Question on correct settings for video iRiffs?

[Fanboy Sci-Fi Theater]

According to the website instructions for uploading a combined audio/video iRiff, your video must have the following settings:  h264 video file with a .mp4 or a .mov extension, Video Codec - h264, Frame Rate - 29.97 fps,  Bitrate less than 3000kb/s, MB size less than 800 MB.  My movie files were created on iMove for the MAC and have the following settings:  Video Codec - H.264, Frame Rate - 30 fps, Bitrate: 1 Mbps, and MB size of 780.5 MB.  My frame rate is a little bit higher than the recommended 29.97, so will this be a problem?  If so, how do I alter the frame rate?  My Bitrate is listed as 1 Mbps, not at kb/s, so is it equal to 3000 kb/s, or do I need to alter the bitrate--and if so, how?  FInally, there is a list of settings given for audio, which I assume is for people who are uploading audio iRiffs ONLY, not for combined video/audio projects.  Am I correct in assuming that, or do I need to check the audio settings as well?

[mr.b.natural]

I use a program called "AVS Video Converter" and I created a video profile matching the exact iriff settings.  I just run my videos through it and it always comes out right.  No transcoding required.  Overall it's a great program and pretty fast.  You know, fast for a video conversion program.   

[Fanboy Sci-Fi Theater]

Is it available as a free download somewhere, or would I have to buy it?  If it's not free, I probably couldn't afford to get it for awhile.

[mr.b.natural]

Tricky.  I don't usually pay for things but I'm not sure how I got it.  You may want to ask RoninFox.

[RoninFox]

AVS's video converter is a very useful program, but it isn't free.  I can't remember how much it is off the top of my head, but once you pay I believe you can get all of AVS's programs.  If you download the trial version you end up with watermarks over your videos until you pay and activate it.

[k1]

Word of warning that we ran into using GarageBand/iMovie.  It treated the movie audio and the riffing audio tracks as 2 separate tracks.  When we upped our Dragnet riff it only contained the movie audio after it went through the process on the iRiff server.

What we did to resolve the issue was to burn it to DVD and then use Handbrake (which is free) to rip the video to the appropriate format/frame rate/etc.

Worked like a champ.

[SJP]

Just to say, most video editing suites should handle those settings no problem.  I don't know much about iMovie itself (not a Mac user), but I definitely know Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 uses those settings, though the only reason I even have that program is because I got an insanely cheap upgrade from Adobe Premiere Elements, as it's normally well out of my price range (to comapre, the new CS4 is about $800 US, $300 if you upgrade).  So, if you're not planning on going into video editing, or you just simply need to spend that million dollars you have in your wallet, you'd best be served by something cheaper.   

Just to say, Rifftrax WILL convert your file to the proper settings if they're not perfect.  The trade-off is, this can suck for video, since video encoding takes a lot longer than audio encoding and they push the file to the end of the line, but as long as you have a compatible video file they can work with, it'll be posted eventually.  I don't know how long a wait for video is, but at least it's better than nothing.

[Fanboy Sci-Fi Theater]

Word of warning that we ran into using GarageBand/iMovie.  It treated the movie audio and the riffing audio tracks as 2 separate tracks.  When we upped our Dragnet riff it only contained the movie audio after it went through the process on the iRiff server.

What we did to resolve the issue was to burn it to DVD and then use Handbrake (which is free) to rip the video to the appropriate format/frame rate/etc.

Worked like a champ.

Thanks for the tip.  I did use GarageBand and iMovie, so I would have run into the same problems.  Fortunately, I already have burned the iRiffs to DVD-R and do have Handbrake, so I should be able to take it from there.

[Fanboy Sci-Fi Theater]

Word of warning that we ran into using GarageBand/iMovie.  It treated the movie audio and the riffing audio tracks as 2 separate tracks.  When we upped our Dragnet riff it only contained the movie audio after it went through the process on the iRiff server.

What we did to resolve the issue was to burn it to DVD and then use Handbrake (which is free) to rip the video to the appropriate format/frame rate/etc.

Worked like a champ.

Sorry to say it didn't work for me at all.  After over an hour-and-half of encoding, the RiffTrax website won't even accept the Handbrake version made from my DVD when I try to select it for upload.  On top of that, the video quality went way downhill on the Handbrake version.  Any other suggestions?

[Fanboy Sci-Fi Theater]

I use a program called "AVS Video Converter" and I created a video profile matching the exact iriff settings.  I just run my videos through it and it always comes out right.  No transcoding required.  Overall it's a great program and pretty fast.  You know, fast for a video conversion program.   

Unfortunately, AVS is only available for Windows and not MAC. anything else you can recommend?

[MICRORIFFS]

You could try pasting the audio into the video with quicktime (pro version)
You should make an AIF or WAV mix of your riff & the original sound together as one, then
copy that and paste it (into "selection and scale")
Make sure the sample rate and frame rate of the aiff match the video.
Always check the finals too. Many things can cause sych problems.
Also, your files might be up there waiting for you to 'commit' them.
We'll get cha up and runnin somehow.

