File is not supported - ERROR

[mcdowell_k]

I tried searching for an answer but no luck...

Occasionally, when attempting to play back a movie on any one of my three ATV's I get the response, "cannot be played because the file type is not supported." So I go back to my Mac Mini and right click on the file to make sure it is in ATV format... it is. I can also play it back in Itunes. Ive even tried right clicking to "create apple tv version" but the message I receive is "cannot convert because the file is already in ATV format."

Seems like this only happens when I stream (vs sync). Because when this happened last night, I synced the movie that was giving me a hard time and then it played back beautifully.

Any insight?

[Ben Tex]

The maximum resolution for H.264 is 1280 by 720 pixels at 24 fps or 960 by 540 pixels at 30 fps. It's 720 by 432 pixels at 30 fps for MPEG-4. You must be over that or the maximum file size. I would try encoding them again in QT or HandBrake.

[gibmini]

I've recently been experiencing this same problem. I suspect that my experience of this problem might be unrelated to file size as I am usually able to get the very same files working again. What I have found is that normally when I see this problem the file has been viewed on my mini and paused. Then when I go to the atv I get the error.

So, I got back into itunes on my mini and play a different film. Then the file I have had problems with works fine...phew...long messy workflow that seems to work but offers little insight into the route cause. Could it be that certain files produced on handbrake don't like being played on both. I don't know.
_________________
Loving my mini's, hating what Apple has become.

iPhone 4S
2.3GHz latest gen macbook pro, 2.4GHz latest gen Mini, 1.83GHz Mini, 2.0GHz Macbook
160Gb 1st gen ATV & 2nd gen ATV
1 of every gen of Nano
iPhone 4S
30" apple cinema display

[g5g5]

I'm pretty sure there's a 4GB size limit for streaming or syncing. Unless they are ripped as a 64-bit MP4 in HandBrake. Maybe that's the trouble you guys are having. I've never had mine drop out like that after a pause gibmini. That's really strange. I always get the option to resume or start from the beginning. What settings do you use in HandBrake?
_________________
1.25GHz Mac Mini / 1.8GHz iMac G5 / 2.0GHz C2D Mac mini (2009)
4GB iPod mini / 2G iPod shuffle / 16GB iPhone 3G
Apple TV 2
iLife's a Bitch!

[gibmini]

My files are all less than 1.5Gb and normally are between 1.2 to 1.4.

I handbrake I'm using the atv template and then dropping the frame rate from 2,500 to 2,300 and choosing 2 pass with turbo first pass. I use these settings whether I am ripping a dvd or converting an avi/mp3/dvix etc to mp4.

Cheers,

gm
_________________
Loving my mini's, hating what Apple has become.

iPhone 4S
2.3GHz latest gen macbook pro, 2.4GHz latest gen Mini, 1.83GHz Mini, 2.0GHz Macbook
160Gb 1st gen ATV & 2nd gen ATV
1 of every gen of Nano
iPhone 4S
30" apple cinema display

[Ben Tex]

[gibmini]

Firstly, happy new year!

Secondly, can you please explain more about your suggestion to 'bin' those two files? I'm not sure what they do and if I delete them, what I do I replace them with?

Many thanks for your help!

GM
_________________
Loving my mini's, hating what Apple has become.

iPhone 4S
2.3GHz latest gen macbook pro, 2.4GHz latest gen Mini, 1.83GHz Mini, 2.0GHz Macbook
160Gb 1st gen ATV & 2nd gen ATV
1 of every gen of Nano
iPhone 4S
30" apple cinema display

[Ben Tex]

And a Happy New Year to you too!

Those files are in your User/Library/Preferences/ folder. Just drag them to the trash and dump them. They will automatically be replaced with fresh files once you open iTunes again. This will give you a fresh start within the application. I'm thinking something is corrupt and losing its place with playback. A simple reset of your Apple TV by yanking the plug would probably be a good idea too.

[gibmini]

A timely couple of odd things happened yesterday:

I purchased a film from itunes on the atv which downloaded and then copied itself over to my mini. Later, when I came to watch the movie on the atv it said 'no content available!' did not play. However, it played played fine on the mini. Any ideas what caused it?

I had the format problem we were discussing above on a film purchased from itunes - which is not something I've had before so the problem seems to be getting worse. I will try your idea of deleting and refreshing those files this morning.

GM
_________________
Loving my mini's, hating what Apple has become.

iPhone 4S
2.3GHz latest gen macbook pro, 2.4GHz latest gen Mini, 1.83GHz Mini, 2.0GHz Macbook
160Gb 1st gen ATV & 2nd gen ATV
1 of every gen of Nano
iPhone 4S
30" apple cinema display