MP4Box - me noobisch; or incompitabilty issue w. Haali splitter?

[Gew]

Hiya!

Weird, indeed. Since I'm overall novice, I assume this isn't really some sort of bug, but just me not doing it right. However, it would be much appreciated if someone could fill me in on what's cracking.

It's when I'm playing/experimenting with mp4box I get to the point of scratch. The a/v doesn't "connect" through MPC (Directshow w. Haali splitter).

mp4box -add keffsnubbe.avi uschochtvi.mp4
Works!

However, sometimes when I've extracted streams from i.e. AVI containers, then trying to remux them into the MP4, it gets wacko. ESPECIALLY(!) if I hit additional parameters, such as .. -add xvidstuket.cmp:par=24:11 -add ochljudetja.mp3 ochresultatetblev.mp4

When I open my output file in MPC, I only get the audio. However, according to mp4box -info .. (aswell as Mediainfo, for that matter) both tracks are well put into the container. Also, when I try to load it through VLC, it works perfectly.

So, what could be the thingie here? I've thought about if there could be some option that sort of liek.. err.. twinning.. selected streams for default playback, that I've missed out on.

I've spent some time on the MP4box documentation, trying to sort out options that it could not possible be. However, since I'm novice I could easily have mistaken something esential for something surplus, so..?

Please?! ;)

[Gew]

Take this for example.
Here's the -info on this MP4 file.
When played in MPC, I only get audio.
Also, no video clip is listed in the details window.


* Movie Info *
Timescale 600 - Duration 00:04:25.840
Fragmented File no - 2 track(s)
File Brand mp42 - version 1
Created: GMT Sat Mar 21 16:22:49 2009

File has root IOD
Scene PL 0xff - Graphics PL 0xff - OD PL 0xff
Visual PL: Advanced Simple Profile @ Level 5 (0xf5)
Audio PL: Not part of MPEG-4 audio profiles (0xfe)
No streams included in root OD

Track # 1 Info - TrackID 201 - TimeScale 25000 - Duration 00:04:25.840
Media Info: Language "Undetermined" - Type "vide:mp4v" - 6646 samples
MPEG-4 Config: Visual Stream - ObjectTypeIndication 0x20
MPEG-4 Visual Size 352 x 240 - Advanced Simple Profile @ Level 5
Pixel Aspect Ratio 2:1 - Indicated track size 352 x 240
Self-synchronized

Track # 2 Info - TrackID 202 - TimeScale 44100 - Duration 00:03:41.466
Media Info: Language "Undetermined" - Type "soun:mp4a" - 8478 samples
MPEG-4 Config: Audio Stream - ObjectTypeIndication 0x6b
MPEG-1 Audio - 2 Channel(s) - SampleRate 44100 - Layer 3
Synchronized on stream 201





I wonder if it could have something to do with the -brand switch? Which setting is "generic" in that case? I mean, it's nothing strange here. The data for this file (in case anyone wonders) is MPEG4 video (Xvid encoder; XVID as fourCC), and LAME mp3 audio.

[Gew]

I tried re-branding the file with "-brand isom". Still no video in MPC. However, the trackID is 201 respective 202 on this "buggy" file, whereas it's 1 respective 2 on most other MP4 files I've examined. Could this be it?

[Kurtnoise]

you need also a mpeg-4 asp decoder...a splitter alone is quite useless in the filters chain.

you should try also the Gabest mp4 splitter instead of Haali's one.

[Gew]

you need also a mpeg-4 asp decoder...a splitter alone is quite useless in the filters chain.

you should try also the Gabest mp4 splitter instead of Haali's one.

Hmm.. ASP decoder? I have the latest Xvid (koopi build) installed, which has a decoder built-in, right? I also have ffdshow installed.

Anyways, I'm not sure if this is the problem here, 'cuz like..

mp4box -add rr.avi ringostarr.mp4

The output .mp4 plays fine in MPC and other DirectShows.

Then, for no particular "practical" reason (just playing, bugsearching, whatever you wish to call it) I decided to try print my MP4 with modified aspect tag.

mp4box -add rr.avi:par=3:1 ringostarr2.mp4

Now, MPC only gives me the audio. No video. No video track whatsoever is listed in the file details.

What did go wrong? I assumed it was something with MP4box not knowing if to par-modify the 1st/2nd track of the avi (audio/video), so I decided to extract it.

mp4box -aviraw video rr.avi
mp4box -aviraw audio rr.avi

Now..

mp4box -add rr_video.cmp:par=420:123 -add rr_audio.mp3 ringo-at-last.mp4

Same same..
No video, only audio! ;(

So, what's up guys?

