Transcoding woes on a LG 42LE5900-ZA

All,

I am coming to my wits end, and could really do with some help.

I am trying to play HD AVI files of motor racing on a LG 42LE5900-ZA. The files have the correct DAR of 16:9, but they display as 4:3 on the screen. After e-mailing LG support the answer I got from them is that their TV's ignore the aspect ratio, they have no plans to correct that, and I would have to stretch the frame size to get it in Widescreen.

The AVI's are currently encoded in H264.

I have tried encoding them to MPEG4, but I get horrible pixelation and a really poor quality video stream.

I have tried encoding them to libx264. When I do a transcode with no options, I get a jerky video with stuttering motion. If I use the HQ or MAX presets, the TV rejects it as an invalid file.

The current frame size on the videos is 1440 x 1080, and I am trying to stretch it to 1920 x 1080. I know that I have to transcode to change the frame size.

I am not bothered by the Audio, If needed I can loose that.

After all that background, can I please have some help on what is the best codec to transcode to and keep the quality? Should I be trying for 720p rather than 1080p? Should be looking at going to mkv? If so, which codec can I use for that?

Any help anyone can provide will be much appreciated. If I can provide anything else to help, please let me know.

  Code:

Command:
ffmpeg -i Abu-Dhabi-orig.avi -vcodec libx264 -vpre libx264-max -s 1920x1080 -aspect 16:9 -acodec copy Ws-attempt18.avi

Original then result:
 --( dwyatt@chpe-d9-000062:pts/5 )--------------------------------------------------------------------( /home/dwyatt/Scratch2/2011-Races )--
 --( 1050:Tue,20 Dec 11 :$)- -  ffmpeg -i Abu-Dhabi-orig.avi
ffmpeg version 0.8.7.git-a6c4c0f, Copyright (c) 2000-2011 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Dec 14 2011 10:37:17 with gcc 4.6.2
  configuration: --enable-libvpx --enable-gpl --enable-libx264 --enable-nonfree --enable-postproc --enable-version3 --enable-x11grab
  libavutil    51. 32. 0 / 51. 32. 0
  libavcodec   53. 43. 0 / 53. 43. 0
  libavformat  53. 25. 0 / 53. 25. 0
  libavdevice  53.  4. 0 / 53.  4. 0
  libavfilter   2. 53. 0 /  2. 53. 0
  libswscale    2.  1. 0 /  2.  1. 0
  libpostproc  51.  2. 0 / 51.  2. 0
Seems stream 0 codec frame rate differs from container frame rate: 50.00 (50/1) -> 50.00 (50/1)
Input #0, mpegts, from 'Abu-Dhabi-orig.avi':
  Duration: 01:50:07.84, start: 17611.021867, bitrate: 11214 kb/s
  Program 6941
    Stream #0:0[0x1518]: Video: h264 (High) ([27][0][0][0] / 0x001B), yuv420p, 1440x1080 [SAR 4:3 DAR 16:9], 35.66 fps, 50 tbr, 90k tbn, 50 tbc
    Stream #0:1[0x151a](NAR): Audio: mp2 ([3][0][0][0] / 0x0003), 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 256 kb/s
    Stream #0:2[0x151b](eng): Subtitle: dvb_teletext ([6][0][0][0] / 0x0006)
    Stream #0:3[0xf05]: Unknown: none ([11][0][0][0] / 0x000B)
    Stream #0:4[0xf06]: Unknown: none ([11][0][0][0] / 0x000B)
    Stream #0:5[0xf07]: Unknown: none ([11][0][0][0] / 0x000B)
    Stream #0:6[0xf08]: Unknown: none ([11][0][0][0] / 0x000B)
    Stream #0:7[0x151c](eng): Subtitle: dvb_subtitle ([6][0][0][0] / 0x0006)
    Stream #0:8[0xf00]: Unknown: none ([5][0][0][0] / 0x0005)
    Stream #0:9[0xf01]: Unknown: none ([5][0][0][0] / 0x0005)
    Stream #0:10[0xf02]: Unknown: none ([5][0][0][0] / 0x0005)
    Stream #0:11[0xf03]: Unknown: none ([5][0][0][0] / 0x0005)
    Stream #0:12[0xf04]: Unknown: none ([5][0][0][0] / 0x0005)
    Stream #0:13[0x911]: Unknown: none ([5][0][0][0] / 0x0005)
    Stream #0:14[0x912]: Unknown: none ([5][0][0][0] / 0x0005)
    Stream #0:15[0x913]: Unknown: none ([5][0][0][0] / 0x0005)
    Stream #0:16[0x1519](eng): Audio: ac3 ([6][0][0][0] / 0x0006), 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 192 kb/s
    Stream #0:17[0x919]: Unknown: none ([5][0][0][0] / 0x0005)
    Stream #0:18[0x91a]: Unknown: none ([5][0][0][0] / 0x0005)
At least one output file must be specified
 --( dwyatt@chpe-d9-000062:pts/5 )--------------------------------------------------------------------( /home/dwyatt/Scratch2/2011-Races )--
 --( 1050:Tue,20 Dec 11 :$)- -  ffmpeg -i Ws-attempt18.avi
ffmpeg version 0.8.7.git-a6c4c0f, Copyright (c) 2000-2011 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Dec 14 2011 10:37:17 with gcc 4.6.2
  configuration: --enable-libvpx --enable-gpl --enable-libx264 --enable-nonfree --enable-postproc --enable-version3 --enable-x11grab
  libavutil    51. 32. 0 / 51. 32. 0
  libavcodec   53. 43. 0 / 53. 43. 0
  libavformat  53. 25. 0 / 53. 25. 0
  libavdevice  53.  4. 0 / 53.  4. 0
  libavfilter   2. 53. 0 /  2. 53. 0
  libswscale    2.  1. 0 /  2.  1. 0
  libpostproc  51.  2. 0 / 51.  2. 0
[avi @ 0x15cc7a0] max_analyze_duration 5000000 reached at 5016000
Input #0, avi, from 'Ws-attempt18.avi':
  Metadata:
    encoder         : Lavf53.25.0
  Duration: 01:50:20.40, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 6688 kb/s
    Stream #0:0: Video: h264 (High) (H264 / 0x34363248), yuv420p, 1920x1080 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 50 fps, 50 tbr, 50 tbn, 100 tbc
    Stream #0:1: Audio: mp2 (P[0][0][0] / 0x0050), 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 256 kb/s
At least one output file must be specified
 --( dwyatt@chpe-d9-000062:pts/5 )--------------------------------------------------------------------( /home/dwyatt/Scratch2/2011-Races )--
 --( 1052:Tue,20 Dec 11 :$)- -


