RiffTrax is dedicated to providing our fans with the best possible video quality, largest device playback support, and manageable file sizes. We have looked into modern standards and device support, surveyed our beloved fan base, and worked with video encoding specialists to come up with a new set of file formats for our VOD content. We will be offering four different MP4 files for each standard definition VOD, and a selection of seven different MP4 options for our HD VOD titles.
We have tested all these options on a variety of devices, from iPod Classic to Plex Media Server. For the time being, we will continue to provide ISO files for feature length VODs. We will also be adding some metadata to the MP4 files which we hope will help people using media servers like Plex that can read such data.
We will be discontinuing our DivX and MPG2 formats. If you had been using these formats in the past, we recommend you switch to the Medium or High Quality MP4 formats.
Our New Formats
Format Name | Resolution | Bitrate | Recommendation |
SD-Legacy | 320x240 | 500 Kbps | For old devices like the iPod Classic or for people on 28.8 kbs modems. |
SD-Low | 640x480 - for 4:3 Content 640x360 - for 16:9 Widescreen Content | 750 Kbps | OK quality for people who prefer lower file sizes over higher quality. |
SD-Med | 640x480 - for 4:3 Content 640x360 - for 16:9 Widescreen Content | 1.5 Mbps | Good quality and file size balance. Recommended for tablet viewing and most modern mobile devices. |
SD-HighTV | 640x480 - for 4:3 Content 640x360 - for 16:9 Widescreen Content | 2.5 Mbps | Great quality. Recommended for people wanting to stream to their TV using a media server or set-top boxes like PlayStation, WDTV and Boxee. Can also be used on most modern mobile devices and tablets. |
HD-Low | 1280x720 | 1.5 Mbps | Good quality for HD tablet users. Smallest file size of the HD options. |
HD-Med | 1280x720 | 2.5 Mbps | Better quality for tablets, modern mobile devices and TV viewing. |
HD-High | 1920x1080 | 15 Mbps | Best quality, HUGE file size (~10GB). Perfect for storing on a hard drive, streaming to your TV using a media server or set-top box.
This option is the largest file size and best for people with very fast and reliable internet connections. |
Recently, we sent out a survey to find out how our viewers watch our content, and received a lot of great feedback. Below are some answers to your frequently asked questions.
Q: Why are you getting rid of DivX and MPEG-2 formats?
Unfortunately, DivX and MPEG-2 have become outdated formats with regard to a vast majority of use cases. In order to provide the best possible quality while maintaining reasonable file sizes, we have chosen to replace these formats with an all new set of MP4 files. We understand some users love DivX because it plays back on their older systems, but as MP4 is becoming the de facto standard among video playing devices of all stripes, we believe this to be of great benefit to our users.
It’s 2014 now, and it’s possible to find new playback devices for under $99.00 that will allow you to enjoy high quality MP4s on your television set, such as the WDTV Live Media Player or the Roku 3 Streaming Media Player. We are also in the process of compiling a list of devices that RiffTrax has vetted and approved for use with our new formats.
Q: When will RiffTrax get on NetFlix, Amazon Prime Instant Video, iTunes, Comcast On Demand, etc.?
We want to get our content on NetFlix and iTunes as much as you do. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as you might think. We’ve been trying to get on Netflix Instant for years now, and they are slow to take our content. We do have some of our VODs on Amazon Prime, Hulu and Vudu, and we will be making more available soon. We are also working with a 3rd party to help us finally get on iTunes, XBox, PlayStation, Netflix and more.
Another hurdle to getting on some of these streaming services is the quality of some of the B-movies we riff. Many great titles like Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny or Galaxy Invader only exist on VHS or dump-bin discount DVDs where the video quality is very poor, and some services like Apple iTunes do not accept video that is below a certain quality. We will continue to work on getting RiffTrax on as many of these services as possible.
Q: When will you have a Roku Channel?
This is high on our to-do list. We can’t give you a time frame, but we assure you it’s on our roadmap, and we will be actively pursuing the development of a Roku Channel very soon.
Q: Have you guys considered creating an iOS and Android App that works like SoundHound or Shazam that would sync the MP3 Riffs to a movie played on a TV/DVD?
A mobile app is also high priority for us, and an auto-syncing player is something we’re extremely interested in. We’re currently exploring our options in this regard.
Q: What about Chromecast Support?
Chromecast support is currently in Beta! More information is available here.
Q: Will you continue to provide DRM free content?
We will continue to provide DRM free content because we understand our users like to enjoy RiffTrax on a variety of devices. Our goal is to provide great content at an affordable price. It is unfortunate that so many people still pirate our stuff. It really does hurt us as we are a very small company. If you know of anyone pirating our stuff please shame them and force them to donate on our site to make up for it.
Q: Will you add more HD Content?
We are in the process of searching out high definition sources for as many of our VODs as we can. As you might expect, there are not a lot of HD versions of these Z-grade titles, but we’ll continue to scour the planet for as much HD content as possible.
Q: Why no menus in ISO files?
When it comes to our VODs, there’s no need for menus, as the movie is the only content on the disc. We’ll continue to release a selection of our VOD titles onto retail-quality DVDs complete with box art, menus, chapters, and bonus features (when available) for those of you with a RiffTrax section on your shelves.
Q: Will RiffTrax ever provide a subscription based model, and if so, will you continue to provide the same non-subscription based content you always have?
Yes! We’re currently working on a subscription model, which we believe will be a great value. It won’t affect the regular paid content on the site, but subscribers can expect to see some awesome and fun perks.