WDTV Conversion and Spec Guide

This guide is to help you convert your video files to a playable format that can be used on the WDTV player.

MKV files-
Goal- to get an mkv file with AC3 and\or DTS audio.
Sources discussed-
Bluray encrypted .m2ts, already converted MKV file, WMV-HD, 264, AVI, MP4, MPG, m1v, m2v, mov, ram, rm, compressed .m2ts, .ts
Solutions for converting all of the above to playable MKV Without re-encoding!
1. Already converted MKV Solution-
The main purpose for converting MKV to MKV is to modify the audio tracks so this describes how to do that.
a. If audio contains DTS, AAC, OGG/Vorbis - Use Popcorn’s MKV AudioConverter. You have the option of preserving the DTS track with this program as well and just add AC3 so it can be played back on a television or other device that does not support DTS decoding.
b. If you wish to REMOVE audio tracks ONLY, use MKVMerge that comes with MKVtoolnix. It will remux mkv without deselected audio track(s).
c. If you wish to REMOVE audio tracks AND add some WHILE STILL keeping the MKV format, do the following-
Use PopCorn Hour’s Audio converter to create your desired AC3 track. Open MKVMerge and deselect the audio tracks that you do not wish to keep and remux to a mkv file.
2. WMV-HD conversion to MKV
There are two methods described here that can successfully do this. When one solution doesn’t work, use the other. One of these two has always worked for others users.
a. Import your WMV file into Super. Select mkv container, stream video copy, disable audio. Right click around the middle of the program and select output directory. Now, hit encode. When this is done, Open up program XVID4PSP, open original WMV file. Disable video, select audio output AC3 then hit encode. Use either TSMuxer or MKVMerge to mux the outputted AC3 file and the outputted .MKV file together. If using TSMuxer, it will convert to either ts or m2ts. If using original firmware and tsmuxer, remux to .m2ts. Newest firmware can use either m2ts or ts.
b. Use program WMVConverter. It is a really easy process. It’s goal converts audio straight to AC3. You MUST have all required tools present for this program. If you do not, output may be very slow.

3. 264, AVI, MP4, MPG, m1v, m2v, mov, ram, rm to MKV
This is an easy process. If you have any one of these extensions, simply open MKVMerge and mux over to MKV.
4. Uncompressed Bluray m2ts to mkv
Ok, this is not a simple process. This does require a great deal of video conversion knowledge as of this date of creation, there is no all-in-one solution as simple as dvd converters such as dvd shrink for example. I can give you methods but nothing in detail as there is no simple method.
Tools –
ANYDVD HD – Used to decrypt movie for conversion purposes.
Converter Options – RipBot264, StaxRip, Handbrake, MeGUI
Each one of these tools is for a different level of intelligence you may have for video conversion and editing. None of them are simple, but some have a lot more options that can give you more control over file output size and resulting quality. These programs require a LOT of extra software to work, some as many as 10+ extra programs but most of these programs give you the option of downloading straight through the interface itself!
The goal to bluray conversion is to compress down to 4.37gb for 720p, 7.94gb for 1080p. Other factors prohibit this goal such as retaining DTS, long duration movie or fast motion based movie can effect the output size.
This process takes a LONG time. Single core systems have been noted to take over 72hrs for 1 movie. OC’ed Quad core or high level Quad core systems noted to take about 3.5-4hrs per movie. Dual core or dual core extreme systems expected to take between 6-12hrs.

NOTE – For any audio conversion necessary that was not listed above, use XVID4PSP to convert audio to AC3.
For DTS conversion-
You need the following and this is not all freeware either.
Surcode DVD DTS encoder
EAC3to
EAC3toGUI
Extract audio from video file with XVID4PSP into WAV output surround. Then open EAC3toGUI and import your wav file. Select destination and fill in the file name with the extension .dts. The dts section is now unlocked. Select your desired bitrate and then convert it.