[Gew]

So, it seems to be something with adding audio/video seperately from MPEG4 ASP sources.

mp4box -aviraw video clip.avi
mp4box -aviraw audio clip.avi
mp4box -add clip_audio.mp3 -add clip_video.cmp mywork.mp4
=
No video clip playing/even listed in MPC.


mp4box -add clip.avi mywork.mp4
=
Audio and video perfectly present in MPC.



Now, I tried the same with AVC input.

mp4box -aviraw video x264clip.avi
mp4box -aviraw audio x264clip.avi
mp4box -add x264clip_audio.mp3 -add x264clip_video.h264 mywork-avc.mp4
=
Audio and video perfectly present in MPC.


mp4box -add x264clip.avi mywork-avc.mp4
=
Audio and video perfectly present in MPC.



Strange, indeed.
Could someone duplicate my issue here? Perhaps give a meaningful answer on to what's bringing me this situation..?

[Kurtnoise]

that's strange...I cannot reproduce. which MP4Box build did you use ?


btw, I don't use Haali Splitter anymore for my mp4 files...so.

[Gew]

MP4Box - GPAC version 0.4.5-DEV (build 16 - Feb 1 2008)
Your compilation.

Oh, I've also tried Gabest splitter (mp4splitter.ax), same issue.

[Gew]

Well, afaik, there _is_ some sort of,, perhaps not bug (which could be considered a statement of blame),, but more like,, err,, compatibility issue!

It's most likely to be with the DS-splitter (Haali's or Gabest). Just hoping for developers/others involved to read this, and perhaps use it for guideline to the next release.

mp4box -add mamma.mp3 -add mamm.cmp majs.mp4

(whereas mamm.cmp is a MPEG-4 ASP (xvid) raw stream)

The resulting majs.mp4 will only play/show the audio track while opened in Media Player Classic. In VLC it will play just fine however.



Then,, I just tried something!

I pulled ..just another compilation! :)

mp4box -add majs.mp4 majs-teh_real_deal_plz.mp4

Tada! Plays fine through MPC all of a sudden.


I'm no expert, but I assume that the first mp4 had some messy bit written somewhere in the header, causing this "only uni-uni-universal fflib-readable". Possibly something caused when adding two streams (which for me always has occurred with 1x -add .mp3 + 1x -add mpeg4asp.cmp) Then, the second .MP4 output here just got somewhat a .. "container cleanser" ;)

Well worth considering, anyways. I hope I was of any help. The MP4box is overall just ...great! :) Bigups to Kurtnoise for all those Win32 builds.

Peace out!

[Kurtnoise]

maybe there is something wrong w/ your video stream because either :

mp4box -add audio.mp3 -add video.cmp output.mp4

or

mp4box -add video.cmp -add audio.mp3 output.mp4

works fine for me using MPC-HC internal filters (both streams are detected)...

[Gew]

I think I've found the bandit in this game. Enough with pointing fingers at mp4box, the real menace is apparently the Haali splitter. Earlier when I said that "I'd tried both Haali/Gabest; both having same problems", I had obviously not made myself sure that the Haali splitter was not in some way auto-loaded by MPC (my own clumsyness).

So, just now I tried regsvr32 /u splitter.ax, and all of a sudden the (first compiled) majs.MP4 played fine; both streams detected, like you claimed Kurtnoise.

Haali splitter installed was v1.8.122.18, so I hoped for recent (v1.9.42.1) to have that minor issue fixed. Uninstall; reinstall. Obviously, it's not taken care of. Maybe I'll re-arrange my shit to Gabest splitter, tbh I havn't let myself comfortable with that one, just yet. Since I've found myself somewhat familiar with the old Haali splitter, I've pulled the easy workaround to keep it installed, but making sure "Handle MP4.." box is unchecked during install. Both MKV and (all) MP4 plays fine now.

However..
Pretty strange that it would play well after just one extra mp4box compile (whereas workaround: mp4box -add wontplay.mp4 willplaynowthough.mp4). Strange, indeed. Something with header bits, or what? I'm curious! :o

[Gew]

Man, sorry for climbing on like this..
Just can't seem to let go, can I? ;)

I think this issue could be of interest after all. I have another scenario right here, which you should easily be able to reproduce, since any Windoze splitters are taken out of account in VLC.

