Problem with the MainConcept H.246 encoder

[user9]

Is there anyone using this encoder (preferably version 2.1)?

I have the following problems:

1) I want to create a constant H.264 encoding encapsulated in MPEG2-TS at 2 Mbps but the output is always greater than 4Mbps. The sound is selected to be Layer 2 192kbps. Is there an extra option I can check?

2) The front-end does not seem to store my settings properly, especially when I try to overwrite them.

The strange thing is that when I use the Beta Version of the Elecard encoder (which I think uses the same encoder) I always get the correct results.

Any ideas of what might be happening?

[shon3i]

I use it but i always do 2pass encoding and MP4 container, i never had problems with this combination.

App is little bugy but storing presets works for me.

[da5le]

u can change the bitrate and be careful of the VBV_buffer_size in the "advanced" property page.

good luck!

[user9]

Thank you for your help. It seems that the problem is solved. You have to re-enter the target bit rate after visiting the advanced page in the video options.

[jchunter_2]

I'm getting extremely poor Quality Video Using H.264 Encoder (Demo version 2.01) when used to transcode captured Mpeg2 HDV from 1440x1080i @ 25Mbps to H.264 1920x1080p @ 8Mbps. Playback using Media Player Classic has incorrect aspect ratio (stretched horizontally), slow, halting frame rate, and terrible A/V sync problems.

Has anyone used this codec with high definition???

LOG:
H.264 video encoding
MPEG audio encoding, audio mode: 2
MPEG muxing
MPEG output file: D:\...\Ivy HDV to H264.mpg
Audio source: MPEG audio: D:\...\Capture\uvs060602-002.MPG

Using library: MainConcept Demo optimized Software Encoder (C:\Program Files\MainConcept\H264 Encoder v2\demoh264vout.001)
Multiplexing information
Video stream 0 data rate : 1000000 bytes/sec (8000000 bits/sec)
Audio stream 0 data rate : 28000 bytes/sec (224000 bits/sec)
Overhead data rate : 14300 bytes/sec (114400 bits/sec)
Total data rate : 1042300 bytes/sec (8338400 bits/sec)
H.264/AVC: Flush

H.264 Encoding Done.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frames: 4570 incoming, 4570 encoded
Bits written: 1058724.82 kbits (132340.60 kbytes)
Avg. Bitrate: 6943.11 kbits per second
Time elapsed: 2491.11 seconds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avg slots/frame = 672.000; b/smp = 4.67; br = 224.000 kbps.


Convert complete
Duration: 152.49s
Time used: 2491.19s
Ratio: 16.3

[user9]

Try to check 4:3 or 16:9 in the video advanced settings. Do not leaveit to custom...

[jchunter_2]

Here are screen shots of my property settings for the transcode:
http://i16.tinypic.com/47l7xqx.jpg
http://i14.tinypic.com/2ia6c81.jpg

[user9]

In the video format where it says "Video Format\Keep Aspect Ratio\Custom" select 16:9.

[jchunter_2]

I don't know how the aspect ratio got set back but changing it to 16:9 only fixed the aspect ratio problem.

The video file still plays back in slow motion and there are terrible autio/video synch problems. My CPU during playback is no where near maxed out - coasting at 50 - 60% busy.

This codec seems, so far, to be not quite ready for prime time. :(

[Sergey A. Sablin]

I don't know how the aspect ratio got set back but changing it to 16:9 only fixed the aspect ratio problem.

The video file still plays back in slow motion and there are terrible autio/video synch problems. My CPU during playback is no where near maxed out - coasting at 50 - 60% busy.

This codec seems, so far, to be not quite ready for prime time. :(

did you tried to decode this file with another decoder/player? is there similar sync problems or not?

[jchunter_2]

The source file is perfect. It has been used numerous times to evaluate other high defintion codecs with exactly the same transcoding experiment and process. Results with Mpe2 1920x1080, Divx and Xvid are great.

However, every h.264 (or x.264) codec shows some sort of problem. If someone knows of one that works well with high definition video, please post a link.

[nm]

Your problem is most likely in decoding. 1080i/p H.264 video needs a fast dual core processor for software decoding at full framerate and most decoders are simply not fast enough for any CPU. You'll probably need to buy CoreAVC to be able to watch those HD encodes.

My CPU during playback is no where near maxed out - coasting at 50 - 60% busy.
That's because you have a dual core or hyperthreading CPU and the decoder you use is not threaded.

[jchunter_2]

I agree that a lot of players have serious problems when asked to playback a hi def video file. Media Player Classic handles HD way better than most.

However, I think the audio problem lies in the encoder because the audio track is playing at normal speed and the video is steadily falling back as the clip plays. The video continues long after the audio is done.

[nm]

That can also be a symptom of too slow decoding if the player tries to display the frames instead of dropping them completely. Have you tried scaling the video resolution down when encoding to make sure that the problem is not in decoding speed. Try 960x540 or something even lower.

