Regarding VOD Content - Shorts and Features

[Compound]

Hang on.

Guys? Are there versions of older shorts in mp4 format? If there are, Bob, could you download them and see if they work on your device?

For me, there's not a play issue. VLC and Windows media player play Mp4 fine and DVD Flick converts them to DVD mode just fine. (I generally watch the shorts by burning them to a DVD and watching them on a stand-alone player, not a PC.) I just don't like the file format. It's like the Arby's of video formats to me.

[Bob]

Hang on.

Guys? Are there versions of older shorts in mp4 format? If there are, Bob, could you download them and see if they work on your device?

For me, there's not a play issue. VLC and Windows media player play Mp4 fine and DVD Flick converts them to DVD mode just fine. (I generally watch the shorts by burning them to a DVD and watching them on a stand-alone player, not a PC.) I just don't like the file format. It's like the Arby's of video formats to me.

Yes, the shorts have been in mp4 format for years now and they all play on the ipod and iphone...... except for the new one.

[torgosPizza]

Yes, all of our shorts have been in mp4 format since the beginning - they've just always been a lower resolution, strictly for portable devices. We might end up doing 2 sizes: small portables and large devices (tablets, AppleTV, etc.). That's what we're looking into.

[Edward J Grug III]

Nope, don't like it. Can only play Divx-home-theater-profile files. So I'll just have to download the mpg and transcode it. :/ Please bring back the Divx files!!

Are you sure about that? Most players that can play .divx can also play .mp4. What are you watching them on?

Ours doesn't either (Western Digital is the brand we've got)

Yes, all of our shorts have been in mp4 format since the beginning - they've just always been a lower resolution, strictly for portable devices. We might end up doing 2 sizes: small portables and large devices (tablets, AppleTV, etc.). That's what we're looking into.

If you're going to do that, couldn't you just go back to the format that's always worked previously?

So far no one's called for the return of the WMA files, so maybe you could drop that one?

[Fortis]

I really liked the wmv files for my zune. But as zune is pretty forgiving on file formats, especially with .mp4's, I doubt there will be any problems. So if the .wmv is dropped, I'll be okay with it.

I'm broke or else I'd get this newer version and test it on my zune. It'll be fine, I've always been happy with the overall product.

[MrTorso]

The iPod classic only supports .mov files

That is not true at all.

[goflyblind]

Apple reports that all iPod classic (6G) models -- "original" and Late 2008/2G -- support "H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Low-Complexity version of the H.264 Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; H.264 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.0 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats."

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/ipod/specs/ipod-classic-late-2008-2g-specs.html

[MrTorso]

Yeah the problem with the current MP4 and the classic ipods is that the resolution is too big and the baseline profile is 3.1 instead of 3.0 which the guys are probably aware of. What is a .DIVX file anyway? Glorified avi? 

[MrTorso]

Also x264 rules. You get really good quality in a small filesize. I like to use the high quality MPG2 files to make my re-authors ( I have found that demuxing those are easier and less error prone than trying to split mp4) but I generally then run them through handbrake to make mp4 of m4v (supports chapters) for the various ipods and iphones and WDTVs that I have.

[Bob]

Handbrake is a pretty wonderful piece of software that has easy to figure out settings for ipods, ipads, appletv, etc.   

It's probably tough for the Rifftrax folks to determine a balance between, "plug and play right after you download them" and "having a dozen different versions" of the same file to take into account all the different ways to play MP4s.   Sure, people could use Handbrake, but then you will risk losing customers who dont want to go through all the time/hassle of file converting as not everyone knows how to do that.

[Thrashalla]

Precisely Bob, we're trying to smooth things out to cover the maximum number of users - make it convenient as possible while looking toward how we can use the technology in the future (Mp4 streaming, chapter support, etc.) Still working it out, but we have another short coming this week and we should have everything set by then. Seriously thanks for the patience and for indulging our experimentation with this stuff.

[Bob]

What about the hand drawn motion comic fans who's imported Swedish devices only take 2002-era .M7K formats?    Are they left to starve?

[goflyblind]

i don't know if i'm comfortable with streaming. at least not for things i pay for. downloadz4evar.

[Doctor Who?]

Wait are they no longer letting us Download shorts?  That's the end of Rifftrax shorts for me,if I can't go to someone's house and Download them.  I can't stream on my connection.

[Bob]

Wait are they no longer letting us Download shorts?  That's the end of Rifftrax shorts for me,if I can't go to someone's house and Download them.  I can't stream on my connection.

I think that is just a future offering.   Trying to get more product in more people's hands.    There is probably a good number of folks who do not own portable movie/phone devices that would like to see the shorts online at their convienece.   After all the MST3K demographic ain't getting any younger.