 doesn't nateively support subtitles as far as I can tell (someone correct me if I'm wrong). It doesn't need to be in a VIDEO folder for playback from a DVD, but I do believe it is necessary when attempting to playback from a USB device.

If you feel like you need a little more control, you can also use TSMuxer (http://www.smlabs.net/tsmuxer_en.html) to demux and remux from an .mkv to an .mt2s that is also compatible with PS3. You'll have to use an outside program like MeGUI if you have audio incompatibilities, and it's a couple of extra steps.

 

[Friendo]

.MKV is an incompatible container for PS3. MKV2VOB checks each stream to make sure it is comapatible and just remuxes the .mkv file into an .mpg or .mp4 file that is compatible with the PS3 without actually changing any of the streams inside.

If mkv2vob senses an incompatible video or audio stream, then it will transcode where necessary. For instance, if the .mkv file has an .h264 stream that is level 5.1 and an AAC-HC audio stream then it knows it needs to convert the .h264 stream to level 4.1 and the audio stream to AC3 or AAC-LC and then remux to .mpg since AAC-HC and level 5.1 are not supported. Although, I don't believe it is a true transcode and leaves the video and audio as untouched as possible.

Unfortunately, .mp4 doesn't nateively support subtitles as far as I can tell (someone correct me if I'm wrong). It doesn't need to be in a VIDEO folder for playback from a DVD, but I do believe it is necessary when attempting to playback from a USB device.

If you feel like you need a little more control, you can also use TSMuxer (http://www.smlabs.net/tsmuxer_en.html) to demux and remux from an .mkv to an .mt2s that is also compatible with PS3. You'll have to use an outside program like MeGUI if you have audio incompatibilities, and it's a couple of extra steps.

If the mkv file is 4.37gb will mkv2vob remux the mp4 file at the same size? Does UDF 1.02 ~ 2.0 format burning works with an mp4 file or does it have to be UDF 2.5 like avchd?

 

[Claudius-07]

mkv2vob works well for most -- it will break down the file in any size format you wish, save it as a few different formats (it warms you which is most compatible with the PS3). I've had a few MKV files that ended up being unplayable after using mkv2vob – but I believe they were a bit messed to start with. Anyhow for how fast it is, it's easy enough to test. You can also strip all subtitles (unless they are hard coded I think). You can force audio transcoding. You can convert DTS audio to a more compatible format if your receiver can't decode it etc. Again it's so fast you can test and it won’t take you much time.

The best solution for me at least was simply to run PS3 Media Server on my server.... It defeats the whole "just having the PS3 on", but at the end of the day, I simply stream my MKV files (and absolutely everything else I have… period) from my server running PS3 Media Server. If the PS3 cannot play the file natively, the transcoding engine takes over. You would be amazed by this product. Since my Server is on 24/7, it was the logical step. No more caring what file format I am downloading or converting or ripping. There is nothing it won’t play or transcode and I get the best possible video and audio quality.

 

[smitbret]

If the mkv file is 4.37gb will mkv2vob remux the mp4 file at the same size? Does UDF 1.02 ~ 2.0 format burning works with an mp4 file or does it have to be UDF 2.5 like avchd?

It'll be roughly the same size, but that mostly depends on whether it had to convert the audio stream or not. As far as burning, I don't really know. I just use Imgburn to burn individual files and it just tells me to use the UDF system. I know nothing about 1.02~2.0 or 2.5. Sorry.