Check:

mp4box -add roxette-soul_deep.mp4:par=2:1 rox1.mp4
(w/ mp3 audio & xvid video)

Now load rox1.mp4 in VLC. The wide aspect is approached entirely wrong; by the newly set aspect drawn to a pillarbox; with the original (not wanted) aspect preserved inside, to be more precise.

Then, I run mp4box just one more time (by what I refer to as "firing a blank")

mp4box -add rox1.mp4 rox2.mp4

Voila!
Aspect ratio displays correct in VLC.

Both rox1.mp4 & rox2.mp4 gives me the same aspect value in MediaInfo. However, there's a slight difference w/ mp4box inf.

mp4box -info rox1.mp4
Pixel Aspect Ratio 3:1 - Indicated track size 352 x 288

mp4box -info rox2.mp4
Pixel Aspect Ratio 3:1 - Indicated track size 1056 x 288

I hope I've made sense, somehow! ;)

[Kurtnoise]

you should try with a more recent MP4box build...

Here is what I get :


c:\tmp\MP4Box-0.4.6-dev_20090226>MP4Box.exe -info "E:\tt\07E15.avi"
Import probing results for E:\tt\07E15.avi:
File has 2 tracks
Track 1 type: Video (XVID)
Track 2 type: Audio (....)



c:\tmp\MP4Box-0.4.6-dev_20090226>MP4Box.exe -add "E:\tt\07E15.avi" "E:\tt\t1.mp4"
AVI XVID video import - 624 x 352 @ 23.9760 FPS - 61525 Frames
Indicated Profile: Advanced Simple Profile @ Level 5
Has B-Frames (2 max consecutive B-VOPs)
Import results: 61525 VOPs (794 Is - 22429 Ps - 38302 Bs)
AVI Audio import - sample rate 48000 - MPEG-1 audio - 2 channels
Import done - variable bit rate MP3 detected
Saving to E:\tt\t1.mp4: 0.500 secs Interleaving

c:\tmp\MP4Box-0.4.6-dev_20090226>MP4Box.exe -info "E:\tt\t1.mp4"
* Movie Info *
Timescale 600 - Duration 00:42:46.126
Fragmented File no - 2 track(s)
File Brand isom - version 1
Created: GMT Thu Mar 26 13:15:18 2009

File has root IOD
Scene PL 0xff - Graphics PL 0xff - OD PL 0xff
Visual PL: Advanced Simple Profile @ Level 5 (0xf5)
Audio PL: Not part of MPEG-4 audio profiles (0xfe)
No streams included in root OD

Track # 1 Info - TrackID 1 - TimeScale 24000 - Duration 00:42:46.105
Media Info: Language "Undetermined" - Type "vide:mp4v" - 61525 samples
MPEG-4 Config: Visual Stream - ObjectTypeIndication 0x20
MPEG-4 Visual Size 624 x 352 - Advanced Simple Profile @ Level 5
Pixel Aspect Ratio 1:1 - Indicated track size 624 x 352
Self-synchronized

Track # 2 Info - TrackID 2 - TimeScale 48000 - Duration 00:42:46.128
Media Info: Language "Undetermined" - Type "soun:mp4a" - 106922 samples
MPEG-4 Config: Audio Stream - ObjectTypeIndication 0x6b
MPEG-1 Audio - 2 Channel(s) - SampleRate 48000 - Layer 3
Synchronized on stream 1



c:\tmp\MP4Box-0.4.6-dev_20090226>MP4Box.exe -add "E:\tt\t1.mp4:par=2:1" "E:\tt\
2.mp4"
IsoMedia import - track ID 1 - Video (size 624 x 352)
IsoMedia import - track ID 2 - Audio (SR 48000 - 2 channels)
Saving to E:\tt\t2.mp4: 0.500 secs Interleaving

c:\tmp\MP4Box-0.4.6-dev_20090226>MP4Box.exe -info "E:\tt\t2.mp4"
* Movie Info *
Timescale 600 - Duration 00:42:46.126
Fragmented File no - 2 track(s)
File Brand isom - version 1
Created: GMT Thu Mar 26 13:16:58 2009

File has root IOD
Scene PL 0xff - Graphics PL 0xff - OD PL 0xff
Visual PL: Advanced Simple Profile @ Level 5 (0xf5)
Audio PL: Not part of MPEG-4 audio profiles (0xfe)
No streams included in root OD

Track # 1 Info - TrackID 1 - TimeScale 24000 - Duration 00:42:46.105
Media Info: Language "Undetermined" - Type "vide:mp4v" - 61525 samples
MPEG-4 Config: Visual Stream - ObjectTypeIndication 0x20
MPEG-4 Visual Size 624 x 352 - Advanced Simple Profile @ Level 5
Pixel Aspect Ratio 2:1 - Indicated track size 624 x 352
Self-synchronized

