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9
Creating MPEG4 Video Files
How to create an MPEG4 video file
Please understand that video re-encoding is not always a simple one button process. Video
segments that come from your digital camcorder or which are freely available on the Internet are
encoded in many different ways. If not already in the proper MPEG4 Simple Profile format,
transforming these videos into this format readable by the AV300 requires use of the below
mentioned software tools. This is due to the relatively new nature of the ISO (International
Standards Organization) MPEG4 video format. Unlike its predecessors MPEG1 and MPEG2,
there are a number of levels in this format and thus not all MPEG4 video files will work on all
MPEG4 players, and older MPEG1 and MPEG2 files must be re-encoded into this format.
Although you may have a bit of a learning curve in the initial re-encoding of video files, once you
have the process down, it is just a matter of letting your PC or Mac go to work and create video
files for playing on your AV300.
Another, much simpler method to create MPEG4 videos, is to use the
Archos DVR 100 optional add-on as shown to the left. It is a device
that clicks into the expansion port of the AV300 and allows you to
record a video source just like a video cassette recorder (VCR) by
connecting a cable between your video source (TV/VCR) and the
AV300. This method does not require any re-encoding or that you
install the above mentioned software. See the instructions that come with the DVR 100 for an
explanation on how to connect it and make recordings with it.
ATTENTION:
You should also take care to understand the copyright laws
for your country and/or jurisdiction. Commercially produced video materials
are typically copyright protected and your legal right to copy such material
may be limited or restricted. Please see a law professional if you are unsure.
PC Tools
The AV320 is delivered with a CD-ROM that includes two PC based programs that allow you to
create MP4 Simple Profile .AVI video files. They are the MP4 Translator and Virtual Dub™. The
MP4 Translator will call the Virtual Dub program and give it the correct parameters to encode
your video from its original format, .avi or .mpg (mpeg 1), and then encode it into a DivX™ based
MP4 .AVI file. The file will be up to 640x368 pixels in resolution in order to be played back
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properly. Only MP4 files encoded with DivX™ or XviD can be played on the AV300. If the
DivX™ codec is not on the included CD-ROM, please visit the web site of DivXNetworks, Inc
(www.divx.com) to download version 4.0 or 5.0 of this codec. This is a free codec. This will
allow your PC to create DivX™ type videos which play on your AV300. You will also need an
MP3 audio codec (available freely on the Internet) in order to create the proper sound track for the
movie.
Macintosh Users
Until recently, the Macintosh user community did not have any tools to create DivX™ simple
profile MPEG4 video files. There is now a free tool available at the DivX™Networks web site
which will allow you to create DivX™ simple profile files with your Macintosh that are playable
on the AV300. Attention: As of the writing of this manual, the MP3 encoder (which is necessary if
the original file is not encoded with an MP3 CBR sound track) is not free. There is a small charge
for this.
9.1
Installing the PC Software
If your video file is not an MPEG4 Simple Profile .avi file of the proper size, you will need to re-
encode it using the following utilities. For the AV300, you will need to create an AVI file that is
MPEG4 Simple Profile with a resolution of 640x480 (depending on frame rate) or smaller and a
sound track that is stereo MP3.
Please install the programs in the following order.
DivX™ Codec
This software will install the DivX™
Co
mpression/
Dec
ompression onto your PC. You should shut
off any anti-virus programs when installing this or other codec software. This is not a program that
is run by itself. Rather, it installs background software which allows your computer to do high
quality video compression. This is the MPEG4 compressed video type that the AV300 knows how
to play. You can find this codec software, as well as an application that allows you to play DivX™
videos on your PC, at the web site www.divx.com. There are three versions of the software found
at their web site. You can choose the basic “free” version. This will give you the codec that you
will need. For Macintosh users, DivX™ re-encoding software is just in its infancy. Currently
DivXnetworks has released only a QuickTime™ decoder component, not an encoder.
