1080p Handbrake settings for new Apple TV?

[NightStorm]

Sorry, I should have clarified, I was using Home Sharing, so maybe the downscaling is happening on the computer side?

The AppleTV v2 can now downscale 1080p to 720p in real-time with the latest software update. This happens on the AppleTV, not on the computer running iTunes.

The iPad 2 will not transfer a 1080p video via iTunes; there is no automatic downscaling, requiring you to have two versions of the same movie if you want to be able to play it on the device.

 

[WebHead]

The iPad 2 will not transfer a 1080p video via iTunes; there is no automatic downscaling, requiring you to have two versions of the same movie if you want to be able to play it on the device.

It was the iPad 2 I was using. Hrm, must have been streaming the SD version, though it looked damn nice. Sorry for the confusion!

 

[RadioFlyer79]

long encoding time

What about audio settings? In particular for music. Just increase the bitrate, or is there anything else that needs to be done to get the best sound?

Is it normal for it to take so much longer than the gen2 preset? Wow. I attempted to encode a movie last week and it was going to take 22 hours. Tried a different movie yesterday, it took 9 hours. Sadly, iTunes wouldn't import it. Not sure why.

~D

 

[osohardy]

The AppleTV v2 can now downscale 1080p to 720p in real-time with the latest software update. This happens on the AppleTV, not on the computer running iTunes.

The iPad 2 will not transfer a 1080p video via iTunes; there is no automatic downscaling, requiring you to have two versions of the same movie if you want to be able to play it on the device.

Hmm for me this is only an issue with the new 1080p itunes purchases. My ipad 2 will sync 1080p handbrake encodes...

 

[NightStorm]

Hmm for me this is only an issue with the new 1080p itunes purchases. My ipad 2 will sync 1080p handbrake encodes...

Interesting... do you flag the Handbrake encodes as 1080p using something like the Subler beta? I've often wondered if iTunes simply looks to see if the HDVD atom is set to 2 (1080p) to restrict what content can and cannot be synced to the iPad2. My observation came when I started re-downloading purchased movies in 1080p, and I always seem to forget to test my theory stated above.

 

[osohardy]

Interesting... do you flag the Handbrake encodes as 1080p using something like the Subler beta? I've often wondered if iTunes simply looks to see if the HDVD atom is set to 2 (1080p) to restrict what content can and cannot be synced to the iPad2. My observation came when I started re-downloading purchased movies in 1080p, and I always seem to forget to test my theory stated above.

No I dont have to tag them at all actually. Straight from handbrake to iTunes will work. These are level 4.0 high profile. For itunes 1080p purchases they arent visible in homesharing via ipad 2 either, whereas before they were and are obviously playable. I already submitted a feedback to apple since these files are clearly within ipad 2 specs as defined by apple anyway and is clearly an itunes restriction at this point. Although my ATV2 will see and play 1080 itunes purchases still--so it seems they are only doing this to ipads.

 

[loboreeves]

I have a similar problem. My Apple TV 2 doesn't let me play both my 1080p iTunes purchases nor my 1080p Handbrake movies. Though if I tag them in Subler as 720p rather than 1080p they show up and play fine. Also if I Airplay 1080p iTunes purchases to my Apple TV 2, they also play fine.

Another question I have is; when using this thread's recommended Handbrake setting for Apple TV 3, should I set the framerate as "Same as Source" or change it to "29.97 NTSC", like it is in the Apple TV 2 preset?

 

[NightStorm]

No I dont have to tag them at all actually. Straight from handbrake to iTunes will work. These are level 4.0 high profile. For itunes 1080p purchases they arent visible in homesharing via ipad 2 either, whereas before they were and are obviously playable. I already submitted a feedback to apple since these files are clearly within ipad 2 specs as defined by apple anyway and is clearly an itunes restriction at this point. Although my ATV2 will see and play 1080 itunes purchases still--so it seems they are only doing this to ipads.

Very interesting... thanks for the additional information. I've always wondered/hoped that the ability to sync these purchases to the iPad 2 was an oversight that would eventually be corrected. I have submitted feedback to iTunes as well, so hopefully they will reconsider and/or fix this issue.

 

[dynaflash]

Another question I have is; when using this thread's recommended Handbrake setting for Apple TV 3, should I set the framerate as "Same as Source" or change it to "29.97 NTSC", like it is in the Apple TV 2 preset?

if so make sure to check the "Peak Frame Rate" checkbox. this way hb will use a variable framerate unless it hits the 29.976 fps ceiling, in which case it will maintain that as a cap. afaik, the atv 3 cannot play back > 29.976 fps.

