MP4 files

[scuba]

Last year I used .mp4 media files in a few off my sequences.  I used XL 3.X to play the schedule with these sequences.  If I understand it right I can't use .mp4 files with XL4.  I think I can use FFP and use the .mp4 with these sequences, but I'd rather use XL4 on my laptop. do I have this right!!

 BTW: No issue with converting the MP4 files to .MP3....

[Gilrock]

Did you try creating a schedule and adding an MP4?  The only restriction I know of is you can't sequence with the MP4.

[scuba]

The issue is that I want my projector to show video images while the light blink. So can I sequence in MP3 then later sub the MP3 with a MP4 file?  Possibly by Editing the .xml file or the fseq file?

[Gilrock]

I didn't write everything in the program so I'm telling you how to find out the same way I would.  Create a playlist to start in like 1 minute and add your sequence and MP4 and see if it works.

[scuba]

Gil
spot On!

Experimented with MP4 and MP3 files.  The following worked for me;

Convert your MP4 file to MP3 using Sean's approach: LAME for Audacity (see release notes).  Some have warned that LAME will add "leader" time to the front end of the file, but I didn't notice.

Sequence  the sequence!

save the file.

Close XL.

Open Notebook++; open the .xml file for the sequence.  look for the media reference (it's a the top of the file):  change the mp3 file to the mp4 file.  Save the file (use a new name if you like).

open XL

Open the MP4 sequence; save the file; add playlist; select the MP4 file.  select the file and play it

Works great!!

John

[Gilrock]

I didn't expect you to need to modify the sequence file.  I'd need to check but I thought we were operating like the FPP where for a playlist you select the sequence and the audio file independently.  So I would have expected you to be able to create a playlist that used the sequence created with the mp3 and pair it with the MP4.  I don't get why you thought you needed to reopen and resave the file.

[scuba]

No it's not  like FPP.  The file can by "A" video, fseq or audio.   The sequence .xml file can be mod'd to point to the mp4 file, then opened and saved to create a .fseq file;  that can be added to a playlist. 

If there is another way.....

last year XL 3 allowed you to edit with a MP4 file.

[Gilrock]

Did you get get a waveform when you opened the file in xLights?  We use libmpg123 which should be able to open mp4's but I never tried.  Maybe they would already work if we just added that file extension as an option.