0.6, "Sony Bravia TV" profile, mp4 stuttering

[tvkdlna]

I just ran into problems with h264 (.mp4) content: audio is stuttering and video looks bit like it's going on ffwd.

I first noticed this with online content, and after some digging found that "Sony Bravia TV" profile has been altered to leave out the following section:

  Code:

<OnlineTranscoding>
   <Video targetContainer="mpeg" targetVCodec="mpeg2video" targetACodec="ac3" aBitrate="192">
      <Matches container="mp4"/>
   </Video>
   <Audio targetContainer="mp3">
      <Matches container="flv"/>
   </Audio>
</OnlineTranscoding>

Ok, I put it back and online mp4 content started to work. Then I came to think of trying mp4 content locally, which I generally have no use for, and what do you know: it was stuttering just the same. There seems to be a problem with "Sony Bravia TV" profile.

To rule out ffmpeg issues, I confirmed that the problem exists both on Windows and Linux.

I also tested local mp4 content with 0.6 beta 4; same stuttering. This problem has apparently been in the profile for some time, former <OnlineTranscoding> just hid it for the online mp4 content.

I am having this same issue - MP4 tiles and stutters if I'm playing from Ubuntu Serviio to Bravia OR to Android device. Does anyone have a fix for this?

[tvkdlna]

As for Bravia, this seems to be tightly related to h264. If I make h264 content to be transcoded, like this:

  Code:

...
<!-- Remux all other h264 video to MPEG-TS stream with ac3 audio transcoding -->
<!-- expected profile AVC_TS_MP_HD_AC3_ISO -->
<Video targetContainer="mpegts" targetVCodec="mpeg2video" maxVBitrate="17000" targetACodec="ac3" aBitrate="192">
<!-- <Video targetContainer="mpegts" targetACodec="ac3" aBitrate="384"> -->
   <Matches container="avi" vCodec="h264" />
   <Matches container="mp4" vCodec="h264" />
...


it works.

However; Bravia W5500 seems to be generally able to render h264, as also the original <Video> element works somehow. I remember that at some point there was an issue with aBitrate, so I also tested

  Code:

<!-- Remux all other h264 video to MPEG-TS stream with ac3 audio transcoding -->
<!-- expected profile AVC_TS_MP_HD_AC3_ISO -->
<Video targetContainer="mpegts" targetACodec="ac3" aBitrate="192">
   <Matches container="avi" vCodec="h264" />
   <Matches container="mp4" vCodec="h264" />
...

as well as completely without aBitrate. No joy. If it's h264, it stutters.

'ffmpeg -i' of my test file:

  Code:

ffmpeg version N-31480-g8bc3a48, Copyright (c) 2000-2011 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Jul 14 2011 23:37:53 with gcc 4.4.2
  configuration: --enable-static --disable-shared --disable-ffplay --disable-ffserver --enable-memalign-hack --enable-libmp3lame --enable-librtmp --extra-libs='-lrtmp -lpolarssl -lws2_32 -lwinmm' --arch=x86 --enable-runtime-cpudetect --enable-pthreads --target-os=mingw32 --cross-prefix=i686-mingw32- --pkg-config=pkg-config
  libavutil    51. 11. 0 / 51. 11. 0
  libavcodec   53.  8. 0 / 53.  8. 0
  libavformat  53.  6. 0 / 53.  6. 0
  libavdevice  53.  2. 0 / 53.  2. 0
  libavfilter   2. 25. 0 /  2. 25. 0
  libswscale    2.  0. 0 /  2.  0. 0

Seems stream 0 codec frame rate differs from container frame rate: 180000.00 (180000/1) -> 25.00 (25/1)
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'Disneyn-esikoulu--Mikki-Hiiren-kerhotalo_2011.09.23_Nelonen_15526712.2M.mp4':
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : mp42
    minor_version   : 0
    compatible_brands: mp42isomavc1
    creation_time   : 2011-09-23 04:46:54
    encoder         : HandBrake svn3626 2010102901
  Duration: 00:28:59.84, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 1838 kb/s
    Stream #0.0(und): Video: h264 (Constrained Baseline), yuv420p, 480x352, 1675 kb/s, 25 fps, 25 tbr, 90k tbn, 180k tbc
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2011-09-23 04:46:54
    Stream #0.1(fin): Audio: aac, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 159 kb/s
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2011-09-23 04:46:54
At least one output file must be specified

Ideas?

