Unable to play .MP4 on HDMI

[Djinni]

I know I made a thread a while ago, but couldn't find it to revive it.

I'm still having trouble playing .mp4's on my external TV via the on-board video.

CPU: Intel i7 2600k
Mobo: ASUS P8Z68 V-PRO

It doesn't seem to matter what codec's are used, as long as the file extension is .mp4 it just causes the video player to crash. (Windows Media Player, VLC player whatever)
At the moment I'm still having to convert all my .mp4's to .avi's just so I can watch them on the TV instead of the computer screen.

[ghotihook]

Is it all .MP4s? I have a similar setup. A PC hooked directly up to my TV via HDMI.Are you creating the .MP4? Did you try to download one from the internet?

[Saithes]

Can you play MKV's?

[coldfiredragon]

It could be corrupted / bad headers on the MP4's or it cold be they were made with HEAAC audio instead of LC AAC. Can you play them if you connect to a monitor not using an HDMI cable? HDMI can have the Secure Content stuff that could be causing a problem.

Alos since you are using VLC you could use MKVMerge GUI to remux them into an MKV (which is a super awesome and better format)

[Crowe]

Doest HDMI have some sort of DRM mechanism that prohibits it from playing pirated media files?

[Djinni]

Its any .MP4, so far I haven't found a single one that works. Regardless of weather I encoded it or downloaded it.

---------- Post added 2012-05-17 at 12:49 AM ----------

Testing the same file with the following file types:
.avi --- works
.mp4 --- doesnt work
.wmv --- works
.mkv --- works
.mov --- works
.mpg --- works
.dv --- works
.vob --- works
.ask --- works
.ts --- works
.rm --- works


In all cases they all work when played on either VLC or WMP on the main screen, its just the MP4 that doesn't play on the TV via the PC.

(For the test above I used a 27 second long clip from a Firefly dvd extra special I had. the original format was .avi and I used "Bigasoft Total Video Converter" to convert it from the .avi to each of the above file types, multiple times for file types with the same extension but different codec's.)

---------- Post added 2012-05-17 at 12:49 AM ----------

Doest HDMI have some sort of DRM mechanism that prohibits it from playing pirated media files?

Sure think so. But this has nothing to do with pirated media files. On that subject I rarely play videos/dvd's from disc, I prefer ripping or downloading them (even if I already own them) because I find that the file on the harddrive is much easier to work with, (like queuing up movies/series episodes)
For example I absolutely hate having to navigate through boxsets menu's trying to find the episode I want, much easier just to look at a list of filenames/episode names in a directory listing and pick from there.

[Evildeffy]

Try Media Player Classic - Home Cinema to play, it generally uses it's own codecs.

If that don't help you can try the CoreCodec CoreAVC professional, but it costs money and you gotta try it with a player other then MPC-HC due to MPC-HCs internal codec list.

[Djinni]

Try Media Player Classic - Home Cinema to play, it generally uses it's own codecs.

If that don't help you can try the CoreCodec CoreAVC professional, but it costs money and you gotta try it with a player other then MPC-HC due to MPC-HCs internal codec list.

Only a very slightly better result. With MPC-HC the player does crash. it just stops playback while on the TV.

Again though no problem playing any file format OTHER than .mp4

[Elapo]

What about HD video's on youtube? They're most of the time MP4, do they work?

[Djinni]

No problem with Youtube videos.

Just checked with 5 different unrelated vids at 720 and 1080p

(that's with and without sound via TV)

[Djinni]

No other ideas?

[DarkXale]

I'm half-tempted to say there may be something off with the IGPU's Hardware Acceleration.

[Masark]

Doest HDMI have some sort of DRM mechanism that prohibits it from playing pirated media files?

No, what you're referring to is called the "protected path" thing. It only applies to bluray and such. it creates a continuous authenticated and encrypted stream from the disc, through the player software, to the secured driver, though the hardware, through to the monitor, so there's no place you can snag and redirect an unencrypted copy of the digital video stream for copying.

[Djinni]

I'm half-tempted to say there may be something off with the IGPU's Hardware Acceleration.

Small hiccup... Can't seem to find any way to disable hardware acceleration from the Intel Graphics and Media Control Panel. Can't even see the option listed nor can I access it via Personalisation >> Advanced Settings >> Troubleshoot >> Change settings (which is greyed out)

[Saithes]

I've learned that with the latest drivers for the iGPU (9.17.10.2729) I am unable to play any videos using the iGPU and doing so results in a black screen or the player crashing.

[Djinni]

The graphics driver version I end up with from my latest update (yesterday via: http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/detect) is: 8.15.10.2696

---------- Post added 2012-05-23 at 11:20 AM ----------

Interesting development.

Installed Quicktime and Mirillis-Splash Lite players, and they both play .mp4 files on the TV no problems!

[Synthaxx]

I believe MP4 was at least partially developed by Apple and as such their own codec and software is likely more up to date than what's shipped with WMP, MPC or VLC.

One thing to note is that switching the screen the player is shown on once it's started playing can cause an issue with the renderer as you're essentially telling it to switch which device is used in the middle of a stream. It shouldn't cause an issue, but it's not so strange to think that something might go AWOL. As it's one dedicated NVIDIA card, and one built-in Intel GPU, there's a potential for inconsistency, whereas with 2 dedicated cards of the same brand, they can be developed to "hand off" windows to the other card (should both screens be hooked up to seperate cards). I'm not saying get another card just for this of course, especially now you've somewhat solved it, just to try opening the player first, moving screens with it, and then start playing.

[Djinni]

I believe MP4 was at least partially developed by Apple and as such their own codec and software is likely more up to date than what's shipped with WMP, MPC or VLC.

<A long and perfectly good explanation>

Possibly... but I have also downloaded and installed CCCP codecs this morning.

Also sorry to say that your brilliant explanation has been wasted. Already tried this, although not realising all that stuff you said, so guess it wasn't totally wasted. (in fact WMP pretty much only ever plays on the TV now.)

I'm also not sure I care enough about this to throw money at it. All I have to do to get round the problem is convert the video file from .mp4 to .avi.

EDIT:

Neither Quicktime nor Splash lite have any issues switching screens during playback.

[Evildeffy]

just try Klite Codec Pack... as it will solve your problem.

Though the post i'm about to make is not very informative or helpful because i don't know any other means to try and help the OP, i have to say on this comment though... "The day that Klite codec pack is better then MPC-HC or CoreAVC is the day that the world is in flames and hell has frozen over.".

I don't get the infatuation with Klite really.

[Djinni]

K-Lite won't solve my problem:P Already got it :-).

MPC-HC runs mp4's now that it's set to use internal codecs.
But I can't get on with MPC... to many features aren't properly integrated.