Transferring video files to slim PSP – HELP!

[Sniderman]

(Before starting, FYI: I tried searching for answers on the site, but both “PSP” and “MP4” are under 4 letters and – therefore – unsearchable…)

*$%^@! I have no idea why I’m having problems with something this comparatively simple. I got a brand new PSP Slim (Daxter pack) that I’m fooling around with. Added folders for Photos and Music files, dragged and dropped the files, and they run just lovely on the PSP, thank you very much.

But dang it, I just can’t get Video files to work. Here’s what’s going on:

1. While USB connected, created a new VIDEO subfolder under the PSP folder on the Mem Stick. (Just as I did with the MUSIC and PHOTO subfolders.)
2. Ripped a personal DVD using DVD Shrink. Created a single VOB file of the movie. Renamed file TimMovie.
3. Used Any Video Converter to convert file over to an MP4 format. Retained TimMovie file name.
4. Dragged new MP4 file to VIDEO subfolder.
5. Disconnected PSP from PC. Went to Select Video, and I’m told there are no Video files, even though the Mem Stick “space remaining” reflects the fact that there is a huge unrecognized file in there.

So I’m missing something simple. MP4 format error? VIDEO subfolder placement? File name error? Keep in mins that this is firmware version 3.XX, so I apparently don’t need to muck around with MP_ROOT or 100MNV01 folders, and I don’t think files need the M4VXXXXX.MP4 designation. From what I can determine, dropping an MP4 file into a VIDEO subfolder is all that’s needed.

And there is a LOT of conflicting info on the Net. And the mini-pamphlet enclosed with my system was no damn help. Point me in some direction folks. Thanks!

[consolecrusader]

I don't think you can convert VOB to .MP4...not 100% sure but I use PSP9 Video Converter and it works fine converting .avi and divx files to PSP

[Hwj_Chim]

I got the same bundle so this should work for you, BEFORE YOU FORMAT MAKE BACK UPS OF YOUR FILES ON YOUR PC (just drag your folders onto your desktop, then when you are ready drag them back on the stick). Format the stick. This should make an MP_ROOT file with two subfiles in the root folder. 100MNV01 is one of those files, put your movie files in there and make sure that they are MP4 files.



For your info I use psp video express for all of my converting

[Mr. Smashy]

I just got a new Daxter pack myself and have found Sony's PSP Media Manager software to be pretty handy.
http://www.jp.playstation.com/store/mediamanager/index.html

It doesn't do much (or anything) for video conversion unless you have the Pro version. It's handy for streamlining the process of copying files to and from your PSP.

[Sniderman]

I got the same bundle so this should work for you, BEFORE YOU FORMAT MAKE BACK UPS OF YOUR FILES ON YOUR PC (just drag your folders onto your desktop, then when you are ready drag them back on the stick). Format the stick. This should make an MP_ROOT file with two subfiles in the root folder. 100MNV01 is one of those files, put your movie files in there and make sure that they are MP4 files.



Perfect! Everything set-up just as needed and a test MP4 file played perfectly once I tucked it into the appropriate folder. Thanks for that!

Sadly, I can't get the DVD rip I made to work, so I still need to fool around with software setting and waht-not. But at least the system's working as needed!

[Hwj_Chim]

Glad I could help out.

[Nature Boy]

Perfect! Everything set-up just as needed and a test MP4 file played perfectly once I tucked it into the appropriate folder. Thanks for that!

Sadly, I can't get the DVD rip I made to work, so I still need to fool around with software setting and waht-not. But at least the system's working as needed!

A suggestion: PSP Video 9 is free software, and will convert VOBs to mp4s for you. As you've got a slim, you can actually take advantage of some of the newer video codecs too (the ones that use the old, crazy folder structure don't use the full screen!)

It does take a bit of playing around, but the end result is pretty cool once you've got PSP Video 9 setup the way you want it to!

[Sniderman]

A suggestion: PSP Video 9 is free software, and will convert VOBs to mp4s for you. As you've got a slim, you can actually take advantage of some of the newer video codecs too (the ones that use the old, crazy folder structure don't use the full screen!)

It does take a bit of playing around, but the end result is pretty cool once you've got PSP Video 9 setup the way you want it to!

I have tried downloading PSP Video 9 at least 7 times from 7 different sources (including the main PSP Video 9 site). And each time I run the installer, I get a "this file is corrupt" message. I just got tired of fooling with it. I hear nothing but good stuff, but my computer just HATES that file for some reason, regardless of where I download it from.

[Nophix]

PSP Video works great for me. I've got the same PSP.

[Sniderman]

And I am now comfortably watching my custom-ripped copy of Heavy Metal. The file size is huge and the audio is just sliiiiightly out-of-sync, but these are issues I can solve with a bit of playing around with the setting options. Thanks to all who assisted. I think I'm in good shape now!

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Here's how I do it. I've found it to never give me any issues.

