Zune Video Settings

[Lord Geoff]

Hola,

I was wondering if anyone knows what the highest quality settings are for video that will not require the Zune software to initiate a 2nd round of conversion. I am using Wondershare to rip DVDs and .avi files to my Zune, but I want them at the highest possible video quality so that they don't look like utter crap if I decide to watch them through my 360. I may be expecting too much, but it would be nice.

Those two requests may not be compatible, but if anyone has any ideas, let me know. I may just have to rip them at high quality and suffer through the extremely long Zune software conversion.

[Lord Geoff]

Seriously? No one has anything? Wow! Not too often you can find a topic that gets no replies. It's not just you guys though. I can't seem to find an answer to that question anywhere. It is something seemingly so simple that you would think it would be in the official FAQs, but not so much.

[namehater]

when i get home from work ill look at what program i use to convert my dvds-to-zune, the quality is pretty bad anytime ive streamed it through my xbox, i dont recall any settings to adjust, but it looks great on the zune, although the sound is very low, ill check the name when i get home

[Serren]

I'll do the same with my software. I have the 2nd season of House to convert anyway.

[Lord Geoff]

Actually, my software works very well, I just don't know what the max settings are that will keep me from having to wait through a second round of conversion through the Zune software. The WonderShare software gives you tons of options on the video and audio settings, but I don't know the proper combination to give me the best quality without the Zune sync conversion. Thanks!

The reason for wanting them playable on the 360 is for my TV show collection. I can currently stream all formats through Orb, but if I had them in a 360 compatible format, I could play them straight from my portable harddrive, without the need for my laptop to be on or even at home.

[Peench]

I know there is at least one vidcast that I download that doesn't require any conversion when I copy it over (I believe). I'll have to figure out which one it is and once I do that I should be able to figure out the specs. That might do the trick.

[Serren]

The Zune natively supports only video only at 320x240, 1.692 Mbps, in the .wmv format. The Zune software can convert the following formats, m4v, .mp4, and .mov. All other formats, such as .avi need to be converted into one of the above formats before it will go on to the Zune.

If your converting your .avi's or such, go straight into .wmv format, 320x240, 1.6 mbps. Anything beyond that quailty wise will be just be down converted, and thus wasted. Also by going directly into the proper mode, you will save time on the Zune software re-encoding.

Hope that helps. I have been using Cucusofts Video to Zune Converter. It is cool as I can dump a bunch of avi episodes of a show into the software at one time and it will convert them as a batch. It takes a bit less then real time to convert.

[namehater]

cucu, thats it! im using the same thing, i think i found it as a free download, i wish i could find a way to make my video high enough quality that they would be watchable on my 52", but i dont see it happening, i thought it would be neat to get the a/v cable for the zune and play the videos in my car, they would probably look alright on my little 7" lcd in there

[Serren]

I bet the Zune would look fine on the 7" car lcd. That is actually a good idea. I may steal it! :-)

[Peench]

Wow - thanks for the settings tip Serren. For some reason my Juice program won't load properly (keeps giving me an error) so I can't download any new vidcasts.

I like the idea of the shows on the player in the car. That's a great idea namehater!