[zip]

you should be able to do mpeg4, but make sure you use -sameq parameter otherwise FFmpeg defaults to a very bad quality output.

Thank you.

I did not know about that switch. I'll give it a go and let you know how I get on.

Cheers
Drew

Hi there,

Well, I gave it a go as follows:

  Code:

ffmpeg -i Abu-Dhabi-orig.avi -codec mpeg4 -sameq -s 1920x1080 -aspect 16:9 -acodec copy Ws-attempt19.mp4

The file size did inflate a bit:

  Code:

 --( dwyatt@chpe-d9-000062:pts/6 )----------------------------------------------------( /home/dwyatt/Scratch2/2011-Races )--
 --( 1249:Wed,21 Dec 11 :$)- -  ls -lh Abu-Dhabi-orig.avi
-rwxr--r-x 1 dwyatt users 8.7G Nov 17 17:02 Abu-Dhabi-orig.avi
 --( dwyatt@chpe-d9-000062:pts/6 )----------------------------------------------------( /home/dwyatt/Scratch2/2011-Races )--
 --( 1249:Wed,21 Dec 11 :$)- -  ls -lh Ws-attempt19.mp4
-rw-r--r-- 1 dwyatt users 42G Dec 20 15:45 Ws-attempt19.mp4
 --( dwyatt@chpe-d9-000062:pts/6 )----------------------------------------------------( /home/dwyatt/Scratch2/2011-Races )--
 --( 1250:Wed,21 Dec 11 :$)- - 

I put it on the serviio server, where I have tried mp4 files before:

  Code:

serviio@chpe-d9-001554:~/Media_files> ls -lh Ws-attempt1*.mp4
-rw-r--r-- 1 serviio users 2.4G 2011-12-06 08:10 Ws-attempt13.mp4
-rw-r--r-- 1 serviio users 8.8G 2011-12-06 19:51 Ws-attempt14.mp4
-rw-r--r-- 1 serviio users  42G 2011-12-20 17:06 Ws-attempt19.mp4
serviio@chpe-d9-001554:~/Media_files>

When I look at the library from the TV, the file does not show up. There is an error in the log file:

  Code:

2011-12-21 12:25:43,488 INFO  [LibraryAdditionsCheckerThread] Added file 'Ws-attempt19.mp4' (title: Ws-attempt19) to Library
2011-12-21 12:33:23,044 WARN  [VideoDeliveryEngine] Cannot resolve DLNA format profile of the original file: Ws-attempt19.mp4. Message: MP4 video file Ws-attempt19.mp4 does not match any supported DLNA profile
2011-12-21 12:33:23,083 WARN  [VideoDeliveryEngine] Cannot resolve DLNA format profile of the original file: Ws-attempt19.mp4. Message: MP4 video file Ws-attempt19.mp4 does not match any supported DLNA profile

