Alpine KCE-635UB Quick start guide

Get the most out of KCE-635UB
How to Create Files for Playback on the USB Video Player
Technical guide
Version 1.0

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Headline
Content
General
4 Initial Considerations
4 Formats, Resolution, Bitrates
Converting DVDs
6 Commercial Solution 1
8 Commercial Solution 2
9 Freeware Solution
Internet Videos
10 Freeware Solution 1
11 Freeware Solution 2

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2.3 Bitrates
The bitrate of a videole (stream) denes how much data is transferred within a specic time. For video, the
bitrate is usually measured in Mbit/s (Megabit per second). Some Programs also use kbit/s. 1000kbit/s equal
1Mbit/s.
Average bitrates for DVD are between 4Mbit/s and 9Mbit/s. The more complex motion paths and content of
the video image become, the higher the bitrate needs to be for an accurate reproduction.
The recommended average bitrate for material encoded to be used with KCE-635UB is between 1 and
3Mbit/s. Higher bitrates don’t necessarily improve the image quality, but inate le sizes and may cause prob-
lems in playback.
2.4 Compatibility Guideline
The chart below (taken from the KCE-635UBs Owner‘s Manual) gives an indication about les which can be
played back by the KCE-6335UB.
However, there are more factors than the ones stated in this list. Sometimes encoders add invalid data to the
header of a video le that prevent playback on KCE-635UB although all parameters seem to be within speci-
cation.
KCE-635UB
1. Initial Considerations
1.1 What this guide can do
The intention of this guide is to help you to get the most out of the KCE-635UB. We aim to give you guidelines
to the creation of own content from your recorded DVDs, Videos etc. Content from websites with user genera-
ted content, such as YouTube become also more popular these days. We will give you an idea how to get such
content into your car with the KCE-635UB. Finally, we will show you how to analyze a video le in order to be
able to determine if KCE-635UB can play it back without prior conversion. The tools we use are either freewa-
re or the most popular applications used in Western Europe. We avoid exotic command line driven hardcore
tools. Our aim is to offer at least one commercial and one freeware solution for each of the tasks.
1.2 What this guide can’t do
There is an overwhelming number of different video formats out there that may or may not be compatible with
the USB Video player. We are not able to tell you which of these formats will work or not. Especially with con-
tainer formats, such as AVI, anything may be inside.
We won’t assist in any illegal activities such as converting content from copyright protected DVDs.
Mac and Linux users are welcome to create a similar guide, we can’t give any advice for anything but the appli-
cations mentioned in this guide under Windows Operating System.
This guide is not a scientic paper on video encoding techniques; some areas are not discussed in depth.
We don’t aim to replace the instructions which come with the software described.
2.1 Which Format is the best?
The answer to this question depends on what you are going to do with your video les. If you are going to use
them with the KCE-635UB only, you might want to stick to DIVX, if you use another portable device, MPEG4 or
Windows Media might be better for you. However, it is likely that you are required to process separate les for
your KCE-635UB and another portable device.
2.2 Which resolution is best?
The resolution you choose for your video les shall not be higher than the resolution of the screen.
Alpine screens have a resolution between 400x234 up to 800x480. This may sound low compared to a PC mo-
nitor which won’t do anything less than 1024x768. But nobody will disagree that a DVD delivers a pretty good
image quality. A DVD’s maximum resolution is 720x480 (NTSC) or 720x576 (PAL).
On the other hand, the size of a screen is another factor. Typical in-dash screens are around 7 inches, any
resolution from 320x480 will deliver good results. If the resolution of the video material differs from the ‘native’
resolution of the screen, the image will be electronically scaled to t. This does not necessarily improve the
image quality. As a rule of thumb, try to match the screen’s number of lines (234 or 480).
KCE-635UB
2. Formats, Resolution, Bitrates
Model Horizontal Vertical Model Horizontal Vertical
IVA-D100R/RB 400 234 iXA-W407BT 400 234
IVA-D105R 400 234 PKG-1000 800 480
IVA-D106R 480 234 PKG-2000 800 480
IVA-D310R 480 234 PKG-850 480 234
IVA-D511R/RB 800 480 TME-M680 400 234
IVA-W200Ri 400 234 TME-M740BT 800 480
IVA-W202/205R 400 234 TME-M780 800 480
IVA-W502/505R 800 480 TME-S370 800 480
iXA-404R 400 234 TMI-M990 800 480
Resolution of ALPINE screens
Codec Bitrate
Max.
Resolution
File Extension
(Container)
Remark
MPEG-1 3Mbit/s HxV = 414720 *.mpg, *.MPEG
MPEG-2 3Mbit/s HxV = 414720 *.mpg, *.MPEG
MPEG-4 3Mbit/s HxV = 414720 *.avi, *.mp4
ipod MPEG-4 Movie 3Mbit/s HxV = 414720 *.mp4
DivX 3 3Mbit/s HxV = 414720 *.avi
DivX 4 1.5Mbit/s HxV = 414720 *.avi
DivX 5 2.8Mbit/s HxV = 414720 *.avi
Xvid 3Mbit/s HxV = 414720 *.avi
MPC-MPEG-2 3Mbit/s HxV = 414720 *.avi
WMV1 (WMV v7) 2Mbit/s 720x480 *.wmv
WMV2 (WMV v8) 2Mbit/s 720x480 *.wmv
WMV3 (WMV v9) 2Mbit/s 720x480 *.wmv
Max. Resolution
HxV = 414720
For Example:
H720xV576 = 414720
H800xV518 = 414720
Max. Resolution :
H720xV576
Playback Compatibility

