Zune Video Specs
I come across a lot of forum postings where converted video files are transcoding when syncing, or file just won’t sync to the Zune device. If you follow my instructions on the Video Conversion page, you should be able to create high-quality videos (WMV format) with no transcoding during syncing.
Below are the exact details of the video file format for the Zune (so far as I was able to research from Microsoft’s web site, forum postings, etc). If you venture beyond these maximum limits, your video file will probably undergo transcoding and reconvert during syncing with your Zune.
2nd Generation Zune Devices (Zune 4/8/80 GB)
Windows Media Video (WMV)
Video Settings:
Codec: Windows Media Video 9
Simple Profile - up to 320×240, 10 frames per second and 1.5 Mbps
Main Profile – up to 720×480, 30 frames per second and 3 Mbps
Main Profile - 720×576 pixels resolution (up to 25 frames per second) and ?? Mbps
Constant Bit Rate (CBR) or Variable Bit Rate (VBR)
Audio Settings:
Codec: Windows Media Audio 9.0 or higher
Up to 192 kbps audio bit rate, 44.1 kHz sample rate, stereo, CBR
Note: High-Definition (HD) WMV files will sync with transcoding
MPEG-4 (MP4/M4V)
Video Settings:
Part 2 Simple Profile with AAC audio
Up to 2.5 Mbps peak video rate
720×480 pixels resolution (up to 30 frames per second)
720×576 pixels resolution (up to 25 frames per second)
Note: High-Definition (HD) MPEG-4 files will sync with transcoding
H.264 Video
Video Settings:
Baseline Profile with AAC Audio
Up to 2.5 Mbps peak video bit rate
720×480 pixels resolution (up to 30 frames per second)
720×576 pixels resolution (up to 25 frames per second)
High-Definition (HD) H.264 files will sync with transcoding
DVR-MS
Files will transcode when syncing
1st Generation Zune Devices (Zune 30 GB)
Windows Media Video (WMV)
Video Settings:
Codec: Windows Media Video 9
Simple Profile - up to 320×240, 10 frames per second and 1.5 Mbps
Main Profile - up to 720×480, 30 frames per second and 3 Mbps
Constant Bit Rate (CBR) or Variable Bit Rate (VBR)
Up to 800 kbps average video bit rate
High-Definition (HD) WMV files transcode during syncing
MPEG-4 (MP4/M4V)
Files will transcode when syncing
H.264 Video
Files will transcode when syncing
DVR-MS
Files will transcode when syncing
The main source for this data is from Zune.net on this page.
Miranda said,
February 4, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Hi,
I have been interested in HD and I’m starting to get into it.
I have a 37″ Viewsonic 1080i LCD HDTV and want to play back high definition files through my Zune on my tv. I noticed that the 80GB Zune is the only want compatible with the component cable through the Zune dock, so how do I encode my files into an HD compatible format. I am guessing that I would change the video resolution from 320×240 to 720×480 and 30 fps, but what about the video bit rate, the zune website says to use 3mbps, but now is that the video bit rate I use or the max bit rate?If it is the max bit rate then what should I set the video bit rate at?
What makes the video file HD? is it just the resolution that it’s being displayed at or do I need an actual HD encoder? Right now, I don’t use windows media encoder because it seems to have quite a few issues with letting me encode avi, mkv, divx, ogm and vob files for some reason, so I use Encode360 and it will encode all those file formats and never seems to give me any trouble and it will also let me create a batch list of items and I just let it run overnight when I’m sleeping!
Any help would be greatly appreciated from those who have encoded HD files before. Thanks!
zunetips said,
February 5, 2008 at 4:41 pm
I haven’t worked with HD video, so I can’t suggest anything. All I know, is that the specs for the Zune states that an HD video file will transcode (reconvert) when you sync it to your Zune (which could take hours to complete). After the transcoding, I believe the resultant video file on your Zune will no longer be HD.
Miranda said,
February 5, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Well…that’s not necessarily true. I did a HD file test by converting 4 different types of the same file. I converted a movie (Mission Impossible 3) into 4 different files, The first file was a basic zune format video file: 320×240, 30 fps, 128 audio bit rate, 500kbps video bit rate and in .wmv format. The other three files were 720×480, 30 fps, 128kbps audio bit rate and were in .wmv format. The only difference between them is the video bit rate. The first one is 500kbps, the second one is 1500kbps(1.5mbps) and the 3rd is 3000kbps(3mbps). I then added them to the zune, which didn’t take any longer than 5 minutes. They played back on my TV pretty well. There wasn’t much of a difference between the 720×480 videos except the file size. I noticed the higher the video bit rate, the larger the file would be. As far as quality between them obviously the 720×480 videos looked a lot greater over the 320×240 one. Now as for the 720×480 goes, the 3mbps one looked the best, the 1.5mbps looked good and the 500kbps seemed kind of stretched and scratchy, obviously due to the fact that I increased the resolution without increasing the bit rate. I guess I would keep the bit rate at 1.5mbps so that the file size isn’t outrageous, its a decent file size and still looks great, just not sure if it’s considered HD, although it was running in 480p. The only problem was that it took forever to convert the video file into that format, almost 3 times than usual.