 

[ATJ777]

I have a similar problem. My Apple TV 2 doesn't let me play both my 1080p iTunes purchases nor my 1080p Handbrake movies. Though if I tag them in Subler as 720p rather than 1080p they show up and play fine. Also if I Airplay 1080p iTunes purchases to my Apple TV 2, they also play fine.

What firmware are you running on the ATV2? What version of iTunes are you running? It was my understanding that ATV2 needs to be on iOS 5.1 and iTunes needs to be 10.6 to be able to play 1080p.

 

[loboreeves]

What firmware are you running on the ATV2? What version of iTunes are you running? It was my understanding that ATV2 needs to be on iOS 5.1 and iTunes needs to be 10.6 to be able to play 1080p.

I am running the latest firmware for the Apple TV 2 and iTunes 10.6.1.

 

[Mike Valmike]

if so make sure to check the "Peak Frame Rate" checkbox. this way hb will use a variable framerate unless it hits the 29.976 fps ceiling, in which case it will maintain that as a cap. afaik, the atv 3 cannot play back > 29.976 fps.

NO for God's sake don't do that, ALWAYS enter the framerate as Same As Source. The equipment can telecine the content from 24 to 30fps as necessary (ok 23.976 to 29.97 fps, whatever) during playback. You want to keep your encodes as close as possible to the original content for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that future devices are more and more likely to play your content in its native framerate (and your Mac or iOS device already does). The only reason the ATV is locked at 30fps, I speculate, is that most televisions don't go up to 120hz refresh, which is a multiple of both 30 and 24 and would allow native playback no matter whether the content originated as a film or television show.

 

[NightStorm]

NO for God's sake don't do that, ALWAYS enter the framerate as Same As Source. The equipment can telecine the content from 24 to 30fps as necessary (ok 23.976 to 29.97 fps, whatever) during playback. You want to keep your encodes as close as possible to the original content for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that future devices are more and more likely to play your content in its native framerate (and your Mac or iOS device already does). The only reason the ATV is locked at 30fps, I speculate, is that most televisions don't go up to 120hz refresh, which is a multiple of both 30 and 24 and would allow native playback no matter whether the content originated as a film or television show.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the message from dynaflash that you quoted if you want to ensure your encodes playback on an AppleTV v3. If your source is 24 or 30 FPS, nothing changes.

 

[dynaflash]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the message from dynaflash that you quoted if you want to ensure your encodes playback on an AppleTV v3. If your source is 24 or 30 FPS, nothing changes.

As NightStorm said, I personally use same as source however I also know none of my source material has a higher framerate than 30 fp. I merely suggested that choosing 30 fps and peak framerate will as NightStorm said, prevent a user from grabbing say an eyetv 60 fps source or whatever and finding out that it i will not playback on the atv. it won't even try to stream. I suspect the same on the iPad.

Anything up to 30 fps will still be same as source. It was just a suggestion and using most normal pal and ntsc sources will have no affect on framerate as it will be at or below 30 fps.

 

[vinissao]

Easy ....

1. Choose High Profile
2. Turn off Detelecine
3. Set to Strict Anamorphic in Picture settings
4. Hit the "+" Button in the Presets Drawer
5. Type "AppleTV 3" for a Preset Name
6. Set Use Picture Size: Source Maximum
7. Check "Use Picture Filters"
8. Click Add.

... at least until hb releases an atv3 preset. Which will pretty much be this barring a couple minor changes at most..

I tried that, but look what happened:

8gb mkv file input
1.3 gb mkv file output

When I encode a movie using the preset Apple TV2, the file looks like this:

input 8gb mkv
mkv output 2.4

You mean a movie full hd gets smaller?
Is this correct or am I doing something wrong?

 

[mic j]

I tried that, but look what happened:

8gb mkv file input
1.3 gb mkv file output

When I encode a movie using the preset Apple TV2, the file looks like this:

input 8gb mkv
mkv output 2.4

You mean a movie full hd gets smaller?
Is this correct or am I doing something wrong?

Yes. High Profile is more efficient compression but at the price of transcoding time. It takes a lot longer.

 

[tkachukfan]

Hey everyone, long time lurker first time poster here. I had an issue with Handbraking a 1080p Blu Ray that I wanted to ask. It was originally an MKV file, and in Handbrake I used High Profile and only turned off detelecine and decomb to convert it to an M4V. Unfortunately, the audio was out of sync on multiple attempts. So I then tried remuxing the original MKV to M4V using iFlicks, and then running that M4V through Handbrake to reduce the file size. I was wondering if my second method of encoding through Handbrake would reduce quality as opposed to the first?