[jchunter_2]

The whole point of my testing is to find H.264 codecs that can handle 1920x1080 frame size. I assume that User9 already has it working for 720x480 standard definition...

[jchunter_2]

I just tested the same setup configuration for 1440x1080, which avoids any alteration in frame resizing and the results are the same: slow, halting, subnormal video frame rate accompanied by a normal audio track that quits long before the video.

BTW, I tried both Field Order settings (top field / progressive)in the H.264 screen because it is not at all clear whether this setting is describing the input Field Order or the output field order.

[jchunter_2]

Tried the Elhardt player v 4, which plays the H.264 file with good A/V synch!, drops frames to keep up (and succeeds). Maybe I will have to blame the playback rather then the encoding...

[jchunter_2]

The Player is Elecard v.4.0.87 (this forum will not let me edit my own posts).

[Sergey A. Sablin]

The Player is Elecard v.4.0.87 (this forum will not let me edit my own posts).

Ok, as you find out the problem is really on playback side, could you comment your statement about "extremely poor quality"? Is it was all about playbakc or you still have problems with quality?

[RBF]

jchunter_2
I'm getting extremely poor Quality Video Using H.264 Encoder (Demo version 2.01)
Dont use that version. Use H.264 Encoder Full version 2.1
And do preliminary 1440x1080i to H.264 1920x1080p transformation via avisunth.

[jchunter_2]

Unfortunately, the 2.1 codec is $500 - clearly not for amateurs. The demo version is supposed to be fully functional with limitations on video length and puts on a watermark.

At this point I can't judge the picture quality produced by the MC H.264 because I have not found a player that can handle H.264 playback. My 3 GHz P4 HT is able to playback 1920x1080 Divx and Xvid smoothly. I will be happy to receive nominations for another player!

I can comment on the user interface, which seems overly complicated, (how about Tool Tips to offer some explaination?) and seems to change previously set values at whim. A bit like driving a car with a manual spark advance and mixture control. :eek: Having to use avsynth for rescaling is like adding a hand crank to start the car.:D

Seriously, I appreciate the huge amount of design effort that was put into the encoder engine and it shouldn't take much more effort to make it easily useable from video editors. For example, the MC codec does not show up on either XP's list or Video Studio's list of installed codecs.

[nm]

At this point I can't judge the picture quality produced by the MC H.264 because I have not found a player that can handle H.264 playback. My 3 GHz P4 HT is able to playback 1920x1080 Divx and Xvid smoothly. I will be happy to receive nominations for another player!
Your CPU may not be fast enough for 1080i/p H.264 decoding with any codec or player. The fastest free decoder is in the FFmpeg libavcodec library, which is included in VLC (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/) and MPlayer (and ffdshow, but MPlayer and VLC are faster than DirectShow players). Then there's CoreAVC which is the fastest H.264 decoder, but it will cost you in cash and freedom.

[user9]

Your CPU may not be fast enough for 1080i/p H.264 decoding with any codec or player. The fastest free decoder is in the FFmpeg libavcodec library, which is included in VLC (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/) and MPlayer (and ffdshow, but MPlayer and VLC are faster than DirectShow players). Then there's CoreAVC which is the fastest H.264 decoder, but it will cost you in cash and freedom.

I agree. It is a CPU problem. Generally AVC is far more complex in decoding than DivX, XviD and generally simple MP4. It is thus more CPU consuming. A simple example is that XBOX with XBMC cannot play Standard Definition of AVC content while it apparently can play any other format.

The most "compatible" players are indeed VLC and MPlayer since they do not mainly use ActiveX to play. Bear in mind that AVC is something relatively new. Not everything can cope with it. For example even STB usually decode MPEG2 and not AVC.

I achieved to make things work in Standard Definition. The user interface has some faults, you have to keep in mind that, first you change the Advanced Settings of each category and then the General options (not vice-versa). The program automatically changes values to maintain the "standards".

I generally use PAL content (either uncompressed or DV encoded). The PAL contents are in 25 frames per second and not 29.xxx Sync is easier in this frame rate than the NTSC-based with pull down or drop frames or whatever the American systems are.

[jchunter_2]

Just a side note: I downloaded a fresh copy of VLC and verified my earlier experience with VLC playing HD video, badly. VLC plays H.264 HD far worse (lots of noise and macro blocking) than the Elecard player or Media Player Classic. Also, installing VLC seems to have brought back the "Windows Explorer Crashing syndrome."

[nm]

Just a side note: I downloaded a fresh copy of VLC and verified my earlier experience with VLC playing HD video, badly. VLC plays H.264 HD far worse (lots of noise and macro blocking)
That's very strange. The output of all H.264 decoders is supposed to be exactly the same unless the decoder does something wrong, is configured to skip parts of the decoding process or does some additional postprocessing. VLC is not supposed to do any of these, so there is either something wrong with your system, or you have stumbled on an obscure bug in VLC/libavcodec. Screenshot comparison would be welcome.

Putting the macroblocking issues aside, is VLC fast enough for full-framerate decoding?