I still use the memory stick format created "MNV" file folders, as I believe that the "VIDEO" folder still doesn't support thumbnail files.

I drop my DVD into DVD Shrink, isolate the main movie in "re-author" mode. Make it a single breakless VOB file, remove all the subtitles and alternate language/audio tracks, and re-author.

I then take that VOB file from the target folder (ignoring the other cue files) re-name it to what I want (leaving the VOB extension in-tact) and then I drop it into the ultra-simple 3GP conversion program (found here) http://www.videohelp.com/tools/3GP_Converter and let it run it's conversion process. When it's finished, it creates a PSP formatted MP4 and a thumbnail file.

When conversion is complete, I leave it in it's long numerical filename structure, and drop both files into the PSP's MNV folder. (Whatever you re-named it prior to 3GP conversion WILL show up on the PSP's video menu instead.)

In the event that I want the video files on my PSP in a certain "order" I simply re-name the long numeric PSP video files and matching thumbnails files.

For example : if I want a video that publishes out of 3GP with a filename MNV34765.MP4 to be on the TOP of my PSP's video menu list, I rename it (and it's matching thumbnail file) MNV00001.MP4, and the next video down I'll rename MNV00002.MP4, and so on and so forth.

This MAY seem a bit tedious, but the quality of the 3GP program is excellent, and VERY VERY RELIABLE.

In short, I've never had an issue with it not converting a VOB (or any other compatible video format) correctly and with the highest quality.

PSP Video 9 is a very good all-in-one free program, but there are many versions of it floating around, and some versions have been problematic (for me anyway) in terms of conversion quality, and there was one build floating around in the early days of PSP video conversion that had some really awful malware in it.

[zektor]

As for converting DVD to PSP compatible video (easily, in one shot) I would highly suggest DVD Catalyst. I purchased this to convert videos for my Tapwave Zodiac back in the day, and it of course supports PSP conversion amongst others. Nothing but perfect rips, and it also does those multi-episode DVD's just fine too.

http://www.pocketdvd.ca/dvdcatalyst/dc3/

[Nature Boy]

I still use the memory stick format created "MNV" file folders, as I believe that the "VIDEO" folder still doesn't support thumbnail files.

This is not true. Thumbnails work the same way - name the jpg with same name as the movie and you're good to go (except you don't have to rename the jpg as a thm file I suppose).

I do pretty much the same thing (take my DVDs, rip a VOB, then give that VOB to PSP Video 9 and out pops my mp4).

What I like best about the video folder is that I can name the file whatever I want, so when I'm deciding what to add or remove I don't have to try to guess what M4V00005.mp4 is. Plus I can put videos into subfolders, so my Looney Tunes sit in one folder while my Star Wars movies sit in another, and it's easier to navigate (and I don't have to renumber things to sort them!)

I'm gonna check out 3GP anyway though!

[Sniderman]

This is not true. Thumbnails work the same way - name the jpg with same name as the movie and you're good to go (i.e. nothing is different).So if I drop a small JPG file in the same VIDEO folder that has the same name, that image will pop up as a "clickable" thumb that starts the same-named MP4 file?

(At work right now otherwise I'd just fire up the PSP and try it...)

[Nature Boy]

So if I drop a small JPG file in the same VIDEO folder that has the same name, that image will pop up as a "clickable" thumb that starts the same-named MP4 file?

Yup. It's really the same thing as what you do for the other file types, except they require you to rename the jpg as a thm file as well (yup, thm files are really just jpgs with a different extension!)

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

This is not true. Thumbnails work the same way - name the jpg with same name as the movie and you're good to go (except you don't have to rename the jpg as a thm file I suppose).

I do pretty much the same thing (take my DVDs, rip a VOB, then give that VOB to PSP Video 9 and out pops my mp4).

What I like best about the video folder is that I can name the file whatever I want, so when I'm deciding what to add or remove I don't have to try to guess what M4V00005.mp4 is. Plus I can put videos into subfolders, so my Looney Tunes sit in one folder while my Star Wars movies sit in another, and it's easier to navigate (and I don't have to renumber things to sort them!)

I'm gonna check out 3GP anyway though!

I guess I got SO used to the process that it just became second nature to do all of that stuff, I keep every PSP MP4 video on my hard drive in it's own titled folder (i.e. "ATHF The Movie") so there's never much of a mystery to me as to what's what, and if you follow that process the files DO show up as whatever you re-named them to on the PSP's video menu

The Video folder now sounds a lot better these days, I swear that the early firmware iterations of it didn't support thumbnails via JPG files.

That's great to hear though.

3GP is a great transcoder, not as full-featured as Video9, but you should give it a shot and compare quality between the two.

[Nature Boy]

3GP is a great transcoder, not as full-featured as Video9, but you should give it a shot and compare quality between the two.

I just tried it, and although I love how easy it was to transcode something, I'm disappointed I can only get it at 320x240. I remember the days when that was *all* I could do, and after they started allowing the fuller-screen stuff I just can't go back to that...