If anyone knows anything that would help, that would be greatly appreciated!
Victor said,
February 10, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Hey man!
thank god i found your tips. I’m a proud owner of a 1st gen 30G Zune.
I use cucusoft dvd to zune suit to batch convert the episodes of a series contained on a DVD. I save up time by using this software, because u don’t need to decript the file first and then convert it to wmv.
It contains 3 options, WM7, WM8 and WM9. WM7 is the fastest option, WM9 is the slowest with a dramatic difference in the conversion speed. Is there a way to avoid zune software’s transcoding of the voncerted file using WM7? WM9 takes ages.
thanks
zunetips said,
February 11, 2008 at 7:31 am
Victor: The Zune devices require the use of WM9 for the video codec. The older codecs will cause transcoding. There’s no way around it. Also, Cucusoft does indeed decode your video source file before doing the conversion to WMV format. It does this and the conversion in one-step, and is easy to use for most people. The only issue would be tht Cucusoft is a commercial product that you have to purchase. For those who don’t want to go through the two step process of ripping the DVD files to a VOB file and then converting the VOB file to WMV format, buying and using a commercial converter is a good option.
Victor said,
February 11, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Too bad, WM9 is really slow compared to wm7.
U know this tool named, “Zsuite”, which is supposed to expand zune’s compatibility and it makes it work even with WM11?
It’s found here, i’ve been member of that site for a while. U think this mod can make zune compatible with more formats so that it doesn’t transcode files?
http://www.zuneboards.com/forums/ztools/10863-zsuite-hacking-suite-zune.html
MNSearcher said,
April 19, 2008 at 5:56 am
Grrr I’ve been using Xilisoft Video Converter for my nephews iPod Touch. And it has been working great. Yesterday my Zune arrived and ever video that I convert to wmv format, the sound is very very tinny sounding.
I’ve tried the zune MP4 format, but the zune software doesn’t recognize it. I’ve tried the Windows 9 Encoder….the batch encocder runs for about 10 minutes on a file and exports a 9kb file. But doesn’t encode anything. I’ve tried it on 3 computers. Grrrrrr
I tried funning the encoder program manually…..on the 2nd pass…it just loads with errors and doesn’t convert.
I’m trying to convert simple Divx tv shows to my zune. I thought the first time I tried this it was my software and returned the Zune. Now I’m just starting to wonder if the Zune isn’t the way to go. Encoding for the Touch was so simple.
I hope you can help out
Eric
zunetips said,
April 19, 2008 at 7:14 am
MNSearcher: I’m 90% sure your problem is with the video and audio codecs installed on your system. I suggest you do a search of this web blog for “codec” and review the pages that appear. You will probably need to remove all your questionable codecs and replace them with different ones.
Lauren Glenn said,
September 29, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Use Handbrake and turn on iPod ATOM on the main screen.
This is the profile I use:
Under Advanced:
———————
level=30:bframes=0:cabac=0:ref=1:vbv-maxrate=1450:vbv-bufsize=2000:analyse=all:me=umh:subme=6:no-fast-pskip=1:sar=4:3
I set the width to 480, height to 320, and encode to H264/AAC.
It hasn’t failed so far.
Lauren Glenn said,
September 29, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Keep in mind that I have a Zune 120. I think the Zune 80 has the same ability to encode to H264.
Jabari Dumisani said,
October 8, 2008 at 10:23 am
hello all, hope youre well. just wanted to thank you for posting such a great tute, im a new owner of the ZUNE 120 and this intel was definately needed. i also wanted to thank Lauren Glenn for her input and kindness of sharing, as im familiar with using Handbrake for making my old PSP HD movie files, which also looked great streaming through my XBOX 360 on a 46″ HDTV. good to know i can change a couple of settings and get similar results that im used to.
i do have one question concerning whats the highest resolution that one could encode to and the ZUNE will both play native and when streaming to TV? thanks so much yet again, everyone take care.
Jabari Dumisani said,
October 8, 2008 at 10:27 am
…for example could i encode to 720×480 H.264 or WMV and this syncs to my ZUNE without transcoding? thanks again.
zunetips said,
October 8, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Jabari: From the guide info above, all High-Def video files will require transcoding during syncing. So whether your video is WMV, MPEG-4, or H.264 format any of them in HD will require transcoding.
So far as video resolution, you can go to 720×480 but you need to stay within the specified video frame rate for the different formats. Of course, you can experiment and see which exact settings works best for you.