Since MS has seen fit to keep mpeg2 broken for streaming to a x360 client (the same statement about the fix being in the next test release keeps popping up and it does not show up in the next release), I think I might try converting my mpeg2s to WMV. However, I am looking for something that will do WMA Pro so I won't lose the 5.1 audio.

WME9 takes too long and is too finicky. Right now it fails on the audio stream (audio codec error). Does not like the AC3 filter apparently. The AC3 filter works fine in everything else including streaming the mpgs to 360 on build 5600. I have tried at least 30 apps and either they don't do wma pro or they have very bad output (choppy, scratchy, out of sync, etc.). I am running on a P4 3.2 HT Intel, 2 GB RAM, ATI x1300 AGP 512. Unless I want to lose the movie streaming to 360 by upgrading to a 57xx build or revert back to XP, I need to convert to wmv. Because the mpeg2 problem affects Transcode360 all other formats are ruled out. I thought about using VLC which transcodes via wmv, but from what I read it does not do 5.1, it downmixes to 2 channel stereo. I also don't like the interface, I want to watch full screen. I also want to use MyMovies2 which only supports mpeg2 or wmv for extenders (the new version for Vista will support using Transcode, but that is broken now-catch22).

Anyone have thoughts on a reliable converter that also works in Vista? Shareware or freeware does not matter, I'll pay for something that works well, but there must be a demo version so I can test it first. TIA.

Have you tried something simple like moviemaker?  the pro stuff wont be out for months after vista is on the shelves if even that soon.

In XP Pro, I've had pretty good results with MCE Assistant (might work in Vista?), just ignore the japanese during install (english app), and you might want to uncheck the japanese MCEncoder it asks to install, I think it will work with existing/newer.  I was able to convert a hr.hdtv(xvid)/5.1ac3 to wmv/wma 5.1 pro. Not sure if there any difference if using mpeg as source.

MCEcoder keeps crashing in Vista, haven't looked into it much more.

Also, the hacked ATI Avivo converter works, but it downconverts the sound to stereo, and downsizes the video I think.

p.

accident:

Have you tried something simple like moviemaker?  the pro stuff wont be out for months after vista is on the shelves if even that soon.

 

Yep, it down mixes to 2 channel unofrtunately. Works fine otherwise.

protovision:

In XP Pro, I've had pretty good results with MCE Assistant (might work in Vista?), just ignore the japanese during install (english app), and you might want to uncheck the

Also, the hacked ATI Avivo converter works, but it downconverts the sound to stereo, and downsizes the video I think.

p.

I googled MCE Assistant and could not come up with anything, do you by chance have a link? I tried the AVIVO hack, it works but does downmix. I am not too hopeful after trying so many, just hoping someone else had run across something that works. There were a few that coverted the video very well, but downmixed the audio. Part of the problem seems to be that WMA 10 Pro is in Vista and that seems to affect things that use WMA 9 Pro. I might end up having to script a conversion with WME 9 on an XP machine, but that will take many hours to convert a single movie.

Danbart:

I googled MCE Assistant and could not come up with anything, do you by chance have a link? I tried the AVIVO hack, it works but does downmix....

I might end up having to script a conversion with WME 9 on an XP machine, but that will take many hours to convert a single movie.

Sorry about that, the correct name is 'WME Assistant' and can be found at:
galaxies blog

On a 3ghz celeron I was able to convert 950x544/ac3 xvid to WMV/5.1/Q-97 at about 2X realtime.

p.

I'll give that a try, thnaks for the link.

question, because maybe this is why my converts aren't working.

does the xbox 360 correctly play wma pro 10, with surround sound?

I'm geussing no, because i've tried 10 times now and its always just stero sound.

I am running the media player 11 beta, how can I get wma 9 pro instead?

Will this let me convert HD versions of XVID TV shows into WMV that I can playback via my 360 Extender?

Apologies if this this a stupid question - I am quite new to this HD stuff.

 

Thanks!

Ben.

opfreak:

question, because maybe this is why my converts aren't working.

does the xbox 360 correctly play wma pro 10, with surround sound?

I'm geussing no, because i've tried 10 times now and its always just stero sound.

I am running the media player 11 beta, how can I get wma 9 pro instead?

If you check on the console itself by opening the wmv in Media Player, right click and choose properties you will likely see that it is actually using some iteration of WMA 9 in stereo for the audio stream. So it never makes it to the 360 in anything else. In my case, I never get past a file that reverts to stereo when I choose WMA 10 Pro or 9 Pro, that is if it even finishes the convert, which it often does not. When the encoding fails, in my case, it is usually because of a codec error when encoding the audio stream from a 5.1 DD source. If I choose stereo to begin with, no audio error. I think it is an AC3 filter problem for me. I originally installed the CCCP package, but then installed the Source Forge AC3 filter over it, which WMV encoding does not seem to like.

Danbart:

opfreak:

question, because maybe this is why my converts aren't working.

does the xbox 360 correctly play wma pro 10, with surround sound?

I'm geussing no, because i've tried 10 times now and its always just stero sound.

I am running the media player 11 beta, how can I get wma 9 pro instead?

If you check on the console itself by opening the wmv in Media Player, right click and choose properties you will likely see that it is actually using some iteration of WMA 9 in stereo for the audio stream. So it never makes it to the 360 in anything else. In my case, I never get past a file that reverts to stereo when I choose WMA 10 Pro or 9 Pro, that is if it even finishes the convert, which it often does not. When the encoding fails, in my case, it is usually because of a codec error when encoding the audio stream from a 5.1 DD source. If I choose stereo to begin with, no audio error. I think it is an AC3 filter problem for me. I originally installed the CCCP package, but then installed the Source Forge AC3 filter over it, which WMV encoding does not seem to like.

 

so even wma 9 pro does not give you 5.1 sound on the xbox 360?

Then what file does? it seems like its a huge limitation then.  I'll have to check my wmv-hd files I downloaded from MS, to see what sound plays there, if I get surround that way. i'll be consfused.

double post

oxben:

Will this let me convert HD versions of XVID TV shows into WMV that I can playback via my 360 Extender?

Works for me!

Make sure to leave original video size, and double check the audio settings that WME Assistant will use for that conversion. You might have to fool around with the AC3 filter settings from within the project settings in order for it to mix/downmix correctly to WMA.

p.

opfreak:

so even wma 9 pro does not give you 5.1 sound on the xbox 360?

Then what file does? it seems like its a huge limitation then.  I'll have to check my wmv-hd files I downloaded from MS, to see what sound plays there, if I get surround that way. i'll be consfused.

No, the conversion is reverting back to 2 channel is what you are likely to see. If it said 9.x or 10 Pro 5.1 on the console in Media Player, then it should come across that way on the 360. I am guessing that even though you are selecting Pro, it is reverting back when you start the encode. The properties will tell if that is the problem or not. When I initially installed 5600, before messing up the AC3 filters, I tried a conversion and it worked using 10 Pro 5.1, and came out in 5.1 via the 360. However, that paricular software had a frame stutter every 4 seconds.

protovision:

Sorry about that, the correct name is 'WME Assistant' and can be found at:
galaxies blog

On a 3ghz celeron I was able to convert 950x544/ac3 xvid to WMV/5.1/Q-97 at about 2X realtime.

p.

Hmm. I tried to download this, even though it shows as WMEA20061005.exe in the link it downloads with no extension. If I add .exe, it comes up with "Failed to read setup engine" and then stops. Anyone else try to install this in Vista? No UAC and ran as Administrator, same result.