[patters]

That's strange - a few guys tested this to be ok on 2010 Bravias with Beta 4 so we removed that particular online transcode section since it seemed it had been added primarily to fix TED streams, but at the expense of transcoding every other H.264 stream.

Paging Illico and pizzaguy541 to the thread...

[zip]

Also he says it happens on local files as well...

[tvkdlna]

Yes indeed. As zip said, there are 2 separate problems:

1. local h264 content stutters (which I didn't know to be a problem until recently)
2. online h264 content stutters (which became a problem when the former profile-specific <OnlineTranscoding> section was removed)

In my case both problems manifest via the mp4 container, but it could also be something else.

For the first one, I don't know a good solution. I can go around the problem by making h264 content to be transcoded as described above, but it's a bit harsh approach, given that older Bravias (in this case W5500) could apparently render h264 natively.

The second problem is caused by the fact that the <OnlineTranscoding> inherited from Profile id="1" doesn't seem to work with older Bravias. The inheritance comes from the attribute extendsProfileId="1" in the opening clause (please correct me if I'm wrong). I can go around this one too by adding a profile-specific <OnlineTranscoding> section, which is also described above.

To be noted though, for the sake of consistency; the profile-specific <OnlineTranscoding> should probably go more like this:

  Code:

<OnlineTranscoding>
   <Video targetContainer="mpegts" targetVCodec="mpeg2video" maxVBitrate="17000" targetACodec="ac3" aBitrate="192">
      <Matches container="mp4"/>
   </Video>
   <Audio targetContainer="mp3">
      <Matches container="flv"/>
   </Audio>
</OnlineTranscoding>

- tested and works.

The major flaw in the second solution is that it's still transcoding. If there's a way to make native h264 work without stuttering, it should be used with online content too.

[patters]

Can you compile the FFmpeg version from the download page and try using that? I can see you're using a different one so that could be the problem. My Bravia V5500 can play the online feeds ok without transcoding to mpeg2video.

[tvkdlna]

I'm testing this with the Windows version of Serviio, so ffmpeg should be the same.

To make sure, I checked the log; what ffmpeg is launched. It's 'C:\Program Files\Serviio\bin\\..\lib/ffmpeg.exe'.

Edit: Just recalled, yesterday I also tested this on OpenSUSE, with different ffmpeg. The stuttering was similar.

[Illico]

Something with your Network Bandwidth? what is your configuration? what are the video bitrate of your h264 sources?

[tvkdlna]

Something with your Network Bandwidth? what is your configuration? what are the video bitrate of your h264 sources?

There shouldn't be anything wrong with my network; normal copper cat5. Everything else in the network works, including any other Serviio content streamed to Bravia except h264/mp4. Even that works without a hitch, if first transcoded.

As for the bitrate, I use h264 content only from one source (commercial online service) and it's always similar to what I described:

'ffmpeg -i' of my test file:

  Code:

ffmpeg version N-31480-g8bc3a48, Copyright (c) 2000-2011 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Jul 14 2011 23:37:53 with gcc 4.4.2
  configuration: --enable-static --disable-shared --disable-ffplay --disable-ffserver --enable-memalign-hack --enable-libmp3lame --enable-librtmp --extra-libs='-lrtmp -lpolarssl -lws2_32 -lwinmm' --arch=x86 --enable-runtime-cpudetect --enable-pthreads --target-os=mingw32 --cross-prefix=i686-mingw32- --pkg-config=pkg-config
  libavutil    51. 11. 0 / 51. 11. 0
  libavcodec   53.  8. 0 / 53.  8. 0
  libavformat  53.  6. 0 / 53.  6. 0
  libavdevice  53.  2. 0 / 53.  2. 0
  libavfilter   2. 25. 0 /  2. 25. 0
  libswscale    2.  0. 0 /  2.  0. 0