Track # 2 Info - TrackID 2 - TimeScale 48000 - Duration 00:42:46.128
Media Info: Language "Undetermined" - Type "soun:mp4a" - 106922 samples
MPEG-4 Config: Audio Stream - ObjectTypeIndication 0x6b
MPEG-1 Audio - 2 Channel(s) - SampleRate 48000 - Layer 3
Synchronized on stream 1

[Gew]

D:\>mp4box -version
MP4Box - GPAC version 0.4.6-DEV (build 1 - Feb 26 2009) - compiled by Kurtnoise
GPAC Copyright: (c) Jean Le Feuvre 2000-2005
(c) ENST 2005-200X

Can't seem to find a more recent build than that.

D:\>mp4box -add snipp.avi#video:par=4:1 sn2.mp4
D:\>mp4box -info sn2.mp4

* Movie Info *
Timescale 600 - Duration 00:00:29.240
Fragmented File no - 3 track(s)
File Brand mp42 - version 1
Created: GMT Thu Mar 26 14:41:12 2009

File has root IOD
Scene PL 0x01 - Graphics PL 0x01 - OD PL 0x01
Visual PL: Advanced Simple Profile @ Level 5 (0xf5)
Audio PL: No audio capability required (0xff)

Track # 1 Info - TrackID 201 - TimeScale 25000 - Duration 00:00:29.240
Media Info: Language "Undetermined" - Type "vide:mp4v" - 731 samples
MPEG-4 Config: Visual Stream - ObjectTypeIndication 0x20
MPEG-4 Visual Size 720 x 576 - Advanced Simple Profile @ Level 5
Pixel Aspect Ratio 4:1 - Indicated track size 720 x 576
Synchronized on stream 1

Track # 2 Info - TrackID 2 - TimeScale 600 - Duration 00:00:01.000
Track is present in Root OD
Media Info: Language "Undetermined" - Type "odsm:mp4s" - 1 samples
MPEG-4 Config: ObjectDescriptor Stream - ObjectTypeIndication 0x01
Synchronized on stream 1

Track # 3 Info - TrackID 1 - TimeScale 600 - Duration 00:00:01.000
Track is present in Root OD
Media Info: Language "Undetermined" - Type "sdsm:mp4s" - 1 samples
MPEG-4 Config: SceneDescription Stream - ObjectTypeIndication 0x02
BIFS Scene description - Command stream
Self-synchronized

When I load it in VLC, it holds my 4:1 aspect ratio for a couple of seconds, then bashes back to original DAR of Xvid stream, here set on 4/3.

Now frustrated and confused, I fire off my blank:
D:\>mp4box -add sn2.mp4 sn3.mp4

Then, of course sn3.mp4 plays fine in VLC, holding the 4:1 AR from first to last frame.

Also:

D:\>mp4box -info sn3.mp4

* Movie Info *
Timescale 600 - Duration 00:00:29.240
Fragmented File no - 3 track(s)
File Brand mp42 - version 1
Created: GMT Thu Mar 26 14:41:54 2009

File has root IOD
Scene PL 0x01 - Graphics PL 0x01 - OD PL 0x01
Visual PL: Advanced Simple Profile @ Level 5 (0xf5)
Audio PL: No audio capability required (0xff)

Track # 1 Info - TrackID 201 - TimeScale 25000 - Duration 00:00:29.240
Media Info: Language "Undetermined" - Type "vide:mp4v" - 731 samples
MPEG-4 Config: Visual Stream - ObjectTypeIndication 0x20
MPEG-4 Visual Size 720 x 576 - Advanced Simple Profile @ Level 5
Pixel Aspect Ratio 4:1 - Indicated track size 2880 x 576
Synchronized on stream 1

Track # 2 Info - TrackID 2 - TimeScale 600 - Duration 00:00:01.000
Track is present in Root OD
Media Info: Language "Undetermined" - Type "odsm:mp4s" - 1 samples
MPEG-4 Config: ObjectDescriptor Stream - ObjectTypeIndication 0x01
Synchronized on stream 1

Track # 3 Info - TrackID 1 - TimeScale 600 - Duration 00:00:01.000
Track is present in Root OD
Media Info: Language "Undetermined" - Type "sdsm:mp4s" - 1 samples
MPEG-4 Config: SceneDescription Stream - ObjectTypeIndication 0x02
BIFS Scene description - Command stream
Self-synchronized