[Fanboy Sci-Fi Theater]

I don't know how to combine the riff track and the film audio track.  As for "committing" the files, there doesn't appear to be any link on the website as described in the instructions.  When I upload the iRiff, it appears to go through, but then the page reloads and the iRiff file is no longer listed on the page.  I am brought to the "Zip File" section, but I do not have any mp3 or txt files to zip, since this is a video iRiff.  I'm not sure if the iRiff file has been accepted or not, but if it has, I don't know how to continue at that point because I have nothing to zip and there is no link to commit the file.

[mr.b.natural]

I don't know how to combine the riff track and the film audio track.  As for "committing" the files, there doesn't appear to be any link on the website as described in the instructions.  When I upload the iRiff, it appears to go through, but then the page reloads and the iRiff file is no longer listed on the page.  I am brought to the "Zip File" section, but I do not have any mp3 or txt files to zip, since this is a video iRiff.  I'm not sure if the iRiff file has been accepted or not, but if it has, I don't know how to continue at that point because I have nothing to zip and there is no link to commit the file.

Okay, I just went and looked at the "Manage iRiff Files" page.  If a file is ready to be committed it will be under the section labeled "Files That Are Ready to Commit."  If, and only if, you have files ready to be committed will there be a button for it.  If you have successfully uploaded your VOD it will be in the ready to commit section.  Chances are it is sitting in the "Waiting to be Transcoded" section.  Until it is moved from there to the "Files That Are Ready to Commit" section you cannot commit it.  There is nothing you can do to speed up this process. 

[Fanboy Sci-Fi Theater]

I don't know how to combine the riff track and the film audio track.  As for "committing" the files, there doesn't appear to be any link on the website as described in the instructions.  When I upload the iRiff, it appears to go through, but then the page reloads and the iRiff file is no longer listed on the page.  I am brought to the "Zip File" section, but I do not have any mp3 or txt files to zip, since this is a video iRiff.  I'm not sure if the iRiff file has been accepted or not, but if it has, I don't know how to continue at that point because I have nothing to zip and there is no link to commit the file.

Okay, I just went and looked at the "Manage iRiff Files" page.  If a file is ready to be committed it will be under the section labeled "Files That Are Ready to Commit."  If, and only if, you have files ready to be committed will there be a button for it.  If you have successfully uploaded your VOD it will be in the ready to commit section.  Chances are it is sitting in the "Waiting to be Transcoded" section.  Until it is moved from there to the "Files That Are Ready to Commit" section you cannot commit it.  There is nothing you can do to speed up this process. 

Earlier today, I got a request for me to send in a W-9 form before I could commit any files, so I FAXed it over to them.  I have since gotten a link to "commit" my file, but it sent me back to the "Upload Files" section.  So, I am going to try submitting the file again, and hopefully it will go through this time.  If the W-9 form was the problem, I don't know why I wasn't instructed to send one before now.

I'm still wondering how long it should normally take for a VOD file to upload.  I matched all of the video settings to those required by RiffTrax, so it shouldn't need to be transcoded.  But, for all I know, it may be in the transcoding pile anyway.  Where can I find the "Manage iRiffs Files" page? 

[fireyf]

I don't know how to combine the riff track and the film audio track.  As for "committing" the files, there doesn't appear to be any link on the website as described in the instructions.  When I upload the iRiff, it appears to go through, but then the page reloads and the iRiff file is no longer listed on the page.  I am brought to the "Zip File" section, but I do not have any mp3 or txt files to zip, since this is a video iRiff.  I'm not sure if the iRiff file has been accepted or not, but if it has, I don't know how to continue at that point because I have nothing to zip and there is no link to commit the file.

Okay, I just went and looked at the "Manage iRiff Files" page.  If a file is ready to be committed it will be under the section labeled "Files That Are Ready to Commit."  If, and only if, you have files ready to be committed will there be a button for it.  If you have successfully uploaded your VOD it will be in the ready to commit section.  Chances are it is sitting in the "Waiting to be Transcoded" section.  Until it is moved from there to the "Files That Are Ready to Commit" section you cannot commit it.  There is nothing you can do to speed up this process. 

If I remember correctly from my last riff the commit link is on the same page as the upload.  Did you scroll down and check to see if the file is there.  Remember, you can upload multiple files to a project so the upload option will remain available.


Earlier today, I got a request for me to send in a W-9 form before I could commit any files, so I FAXed it over to them.  I have since gotten a link to "commit" my file, but it sent me back to the "Upload Files" section.  So, I am going to try submitting the file again, and hopefully it will go through this time.  If the W-9 form was the problem, I don't know why I wasn't instructed to send one before now.

I'm still wondering how long it should normally take for a VOD file to upload.  I matched all of the video settings to those required by RiffTrax, so it shouldn't need to be transcoded.  But, for all I know, it may be in the transcoding pile anyway.  Where can I find the "Manage iRiffs Files" page?