MCEBuddy

Just installed v1.07 on my 32bit Ultimate - and the files it's converting to the profile Zune are being converted again by Zune 2.0.

 However, about 10-30% of the way in, it's failing conversion altogether and just stops trying.

I grabbed a file I had converted years ago using DVR2WMV, and Zune was able to push it through just fine.

Thoughts?

Ironside:

Just installed v1.07 on my 32bit Ultimate - and the files it's converting to the profile Zune are being converted again by Zune 2.0.

 However, about 10-30% of the way in, it's failing conversion altogether and just stops trying.

I grabbed a file I had converted years ago using DVR2WMV, and Zune was able to push it through just fine.

Thoughts?

It's converting to WMV2 and the loading sw might not like it.  Try the 5th gen iPod conversion and it should load.

Derek 

I'll confirm that the 5th generation Ipod profile worked for me on my Zune 80. The zune profile did not.  However, the Zune 2.0 Software did re-encode it before it would sync with the Zune.  After some experimenting I've found the PSP W profile to work great and require no Zune transcoding.

All the WMV ones I've tried generated errors when I tried to sync it.

Derek, if you ever want me to beta test some Zune profiles let me know.

bengance:

I'll confirm that the 5th generation Ipod profile worked for me on my Zune 80. The zune profile did not.  However, the Zune 2.0 Software did re-encode it before it would sync with the Zune.  Is there a profile that anyone knows works directly with the Zune?  All the WMV ones I've tried generated errors when I tried to sync it.

Derek, if you ever want me to beta test some Zune profiles let me know.

The problem is that Zune uses WMV9 (also called WMV3).  The mencoder lib build only converts to WMV2 and this does not look like changing in the near future.  It appears that the Zune has issues with WMV2, which is surprising.  It's also possible it is how mencoder transcodes to WMV2.  Either way there is little I can do with WMV3.  One thing you might want to try is another profile.

[Zune-VBR-WMV]
profile-desc="Zune VBR WMV"
vf=pullup,softskip,pp=fd,scale=320:-2,crop=320:240,hqdn3d,harddup
lavdopts=threads=2
ovc=lavc=yes
oac=lavc=yes
lavcopts=vcodec=wmv2:vqscale=4:acodec=wmav2:abitrate=128:autoaspect=yes
of=lavf=yes
af=volnorm=2
#FileExtension=wmv

This uses a WMV2 VBR conversion, which might be friendlier.  It's still possible the Zune software will still want to convert to WMV3 \, in which case we're better off still using the iPod based option.  If you could try this one and let me know how it goes it would be appreciated.  Some early beta testing.

Derek 

Some more testing and the PSP W profile works awesome.  The files sync'd directly to the Zune without any re-encoding.  Judging by the number of people discussing video files on the Zune site, I the device & software is just super finnicky with its file types. 

bengance:

Some more testing and the PSP W profile works awesome.  The files sync'd directly to the Zune without any re-encoding.  Judging by the number of people discussing video files on the Zune site, I the device & software is just super finnicky with its file types. 

PSP Wide?  That is truly, truly bizarre.  Are you sure it's still the original non-transcoded file on the Zune?

Derek 

 Yep, 100% positive that PSP wide worked without transcoding.  I just sync'd two full movies on my Zune in less than 60 seconds.  I had the task manager open and noticed that when I was syncing a file undrer "5th gen Ipod" the zune would start an encoder process.  No process was started under PSP wide. 

Here's the tech specs for what Zune supports:

Windows Media Video (WMV) (.wmv) – Main and Simple Profile, CBR or VBR, up to 3.0 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Zune software will transcode HD WMV files at device sync

MPEG-4 (MP4/M4V) (.mp4) Part 2 video[4] – Simple Profile up to 2.5 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second).  Zune software will transcode HD MPEG-4 files at device sync

H.264 video[4] – Baseline Profile up to 2.5 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Zune software will transcode HD H.264 files at device sync

Why PSP wide works but Ipod 5th gen doesn't work directly; I have no idea.
 

There's a new MCEBuddy encode update coming so I've added you to the beta program.  In it will be a new Zune profile.

Cheers

Derek