x264 ready for mainstreem?

[Nikse555]

Normally I use Xvid via AutoGK for encoding... but is it time to start to encode in x264 instead?

If I encode something today will it still be playable in 10 years?

Are any GUI available for newbies as easy as AutoGK (both easy installation and use)?

[Sirber]

x264 is standard like xvid is.

[Revgen]

If I encode something today will it still be playable in 10 years?

Depends upon what you want to play your videos with.

As of right now, I don't think that either Blu-Ray nor HD-DVD have released their final AVC specs. Will Blu-Ray or HD-DVD both support CQMs, Weighted Bi-prediction, etc, etc? What you encode now may not work with these machines as long as their specs aren't finalized.

PC's however should be able to play whatever your encoding now within the next 10 years. PC's are much more flexible then standalones and shouldn't be a problem.

[CruNcher]

ehh the problem won't be really that it wouldn't be compatible but i doub't that Blu-Ray and HD-DVD player gonna support .avi and .mp4 ;) they gonna at least support HP@L4.0

[Sirber]

HW players are so troublesome. I love my TV out :D

[Haze_NZ]

HW players are so troublesome. I love my TV out :D
*agrees*

[ChrisBensch]

Could you experienced TV out folks take a look at my post in the PC Hard and Software forum?

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=104813

[bond]

x264 ready for mainstream? yes, it is

[buzzqw]

x264 ready for mainstream?
yes, it is

Are you sure ? Will the bitstream be compatible with future decoders (and also with stand-alone dvd/divx/avc player) ?

And is x264 foulprof for encoding ANY material ?

right now xvid/divx are very well tested both for encoding and decoding. The same could be written for x264(or ateme avc) ?

Thanks for your explanation (and sorry for my bad english)

BHH

[bond]

- there are no known incompatibilities to the avc specs
- x264 is one of the best encoders known qualitywise, as prooven in independant comparisons

that makes it pretty useable for mainstream for me...

[LoRd_MuldeR]

So when can we expect an official alpah/beta release of x264 ???

[Audionut]

Beta releases are at the top of this forum sub catergory.

Basically the only difference between the current build and say next weeks, is that next weeks build has either fixed a problem, introduced an new option, refined the current code for higher/faster quality, or all of the mentioned.

edit: As for official? Wait and see. Don't hold your breath. There's nothing wrong with the current releases.

[charleski]

I expect that standards-compliant h.264 video (such as that from x264) up to HP@L4 will be far more compatible with future hardware players than xvid is with current ones.

If you want guaranteed standalone compatibility, you need to use divx. Xvid has several features that can break playback, like packed bitstream+multiple b-frames (still true for many), custom quant matrices, etc.

[buzzqw]

- there are no known incompatibilities to the avc specs

Thanks ! this is the right answer !!

- x264 is one of the best encoders known qualitywise, as prooven in independant comparisons

i think this too

BHH

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Beta releases are at the top of this forum sub catergory.

Basically the only difference between the current build and say next weeks, is that next weeks build has either fixed a problem, introduced an new option, refined the current code for higher/faster quality, or all of the mentioned.

edit: As for official? Wait and see. Don't hold your breath. There's nothing wrong with the current releases.

I know about Sharktooth's Revesions Builds and I use them almost every day :D
But this is not an official beta vesion. I don't need an Beta version, since those builds work fine for me. But I think an "official" beta would give a good boost to the x264 codec. More people that still stick to their old ASP codecs would give x264 a try. And I think the press would give x264 more attention...


//EDIT

The Video LAN homepage still says:

Development status:
BIG FAT WARNING: x264 is still in early development stage


Shouldn't they change that and offer a direct link to the compiled binaries ??!?
The way it is now, people get the wrong idea...

[bond]

If you want guaranteed standalone compatibility, you need to use divx.my standalone doesnt handle divx :p

Xvid has several features that can break playback, like packed bitstream+multiple b-frames (still true for many), custom quant matrices, etc. thats why there is support for the divx profiles in xvid. noone forces you to enable features not supported on standalones in xvid...

[Doom9]

Shouldn't they change that and offer a direct link to the compiled binaries ??!?There are no binaries of XviD either ;)
But I think an "official" beta would give a good boost to the x264 codec. Just because commercial softwares follow the beta before final release with a version number pattern doesn't mean open source has to stick to the same, does it? And we've seen the full argumentation during XviD's early years so you can still dig it up in the XviD forum and there's no need to repeat everything that was said then.. it all still applies.

[Nikse555]

Thx for the input :)

I will try to make my next encoding in x264 as I allways use a computer for video playing (I also love my TV out).



- there are no known incompatibilities to the avc specs
- x264 is one of the best encoders known qualitywise, as prooven in independant comparisons
Very good reasons!