Seems stream 0 codec frame rate differs from container frame rate: 180000.00 (180000/1) -> 25.00 (25/1)
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'Disneyn-esikoulu--Mikki-Hiiren-kerhotalo_2011.09.23_Nelonen_15526712.2M.mp4':
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : mp42
    minor_version   : 0
    compatible_brands: mp42isomavc1
    creation_time   : 2011-09-23 04:46:54
    encoder         : HandBrake svn3626 2010102901
  Duration: 00:28:59.84, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 1838 kb/s
    Stream #0.0(und): Video: h264 (Constrained Baseline), yuv420p, 480x352, 1675 kb/s, 25 fps, 25 tbr, 90k tbn, 180k tbc
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2011-09-23 04:46:54
    Stream #0.1(fin): Audio: aac, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 159 kb/s
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2011-09-23 04:46:54
At least one output file must be specified

I don't know about other h264 variants, they may even work. I have no samples to test with. But this form of h264 doesn't seem to work for some reason.

[pizzaguy541]

That's strange - a few guys tested this to be ok on 2010 Bravias with Beta 4 so we removed that particular online transcode section since it seemed it had been added primarily to fix TED streams, but at the expense of transcoding every other H.264 stream.

Paging Illico and pizzaguy541 to the thread...

I don't think that I can be of much help as I don't own a Bravia tv.

The only DLNA device that I'm currently testing with is a Sony BDP.

[tvkdlna]

New data in.

I tested with a h264 sample from different source; The Simpsons Movie – 720p Trailer, and albeit there was bit of a struggle to maintain audio sync, it didn't stutter at all.

For this sample 'ffmpeg -i' says the following:

  Code:

ffmpeg version N-31480-g8bc3a48, Copyright (c) 2000-2011 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Jul 14 2011 23:37:53 with gcc 4.4.2
  configuration: --enable-static --disable-shared --disable-ffplay --disable-ffserver --enable-memalign-hack --enable-libmp3lame --enable-librtmp --extra-libs='-lrtmp -lpolarssl -lws2_32 -lwinmm' --arch=x86 --enable-runtime-cpudetect --enable-pthreads --target-os=mingw32 --cross-prefix=i686-mingw32- --pkg-config=pkg-config
  libavutil    51. 11. 0 / 51. 11. 0
  libavcodec   53.  8. 0 / 53.  8. 0
  libavformat  53.  6. 0 / 53.  6. 0
  libavdevice  53.  2. 0 / 53.  2. 0
  libavfilter   2. 25. 0 /  2. 25. 0
  libswscale    2.  0. 0 /  2.  0. 0

Seems stream 0 codec frame rate differs from container frame rate: 47.95 (5000000/104271) -> 23.98 (24000/1001)
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'The Simpsons Movie - Trailer.mp4':
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : isom
    minor_version   : 1
    compatible_brands: isomavc1
    creation_time   : 2007-02-19 05:03:04
  Duration: 00:02:17.30, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 4283 kb/s
    Stream #0.0(und): Video: h264 (Main), yuv420p, 1280x544, 4221 kb/s, 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 24k tbn, 47.95 tbc
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2007-02-19 05:03:04
    Stream #0.1(und): Audio: aac, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 64 kb/s
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2007-02-19 05:03:08
At least one output file must be specified

I vaguely remember reading somewhere that if you feed video with non-standard resolution to a Sony TV via DLNA, you may be asking for trouble. Could it be that the 480x352 resolution of my original test material is causing the stutter? I've now confirmed the phenomenon with more than one file.

If that's the case, and given that everything seems to work nicely when transcoded; I guess either Serviio or the profile (not sure if it can be done with the means of the profile alone) should always transcode video material with non-standard resolution.

Edit: The same seems to happen also with 480x272 resolution. With both these low resolutions the outcome isn't completely consistent; most of the time you get heavy stutter, then again sometimes the video plays otherwise ok, but audio is several seconds out of sync. None of this happens if the material is transcoded.

Edit #2: I noticed that in all my troubled samples the video stream profile is "Video: h264 (Constrained Baseline)", but in the working Simpsons sample it's "Video: h264 (Main)". Maybe this too could have an effect on this.

[zip]

that might be the cause. You cannot ATM define a transcoding matcher based on resolution

[tvkdlna]

I found somewhat elegant way to make all the bad things go away.