Compatible format specifications for ORIGINAL FIRMWARE-

The following is a list of known playable formats that have either been tested or noted to work. Other formats under abnormal conditions may work so do not go by ONLY what is listed here but rather use this as a guideline.
Original Firmware Compatibility-
MKV file-
Using x264 codec, there is a reference frame limitation based on the resolution used. The following is a quick list showing this-
x-2048:Y-1024@3rf
x-1920:Y-800-832@6rf\848-992@5rf\1008-1080@4rf
x-1440:Y-800-832@8rf\848-944@7rf\960-1080@7rf
x-1280:Y-576or lower@16rf\592-608@15rf\624-640@14rf\656-704@13rf\720-736@12rf
Half xHD capable -
x-1280:Y-1600@4rf
x-1440:Y-1456@1rf
x-1920:Y-1248@1rf
x-2560:Y-720@4rf
x-2560:Y-816@1rf

MKV files with DTS –
Known audio to skip during playback or not play at all. Solution is to remux into .m2ts using tsmuxer or to switch to stereo output and see if it fixes DTS output.
DVD video-
Multiple audio tracks do not work. Solution is to move the main audio channel you wish to use as the only or the main audio output before converting to watch on the media player. If already converted, use IFOEdit and change the desired audio channel to 0x80 for proper playback.
Also, WDTV does not play sequential VOB files back to back so if you would like it to, here is a quick guide on how to do that-
If your DVD has already been burned onto a DVD5, use VOBMerge to join all VOBs together into 1 VOB file.
If your DVD has not been copied yet, use DVD Shrink and make sure to tell it NOT to split the VOB files and backup Main Movie only so it makes 1 large VOB file.
MOV files-
Quicktime is supported but not all Quicktime files work. If you need to have a quicktime file that does not, send me a link to it so I can find out why. H264 and MPEG4 are allowed compressions to be used in the MOV container.
WMV-HD – unsupported. Solution is to use WMVMuxer to remux video in a non VC1 profile and downmix audio to channel using a non professional codec profile.
AVI files-
Not suggested to use due to inconsistent syncing issues. Solution is attempt to remux into MKV file to see if that fixes issue.

Compatible format specifications for Firmware 1.01.01
MKV file-
Using x264 codec, there is a reference frame limitation based on the resolution used. This limit has been lifted higher being more lenient than the original firmware but limitations still exist. The following is a quick list showing this-
Half xHD capability-
x-2560:Y-1152@1rf
x-2560:Y-1080@3rf
x-2560:Y-800-816@5rf
x-2560:Y-720@6rf
x-1920:Y-1600@1rf
x-1440:Y-1600@4rf
x-1280:Y-1600@5rf
Normal capability-
x-1920:Y-800-832@8rf\848-928@7rf\944-1024@6rf\1040-1080@5rf
x-1440:Y-800-832@11rf\848-896@10rf\912-960@9rf\976-1056@8rf\1072-1080@7rf
ALL 720p labeled videos are fully compatible.

Extras with the new firmware-
MKV with DTS must be remuxed over to M2TS with TSMuxer or audio issues WILL arise.
Video Playlists are currently NOT supported.
WMV VC-1 to M2TS with AC3 audio conversion has been an “iffy” conversion due to surround sound glitches so do not expect perfect conversion at this time using Xvid4PSP, Super and\or MKVMerge\TSMuxer. The good news is VC-1 IS supported with this firmware.
General rule of thumb-
If you have a file that either used to play or should play and doesn’t and you have ran it through Mediainfo and inspected it, try the following-
a. Import into MKVMerge and mux to MKV file
b. Import into TSMuxer and mux to M2TS
c. Import into Super and stream copy video to either MKV, MPG or AVI container and disable audio when stream copying. Next, open Xvid4PSP and encode the audio from source file to AC3 and disable video. Then take the 2 files and mux them together with MKVMerge and if that outputted mkv file does not work, mux over to M2TS and try again.
d. You may have broken Reframe limit if it’s a MKV file coded in x264. Go back and verify.
e. Sometimes the codec being used is NOT supported by what container it’s in. Just because one codec works in one file container does NOT mean it will work with another. Muxing over to the proper container may work but is not guaranteed.
f. In some cases, a RESET of the unit is required.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to current testing limits, all 5.1 surround sound tests were never completed therefore audio issues may appear without my knowing at the time of this document creation. This document will be updated when more information has been verified.

ShiZZZoN, I am the creator of this document. I am located on the following forums-
www.avsforum.com
www.soundsolutionsaudio.com/forum
www.techimo.com
forums.afterdawn.com
Email – shizzzon@gmail.com

If you need to ADD things to this document, please email me at my email address.
If you need help, please visit this thread-
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1080840
If you need tools or help for the new person, please visit www.videohelp.com

Requesting information-
I need information about subtitle support so it can be posted in here. I will need firmware it was used on and what it can and can not do.
BUG PROBLEMS –

If you still have problems, visit this thread as it’s the bug list compilation-
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1100499
Anything else not covered in this document that is a bug and not on AVS, please email me the information for validation.