x264 encoding: initial delay

[m3mbran3]

I am a relative noob when it comes to x264 and I'm trying to find out what the "initial delay" line in my x264 log file means. I checked the wiki (http://mewiki.project357.com/wiki/X264_Stats_Output) and it explains every line of output except for this.

My main concern is that it is delaying the start of the first frame of the video and thus making my audio out of sync.

below is the whole log file, thanks.

avis [info]: 704x480 @ 23.98 fps (201 frames)
x264 [info]: using SAR=10/11
x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities: MMX2 SSE2Fast FastShuffle SSEMisalign LZCNT

x264 [info]: profile High, level 3.1
mp4 [info]: initial delay 2002 (scale 24000)
x264 [info]: slice I:2 Avg QP:13.36 size: 3584
x264 [info]: slice P:84 Avg QP:18.13 size: 12965
x264 [info]: slice B:115 Avg QP:21.80 size: 5717
x264 [info]: consecutive B-frames: 13.1% 4.0% 76.9% 6.0%
x264 [info]: mb I I16..4: 81.4% 16.0% 2.7%
x264 [info]: mb P I16..4: 0.9% 10.8% 0.3% P16..4: 30.4% 13.6% 12.2% 0.4% 0
.3% skip:31.2%
x264 [info]: mb B I16..4: 0.2% 1.1% 0.0% B16..8: 45.5% 2.1% 3.5% direct:
9.7% skip:37.7% L0:40.8% L1:48.4% BI:10.8%
x264 [info]: 8x8 transform intra:77.8% inter:71.5%
x264 [info]: direct mvs spatial:90.4% temporal:9.6%
x264 [info]: coded y,uvDC,uvAC intra:82.4% 63.3% 15.1% inter:30.5% 23.8% 0.4%
x264 [info]: ref P L0 50.7% 29.4% 5.6% 5.1% 2.0% 3.5% 1.8% 1.9%
x264 [info]: ref B L0 60.4% 25.9% 3.1% 4.6% 1.4% 2.9% 1.8%
x264 [info]: ref B L1 89.9% 10.1%
x264 [info]: kb/s:1673.4

encoded 201 frames, 14.70 fps, 1674.06 kb/s

[Dark Shikari]

That's a message from gpac IIRC, not x264.

[m3mbran3]

thanks for the quick reply. You are right, it only occurs when choosing to output as mp4 and not as mkv.

Upon further searching (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1287973#post1287973) it appears as if it should have no detrimental effects.