See the following and pay attention to sections starting with "<!-- Transcode all h264 video with BASELINE on MPEG-TS stream with MPEG2VIDEO and ac3 audio transcoding -->":

  Code:

   <Profile id="9" name="Sony Bravia TV" extendsProfileId="1">
      <!-- All models *except* 2011 series which need a separate profile -->
      <Detection>
         <UPnPSearch>
            <!-- 2009 models known to support UPnPSearch, and all 2010 models -->
            <FriendlyName>BRAVIA KDL-\d{2}(WE5|(E53|E55|V55|V56|W55|W57|Z55|Z57)\d0|[EHLNPB]X\d[01]\d) *</FriendlyName>
         </UPnPSearch>
         <HttpHeaders>
            <!-- 2008 models, and possibly older or different region 2009 firmwares which may not support UPnPSearch -->
            <X-AV-Client-Info>.*BRAVIA KDL-\d{2}(([A-Z](1|5|E1|R1|BR45|BR9|[1357]0\d{2}|4\d{3}))|(S55|S57|W51|Z51|Z58)\d0) *</X-AV-Client-Info>
         </HttpHeaders>
      </Detection>
      <DeviceDescription>
         <!-- act as WMP so that the TV doesn't show root categories -->
         <ModelName>Windows Media Player Sharing</ModelName>
         <ModelNumber>3.0</ModelNumber>
         <Manufacturer>Microsoft Corporation</Manufacturer>
      </DeviceDescription>
      <ContentDirectoryMessageBuilder>org.serviio.upnp.service.contentdirectory.SonyDLNAMessageBuilder</ContentDirectoryMessageBuilder>
      <ContentDirectoryDefinitionFilter>org.serviio.upnp.service.contentdirectory.definition.WMPContentDirectoryDefinitionFilter</ContentDirectoryDefinitionFilter>
      <MediaFormatProfiles>
         <!-- rename native mpeg2ts with h264/ac3 ac3 formats to those supported by the tv -->
         <MediaFormatProfile mime-type="video/vnd.dlna.mpeg-tts" name="AVC_TS_HD_24_AC3,AVC_TS_HD_50_AC3,AVC_TS_HD_60_AC3,AVC_TS_HD_EU">AVC_TS_MP_HD_AC3</MediaFormatProfile>
         <MediaFormatProfile mime-type="video/vnd.dlna.mpeg-tts" name="AVC_TS_HD_24_AC3,AVC_TS_HD_50_AC3,AVC_TS_HD_60_AC3,AVC_TS_HD_EU">AVC_TS_MP_SD_AC3</MediaFormatProfile>
         <MediaFormatProfile mime-type="video/vnd.dlna.mpeg-tts" name="AVC_TS_HD_24_AC3_T,AVC_TS_HD_50_AC3_T,AVC_TS_HD_60_AC3_T,AVC_TS_HD_EU_T">AVC_TS_MP_HD_AC3_T</MediaFormatProfile>
         <MediaFormatProfile mime-type="video/vnd.dlna.mpeg-tts" name="AVC_TS_HD_24_AC3_T,AVC_TS_HD_50_AC3_T,AVC_TS_HD_60_AC3_T,AVC_TS_HD_EU_T">AVC_TS_MP_SD_AC3_T</MediaFormatProfile>
         <MediaFormatProfile mime-type="video/vnd.dlna.mpeg-tts" name="AVC_TS_HD_24_AC3_T,AVC_TS_HD_50_AC3_T,AVC_TS_HD_60_AC3_T,AVC_TS_HD_EU_T">AVC_TS_HP_HD_MPEG1_L2_T</MediaFormatProfile>
         <MediaFormatProfile mime-type="video/vnd.dlna.mpeg-tts" name="AVC_TS_HD_24_AC3_T,AVC_TS_HD_50_AC3_T,AVC_TS_HD_60_AC3_T,AVC_TS_HD_EU_T">AVC_TS_HP_SD_MPEG1_L2_T</MediaFormatProfile>
         <!-- rename transcoded mpeg2ts with h264 to one of the TV's supported profiles -->
         <MediaFormatProfile mime-type="video/mpeg" name="AVC_TS_HD_24_AC3_ISO,AVC_TS_HD_50_AC3_ISO,AVC_TS_HD_60_AC3_ISO,AVC_TS_HD_EU_ISO">AVC_TS_MP_HD_AC3_ISO</MediaFormatProfile>
         <MediaFormatProfile mime-type="video/mpeg" name="AVC_TS_HD_24_AC3_ISO,AVC_TS_HD_50_AC3_ISO,AVC_TS_HD_60_AC3_ISO,AVC_TS_HD_EU_ISO">AVC_TS_MP_SD_AC3_ISO</MediaFormatProfile>
         <MediaFormatProfile mime-type="video/mpeg" name="AVC_TS_HD_24_AC3_ISO,AVC_TS_HD_50_AC3_ISO,AVC_TS_HD_60_AC3_ISO,AVC_TS_HD_EU_ISO">AVC_TS_HP_HD_MPEG1_L2_ISO</MediaFormatProfile>
         <MediaFormatProfile mime-type="video/mpeg" name="AVC_TS_HD_24_AC3_ISO,AVC_TS_HD_50_AC3_ISO,AVC_TS_HD_60_AC3_ISO,AVC_TS_HD_EU_ISO">AVC_TS_HP_SD_MPEG1_L2_ISO</MediaFormatProfile>
      </MediaFormatProfiles>
      <Transcoding>
         <!-- For dvr-ms files force mpeg2video transcoding to fix monotone timestamps problems -->
         <Video targetContainer="mpegts" targetACodec="ac3" forceVTranscoding="true">
            <Matches container="asf" vCodec="mpeg2video" />
         </Video>
         <!-- Transcode all h264 video with HIGH/MAIN > Level 4.1 on MPEG-TS stream with MPEG2VIDEO and ac3 audio transcoding -->
         <!-- expected profile MPEG_TS_SD_EU/MPEG_TS_SD_NA/MPEG_TS_SD_KO -->
