MPEG4 (MP4) file format upload support petition

[juanxer]

I taked about this with some moderator, but I guess I should have started by posting this petition.


If it is technically feasible, I think it would be of interest to add direct support for the MPEG4 (.MP4) multimedia container format to the forum's file upload system. When using the h.264 codec, it easily triplicates the amount of footage per MB that other formats achieve (e.g. http://www.scifi-meshes.com/forums/a...rpool-test.mov : 20 seconds at 24 fps 960x540-res for about 850 Kb. This is h.264 footage on a Quicktime container, as a MP4 wouldn't be admitted so one has to ZIP it to be able to upload it).



I know one can go h.264 via Quicktime, but then many people don't like having to install Quicktime on Windows, and MPEG4 is standard enough for a variety of multimedia systems and standalone players to support it. The thing is, it gives more bang for the KB, and tools are free and easy (see MPEG Streamclip and others).

And that's it. If the formats allowed are "hardwired" into the forum system software, I guess the only route is Quicktime's .MOV and suggesting players such as VideoLan Client that happens to accept h.264-based .MOVs, to help QT-reticent users.

[MadKoiFish]

MP4 is NOT mpeg4 it is a container for support of multiple codecs and audio as well as chapter and subtitles. mkv has easier tools to mux with as well.

H264 can be crammed into many diffrent containers. I do agree more support for other containers should be avilible since you can do no square pixel encodes and have then aspec corrected on output. IE like dvd 720X480 on anamorphic film is streched to 856X480 to fit 16X9. Keep in mind H.264 and x264 EAT up much more processes on a system sub 1ghz pcs will barely play it at any decent size. It does provide a bit sharper of a output with a bit of red bleed, but much better support for fast motion.

As for h264 mov the current media player classic should support it or FFDshow with MPC I think there are versions of both for linux. (Ill have to check with friends who run it to see how mpc works for them) MPC does support mp4 and mkv, just make sure winamp isnt associated it for some damn reason it thinks mp4 is a audio file.
I have not had to install any vomit quicktime on my systems for years now. Only issues I have had is with a few movs is the audio. I think it was coolhands future mars ship that I had issues getting audio.

Forums should support mov avi mpg ogm mp4 mkv
so yeah add me to the petition
MKF-

[juanxer]

Oh, I thought MP4 was just the standardized extension of the MPEG4 container (which, by the way, was so ambitiously defined as to supossedly support lipsynched or text-to-speech 3D avatars tracks for newsreading and such. These guys were high on something ).

I like MKVs, but tools for creating them on Macs are very basic unix-command ones, so no luck for me. MOVs are quite disliked around in PC-land, but VLC seems to play the h.264 ones rather well (I have to check if it interprets stretching data correctly).

Certainly, h.264 requires more processing power, but I think it is becoming popular, the requirements becoming affordable, and certainly allows us to post lengthier sequences. Probably the nice thing to do for a while is to alert people about it when posting something and be ready to help when someone has difficulties playing it.