Zune video settings - no reconversion

[rad3d]

What are the best codec/compression settings to use for Zune video that won't cause recompression during sync? I've tried evaluation versions of some of the Zune video conversion programs out there and, while the new files translated fine and are playable from Windows, when synced to the Zune they always seem to require reconversion (always see the the 'converting...' message during sync) and many times fail the reconversion process.

Certainly, there is a very specific set of compression parameters that won't cause the Zune to have to reconvert again, correct?

Also, let me know if there one specific package that can easily convert most video formats to Zune video without requiring reconversion in the Zune software.

[Gregory]

See this tutorial.

[rad3d]

So far - I haven't been able to convert a video that the Zune software hasn't had to reconvert. I followed the settings mentioned, but I'm getting the same results. Sometimes they convert properly, sometimes they don't - and even when they do, they take forever to actually convert and sync to the Zune.

Does anyone have a complete set of parameters for a WMV file as it resides on the Zune? Obviously, if certain parameters don't fit into the Zune's rules, it forces a reconversion. There has to be a foolproof way of setting resolution, video codec, video bitrate, audio codec and audio bitrate in a way that fits into these rules.

Any ideas?

[lpxxfaintxx]

I'm searching for the same answers too.

I'm trying to use mencoder/ffmpeg to create "Zuneable" video files, but it keeps on making me convert.

[Gow616]

Anything else and it will convert, anything lower than the max will sync.

Zune 30 - Max Video settings for Zuneable video is resolution of 320x240, 1500mbps video bitrate, 29.97 frames per second, Windows Media Video only.

Zune 80 - 3.0mbps, 720x480, WMV, 29.97 FPS
MP4/H264, 2.5mbps, 720x480, 29.97FPS

Only the Zune 80 supports MP4 and H264 video at the high resolutions.

[carnealse]

You will have to be exact and follow tutorials for wmv format.
If you want no reconversion, use MP4. The downside is you cannot take advantage of metatags with MP4, but who cares? Some people do, yes, but I do not.
You can go 320x240 and 640x480 all without conversion. I do it all the time. In fact I have just finished the whole first season of The Unit with 640x480 (I hook it up at work during down times to a pc and watch stuff) and not one conversion has taken place.
Hope that helps.

[rad3d]

Using MP4s (h264) seems to be the way to go.

When I use MP4s, they go across with no conversion. and 2 hour movies take no more than a minute or two to transfer. So far, every WMV that I've tried is causing reconversion on the Zune and add an additional 15-30 minutes to the sync process.

I'm going to stick with the MP4s for now.

[carnealse]

I am glad it worked, enjoy!

[rad3d]

Unfortunately - I am still getting conversions in the Zune software, even with MP4s. The first 3-4 files I did worked fine, but then some of my later files started reconverting, even though they were initially converted using the same profile settings as the earlier files. Seems as though the Zune software is fairly random with it's selection about what it reconverts, and MP4s are not impervious.

Any other ideas? Is anyone able to convert longer format videos and sync them without reconversion every time?

[Gow616]

Which program are you using and what setting is being used?

[rad3d]

I've tried several. Right now I'm using ImToo Zune Video Converter, though I seem to have found some settings that work.

Here are my current settings:
Filetype: MP4
Codec: h264
Size: 320x240
Bit Rate: 768
Bit Rate Max: 1024
Buffer Size: 128
Frame Rate: 29.97
Aspect: Auto
Same Quality: False

Audio---
Codec: mpeg4aac
Bit Rate: 64
Sample Rate: 48000

Other---
BitExact: True
GOP: 250
Q scale: 25
coder: 0

I used the same package with a slightly higher bitrate and a coder setting of '1' and had the intermittent problems. Not sure which parameter caused the problem yet.

I've transferred about 20 videos now using the above settings without reconversion from the Zune software. Hopefully, this will continue. There's a big difference between a 1 minute transfer and a 20 minute transfer.

[carnealse]

The software is not random really.
I have had 100% success with MP4.
Format: Mpeg-4
Codec: mpeg4
Resolution: 320x240 or 648x480
Frame Rate: 23.976
Audio Codec: mpeg4acc
Sample Rate: 48000Hz
Audio Quality: 160kbps

I do not mess with any bitrates for video. I just set my Ultra Mobil Converter video quality to Superb. I could not tell you what the specs for that are honestly, other than they come out great.
And so far, all of my video in that format have no conversion.

[rad3d]

I have seen intermittent Zune reconversion with both MP4 and h264 codecs with pretty straightforward settings for resolution, bitrate and audio.

My current settings seem to work, though it would sure be nice of Microsoft to publish a set of parameters so we wouldn't have to guess. Reconversion makes sense for podcast video formats that don't comply, but they need to make standard video conversion a bit less mysterious.

[Gow616]

http://www.zune.net/en-us/products/zune80gb/specs.htm

They did, the problem comes in when you have so many non-standard implementations of the technology.

I used WMConverter (FREE) and converted to 640x480, 1500mbps, at 25fps or 29.97fps in MP4. 10 out of 10 sync without reconverting.

[brfsa]

Gow, you use MP4 format for both 30GB and 80GB ?

will mp4 files work on Zune 30? or it's just the 80GB support the MP4 format?

Thanks

[Gow616]

Zune 80, I use mp4 files as it is the ONLY one that supports them.

With Zune 30, I use WMV 9.