         <Video targetContainer="mpegts" targetVCodec="mpeg2video" maxVBitrate="17000" targetACodec="ac3" aBitrate="384">
            <Matches container="avi" vCodec="h264" profile="high" levelGreaterThan="4.1" />
            <Matches container="avi" vCodec="h264" profile="main" levelGreaterThan="4.1" />
            <Matches container="matroska" vCodec="h264" profile="high" levelGreaterThan="4.1" />
            <Matches container="matroska" vCodec="h264" profile="main" levelGreaterThan="4.1" />
            <Matches container="mp4" vCodec="h264" profile="high" levelGreaterThan="4.1" />
            <Matches container="mp4" vCodec="h264" profile="main" levelGreaterThan="4.1" />
         </Video>
         <!-- Transcode all h264 video with BASELINE on MPEG-TS stream with MPEG2VIDEO and ac3 audio transcoding -->
         <!-- expected profile MPEG_TS_SD_EU/MPEG_TS_SD_NA/MPEG_TS_SD_KO -->
         <Video targetContainer="mpegts" targetVCodec="mpeg2video" maxVBitrate="17000" targetACodec="ac3" aBitrate="192">
            <Matches container="avi" vCodec="h264" profile="baseline" />
            <Matches container="mp4" vCodec="h264" profile="baseline" />
            <Matches container="matroska" vCodec="h264" profile="baseline" />
         </Video>
         <!-- Remux h264 video with AC3 audio to MPEG-TS stream without transcoding -->
         <!-- expected profile AVC_TS_MP_HD_AC3_ISO -->
         <Video targetContainer="mpegts">
            <Matches container="avi" vCodec="h264" aCodec="ac3" />
            <Matches container="mp4" vCodec="h264" aCodec="ac3" />
            <Matches container="matroska" vCodec="h264" aCodec="ac3" />
         </Video>
         <!-- Remux all other h264 video to MPEG-TS stream with ac3 audio transcoding -->
         <!-- expected profile AVC_TS_MP_HD_AC3_ISO -->
         <Video targetContainer="mpegts" targetACodec="ac3" aBitrate="384">
            <Matches container="avi" vCodec="h264" />
            <Matches container="mp4" vCodec="h264" />
            <Matches container="matroska" vCodec="h264" />
            <!-- if audio different to ac3, must be transcoded -->
            <Matches container="mpegts" aCodec="aac" />
            <Matches container="mpegts" aCodec="mp3" />
            <Matches container="mpegts" aCodec="dca" />
            <Matches container="mpegts" aCodec="lpcm" />
            <Matches container="mpeg" aCodec="dca" />
            <Matches container="ogg" vCodec="mpeg4" />
         </Video>
         <!-- All Others video/audio codec will be transcoded into mpeg2ts, mpeg2video and ac3 audio -->
         <!-- expected profile MPEG_TS_SD_EU/MPEG_TS_SD_NA/MPEG_TS_SD_KO -->
         <Video targetContainer="mpegts" targetVCodec="mpeg2video" maxVBitrate="17000" targetACodec="ac3" aBitrate="192">
            <Matches container="asf" />
            <Matches container="avi" />
            <Matches container="mp4" />
            <Matches container="matroska" />
            <Matches container="flv" />
            <Matches container="wtv" />
            <Matches container="ogg" />
         </Video>
         <Audio targetContainer="lpcm">
            <!-- To allow "pause" then "resume" functions and album art for TVs that support it - transcode to mp3 instead -->
            <Matches container="asf" />
            <Matches container="mp4" />
            <Matches container="ogg" />
            <Matches container="flac" />
         </Audio>
      </Transcoding>
      <OnlineTranscoding>
         <!-- Transcode all h264 video with BASELINE on MPEG-TS stream with MPEG2VIDEO and ac3 audio transcoding -->
         <!-- expected profile MPEG_TS_SD_EU/MPEG_TS_SD_NA/MPEG_TS_SD_KO -->
         <Video targetContainer="mpegts" targetVCodec="mpeg2video" maxVBitrate="17000" targetACodec="ac3" aBitrate="192">
            <Matches container="avi" vCodec="h264" profile="baseline" />
            <Matches container="mp4" vCodec="h264" profile="baseline" />
            <Matches container="matroska" vCodec="h264" profile="baseline" />
         </Video>
      </OnlineTranscoding>
   </Profile>

