HD-DVD to H264/AAC for Apple TV

[agentusa]

I've been following this thread for weeks but it's not exactly newbie friendly:

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=120652

How can I convert my HD-DVD's so they are playable in my Apple TV? Thanks.

[olivierdb]

I presume you would doing the conversion on a Mac? This is where having Windows on a Mac would be useful I guess!

[agentusa]

I have a Mac but I would be using a PC with Vista and an attached XBox 360 HD-DVD drive although XP could be installed if necessary.

I also have the Sonic CinePlayer HD-DVD Decoder pack v4.2 and Intervideo WinDVD 8.

[olivierdb]

OK, I've tried several things (3ivx, Nero Recode, meGUI/x264), all of which ended up crashing under Vista (the most unstable OS ever, maybe it's time for me to switch to Mac or Linux)!

Anyhow, I recommend you begin with creating an AVI file that you can then open in QuickTime Pro and export "Movie to Apple TV". Now, to create the AVI file, I suggest you begin completing the first 4 steps in the guide I've created here (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=976952#post976952) (you'll end up with an .avs file). Then, open the AudioAndVideo.avs (or whatever you've named it) in VirtualDub and File>Save as AVI...

This is where you just have to be patient and pray! BTW, QuickTime and Vista are not the best of friends!

Hope this works for you. Good luck.

[olivierdb]

OOPS, Sorry! I forgot to mention: I think you have to add the following 2 lines to the AudioAndVideo.avs before opening it in VirtualDub:

ConverttoYV12(interlaced=true)
LanczosResize(1280,720)