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3. Converting DVDs
3.1.2 iPod
3.1.3 Zune
KCE-635UB
3. Converting DVDs
3.1 Commercial Solution 1: allDJ Video Converter Platinum
Download from:
http://www.alldj.com/video_converter/video_converter.htm
Cost: ca. 40 Euro
The software features a simple to use GUI and the possibility to save custom proles. This will allow users to
customize proles matching to KCE-635UB and other portable players. The videos created by this software are
highly compatible. The software allows batch conversion.
Tested proles:
3.1.1 XVID
KCE-635UB

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3. Converting DVDs
3.3 Freeware Solution : Free DVD Video Converter
Download from:
http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/
A simple user interface that can be understood in no time. The conversion time is short but the results are very
good.
Recommended Proles:
AVI: High Quality or Standard Quality (DivX)
3.1.3 Zune
KCE-635UB
3. Converting DVDs
3.2 Commercial Solution 2: DivX Pro + DivX MPEG-2/DVD Plug-in
Download from:
http://www.divx.com/
Cost: ca. 30 Euro
No fuzz solution to create DivX movies for all DivX certied hardware. Various proles can be selected. The
software allows batch conversion.
Recommended prole:
3.2.1 Home Theater
Drag & drop the desired le
Then select the audiotrack (only one
track will be supported by KCE-635UB)
The Output Settings Tab allows various adjustment for resolution and quality. However, the standard settings
for Home Theater deliver a good image quality at a reasonable le size.
KCE-635UB

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4. Downloading and converting videos from websites with user generated content (YouTube etc.)
4.2 Freeware solution 2: DownloadHelper (Add-On for Firefox Browser)
Download via the browser‘s Add-On search (more information here: http://www.downloadhelper.net/)
Whenever video content available for download is detected, the symbol in the browser’s navigation line will
indicate so. Now Click the down arrow right from the rotating icon and select Quick Download.
This methods works with much more websites than the Free You Tube to iPod Converter, but the downloaded
KCE-635UB
4. Downloading and converting videos from websites with user generated content (YouTube etc.)
4.1 Freeware Solution : Free You Tube to iPod Converter
Download from:
http://www.dvdvideosoft.com/
This software is browser independent and allows batch downloads.
The URL of the desired video clip needs to be pasted, select Apple iPod 5G as device and a preset using
MPEG4 codec (not h.264).
The use is pretty simple:
- paste the YouTube link(s) into the Import URLs eld.
- select Apple iPod 5G as device
- select MP4 - High Quality Video (700kbit, MPEG4; Stereo)
- click ‚Download‘
KCE-635UB