This doesn't take any existing functionality away, but only deals with h264 "baseline" profile (although it also seems to match "constrained baseline", which is good). Since both h264 "baseline" and "constrained baseline" profiles are defined to be "primarily for low-cost applications" (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.264/MPEG-4_AVC#Profiles), they are likely to present odd screen resolutions, which seem to be just the thing causing problems to Bravia TV's with h264, and now solved with transcoding.

I can now play any h264 content, both local and online, without a hitch and even TED seems to be happy.

I suggest these changes to "Sony Bravia TV" profile.

Edit: Removed junk from the commenting and made it more consistent.

[zip]

let few people confirm it works and then create a bitbucket ticket for inclusion in the future release. thanks.

[ptyork]

I can give you at least one thumbs up. Solved my out-of-sync audio issues nicely. I've not done a lot of testing, but so far this appears quite kosher.

[Illico]

I tested "The Simpsons Movie – 720p Trailer.mp4" on my 46EX501 (2010) model with the "Sony Bravia TV" profile selected: no stuttering and no audio sync problem .
I have no "Baseline" mp4 samples...

[tvkdlna]

I have no "Baseline" mp4 samples...

TED is a good place to start, their recordings are of h264 "constrained baseline" profile in mp4 container.

For online test: http://www.ted.com/talks/rss

For local test: Open the URL above to browser, download any of the feed items, play it from the disk.

[Illico]

So TED shows work fine on my Sony EX501 with default 0.6 "Sony Profile".

EDIT: The only issue, is on bad display ratio but could be resolved with that options : viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2956#p18767

[tvkdlna]

So TED shows work fine on my Sony EX501 with default 0.6 "Sony Profile".

EDIT: The only issue, is on bad display ratio but could be resolved with that options : viewtopic.php?f=11&t=2956#p18767

It's likely that newer Bravia models are more capable with h264. For the older sets though, like my W5500, transcoding to mpeg seems to be the only somewhat sure way to get things working.

Out of curiosity: Does transcoding fix your ratio issue? I've noticed my set to be way less picky with mpeg than it is with h264.