I have checked the file against the two other files there, and the ffmpeg info looks almost the same:

  Code:

serviio@chpe-d9-001554:~/Media_files> ffmpeg -i Ws-attempt13.mp4
ffmpeg version 0.8.3, Copyright (c) 2000-2011 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Nov 22 2011 15:52:40 with gcc 4.3.4 [gcc-4_3-branch revision 152973]
  configuration:
  libavutil    51.  9. 1 / 51.  9. 1
  libavcodec   53.  7. 0 / 53.  7. 0
  libavformat  53.  4. 0 / 53.  4. 0
  libavdevice  53.  1. 1 / 53.  1. 1
  libavfilter   2. 23. 0 /  2. 23. 0
  libswscale    2.  0. 0 /  2.  0. 0
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'Ws-attempt13.mp4':
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : isom
    minor_version   : 512
    compatible_brands: isomiso2mp41
    creation_time   : 1970-01-01 00:00:00
    encoder         : Lavf53.4.0
  Duration: 01:50:07.72, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 3012 kb/s
    Stream #0.0(und): Video: mpeg4, yuv420p, 1920x1080 [PAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 2945 kb/s, 36 fps, 36 tbr, 36 tbn, 36 tbc
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 1970-01-01 00:00:00
    Stream #0.1(eng): Audio: aac, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 62 kb/s
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 1970-01-01 00:00:00
At least one output file must be specified
serviio@chpe-d9-001554:~/Media_files> ffmpeg -i Ws-attempt14.mp4
ffmpeg version 0.8.3, Copyright (c) 2000-2011 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Nov 22 2011 15:52:40 with gcc 4.3.4 [gcc-4_3-branch revision 152973]
  configuration:
  libavutil    51.  9. 1 / 51.  9. 1
  libavcodec   53.  7. 0 / 53.  7. 0
  libavformat  53.  4. 0 / 53.  4. 0
  libavdevice  53.  1. 1 / 53.  1. 1
  libavfilter   2. 23. 0 /  2. 23. 0
  libswscale    2.  0. 0 /  2.  0. 0
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'Ws-attempt14.mp4':
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : isom
    minor_version   : 512
    compatible_brands: isomiso2mp41
    creation_time   : 1970-01-01 00:00:00
    encoder         : Lavf53.4.0
  Duration: 01:50:07.72, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 11320 kb/s
    Stream #0.0(und): Video: mpeg4, yuv420p, 1920x1080 [PAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 11250 kb/s, 36 fps, 36 tbr, 36 tbn, 36 tbc
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 1970-01-01 00:00:00
    Stream #0.1(eng): Audio: aac, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 62 kb/s
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 1970-01-01 00:00:00
At least one output file must be specified
serviio@chpe-d9-001554:~/Media_files> ffmpeg -i Ws-attempt19.mp4
ffmpeg version 0.8.3, Copyright (c) 2000-2011 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Nov 22 2011 15:52:40 with gcc 4.3.4 [gcc-4_3-branch revision 152973]
  configuration:
  libavutil    51.  9. 1 / 51.  9. 1
  libavcodec   53.  7. 0 / 53.  7. 0
  libavformat  53.  4. 0 / 53.  4. 0
  libavdevice  53.  1. 1 / 53.  1. 1
  libavfilter   2. 23. 0 /  2. 23. 0
  libswscale    2.  0. 0 /  2.  0. 0
[mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2 @ 0x127f400] multiple edit list entries, a/v desync might occur, patch welcome
Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'Ws-attempt19.mp4':
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : isom
    minor_version   : 512
    compatible_brands: isomiso2mp41
    creation_time   : 1970-01-01 00:00:00
    encoder         : Lavf53.25.0
  Duration: 01:50:20.56, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 54083 kb/s
    Stream #0.0(und): Video: mpeg4, yuv420p, 1920x1080 [PAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 53817 kb/s, 50 fps, 50 tbr, 50 tbn, 50 tbc
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 1970-01-01 00:00:00
    Stream #0.1(eng): Audio: mp2, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 255 kb/s
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 1970-01-01 00:00:00
At least one output file must be specified
serviio@chpe-d9-001554:~/Media_files>

The only difference I can see is that the version of the encoder is a later version.

Is 42Gb too large for Serviio to serve out?

[zip]

serviio probably doesn't support mpeg4 in mp4 container. Try to wrap it back to AVI by providing

  Code:

-f avi