 

[pilot1226]

For what it's worth I'm using Apple TV 2 preset with Default Decombing on everything I do - and it's same as DVD quality. The file sizes are larger on my iPhone, obviously, but I'm willing to put up with that rather than have a bunch of files for my iPhone only and a bunch for my Apple TV only.

 

[Mackan]

I've converted a couple of 720p mkv files (generally of profile 4.1) using the default settings in Handbrake for "High Profile", CRF set to 20. They all end up as high profile 3.1 when done.

In order to reach profile 4.0 or 4.1 which the new Apple TV should be able to handle, I guess I should use same settings, but with CRF 18-19 instead? Or is there a way to ensure a certain profile with Handbrake?

Also, when converting DTS to AC3, they audio becomes very low, which I hear is normal due to dialog normalization for AC3. Is there a way to remove the dialog normalization in Handbrake? The volume gain feature seems unsafe to me, how do I know what value I should use, and that the gain does not introduce clipping?

 

[rayward]

Easy ....
2. Turn off Detelecine

Can I assume that this is simply to speed up processing time?

I have encoded a few BDs for 1080p now, and I did not do this. I'm hoping that my resultant files - which look great - are the same as if I had done this, and the only difference is that I wasted some processor time on the encode.

 

[dynaflash]

Can I assume that this is simply to speed up processing time?

I have encoded a few BDs for 1080p now, and I did not do this. I'm hoping that my resultant files - which look great - are the same as if I had done this, and the only difference is that I wasted some processor time on the encode.

Well, Detelecine is not very well threaded so it can slow things down, as well it can munge some sources for instance some PAL content. I would only use it if you know you have a telecined source which is likely not the case from a BD.

 

[Richdmoore]

As NightStorm said, I personally use same as source however I also know none of my source material has a higher framerate than 30 fp. I merely suggested that choosing 30 fps and peak framerate will as NightStorm said, prevent a user from grabbing say an eyetv 60 fps source or whatever and finding out that it i will not playback on the atv. it won't even try to stream. I suspect the same on the iPad.

Anything up to 30 fps will still be same as source. It was just a suggestion and using most normal pal and ntsc sources will have no affect on framerate as it will be at or below 30 fps.

I converted a mkv 720 60fps (as reported by quicktime x) with handbrake to a m4vfile to test on my iPad (3rd gen) and it played fine. (I was actually surprised.)

I did verify under the QuickTime inspector that it didn't change the frame rate, it remained at 60fps. (Actualy, 59.something to be exact.)

Is the 30fps limit only for 1080p files? Or is it an apple tv limit vs an iPad limit?

 

[dynaflash]

Is the 30fps limit only for 1080p files? Or is it an apple tv limit vs an iPad limit?

Not sure tbh on the iPad, I know that 1080p60 borks the atv.

 

[rayward]

Well, Detelecine is not very well threaded so it can slow things down, as well it can munge some sources for instance some PAL content. I would only use it if you know you have a telecined source which is likely not the case from a BD.

Thanks. Just wanted to make sure that I did not have to re-re-encode the few BDs I have already processed for a 1080p file.

----------

Is the 30fps limit only for 1080p files? Or is it an apple tv limit vs an iPad limit?

My understanding is that it is the limit for ATV and iDevices, regardless of the resolution.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

TV 3 will try to play 1080p60fps .m4vs but they tend to have an odd strobe-like effect. It clearly can't handle the 60fps. If you have that kind of content, consider mastering in 60fps (native) and then downconverting a copy (at 30fps) for TV 3.

Maybe gen "4" or "5" will be capable of 60fps.

Also, I have done some experiments with 1080p 60fps output from FCPX. The resulting .m4v is very impressive. However, it seems important to also render a 30fps version from FCPX instead of trying to use something like Handbrake to do the downconversion to 30fps. What's happened when I've tried to do the latter is the sound seems to get a small bit out of sync in longer (1+ hour videos). In other words, the "master" file at 1080p60fps has synched audio but the 1080p30fps version made by Handbrake seems to lose the same audio sync (maybe as much as a second out of sync). I don't know why this would happen as I'm under the impression that the conversion would just throw out every other frame to get to 30fps (so wouldn't it throw out the exact same amount of time for the audio associated with each of those frames?).

On a related note, I tried the same conversion experiment using Adobe Media Encoder 5.5 and that worked (with audio in sync). However, based on the time it took, I came to the conclusion that it was best to just render 2 versions out of FCPX: one at 60fps and one at 30fps. The former becomes the long-term master version and the latter is the TV 3 version.