Settings for high bitrates?

[pav56]

I'd like to make backups for my Blu-Ray movies (yes, I own the originals but I have kids and prefer to always have backups). My goal - reencode the video to make it fit on BD-R single layer. For most movies I can use 15000-17000 bitrate. I think with so high bitrate I can set another settings not so "heavy" to reduce encoding time and keep best quality. I did read lot of threads here on the forum but I still been confused. Here is a lot of people who understand much better then me. So, what settings will be recommended for me?
My options:
Bitrate 15000-17000
Output Blu-ray compatible
Keep good quality
Acceptable encoding time.
I understand that good quality will provide long encode time and visa versa, maybe someone can advise presets with quality/encoding time variations.

[Dark Shikari]

Why not just use BD-Rebuilder if the output has to be Blu-ray compatible?maybe someone can advise presets with quality/encoding time variations.Assuming you're taling about x264, why not use the presets listed at the top of the help screen? The option is even called "--preset", it's impossible to miss.

[pav56]

Call it my behavior :) I dont like " one-click-do-it-all-for-you" software. I like to expemintent with different options and try to understand what every option for. I still use Ifoedit and CCE, pulldown.exe and Avisynth scripts for dvds. Just there are so much options in X264, I need just something to start with.

[pav56]

Why not just use BD-Rebuilder if the output has to be Blu-ray compatible?Assuming you're taling about x264, why not use the presets listed at the top of the help screen? The option is even called "--preset", it's impossible to miss.

You mean BD-rebuilder options? I don't nave BD-rebuilder. Anyway, whats wrong if I'd like to learn more and do some things in my way?

Sorry, I did'nt uderstand first time. Yes, I can see --preset options in x264, I just thought for high bitrates i can use some "tuned" options

[Fr4nz]

Why not just use BD-Rebuilder if the output has to be Blu-ray compatible?Assuming you're taling about x264, why not use the presets listed at the top of the help screen? The option is even called "--preset", it's impossible to miss.

Anyway, the question made by pav56 is interesting: with so high bitrates (15-17 mbps) what is the preset that gives an excellent image quality and, in the meantime, gives an excellent/good speed? "medium" preset? Or also the "fast" one has a good tradeoff in these conditions?

[shon3i]

I think with so high bitrate I can set another settings not so "heavy" to reduce encoding time and keep best quality.Well "heavy" always enhace quality even on higher bitrates

first you need Pached build from here http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?yohdgyztmm2 which done by VRFManiac because can only produce fully compilant BD stream

and commandline like this

--profile high --level 4.1 --pass 2 --bitrate xxx --stats ".stats" --thread-input --deblock -2:-2 --keyint 24 --min-keyint 2 --b-adapt 2 --direct auto --ref 4 --slices 4 --ipratio 1.1 --pbratio 1.1 --vbv-bufsize 30000 --vbv-maxrate 30000 --rc-lookahead 60 --aq-mode 2 --me umh --partitions all --trellis 2 --psy-rd 1.0:0.2 --no-dct-decimate --no-fast-pskip --sar 1:1 --mvrange 511 --aud --nal-hrd --output "output" "input"

Things that bolded are need for BD compilance

[Fr4nz]

Well "heavy" always enhace quality even on higher bitrates
[...]

Erm, he's asking for a reasonable trade-off between quality and speed, given that high bitrate...

[Blue_MiSfit]

"reasonable" is highly subjective ;)

I usually use --preset slower for my stuff, but that's because I have no problems waiting ~12-18 hours per pass for a 1080p source.

I'd use the fastest preset you're happy with, quality wise - just as long as AviSynth never bottlenecks x264! No point in running lighter settings when your script can't deliver frames any faster. Don't waste CPU time ;)

Also, if you're trying to make BluRay compliant streams, then yes you should probably use the patched builds, with the BluRay specific settings that shon3i posted, but you can safely ignore the other stuff. So, if you wanted to do an encode with --preset slower:


--profile high --level 4.1 --preset slower --tune film --pass 2 --bitrate xxx --stats ".stats" --thread-input --keyint 24 --min-keyint 2
--slices 4 --vbv-bufsize 30000 --vbv-maxrate 30000 --sar 1:1 --mvrange 511 --aud --nal-hrd --output xxx xxx


The only things that raise my eyebrows are --min-keyint 2, and low-ish VBV values. I thought min-keyint should be 1, and that BluRay could handle much higher values for VBV - 40000 at least.

/shrug

~MiSfit

[benwaggoner]

The only things that raise my eyebrows are --min-keyint 2, and low-ish VBV values. I thought min-keyint should be 1, and that BluRay could handle much higher values for VBV - 40000 at least.
IIRC, you can have 2 second GOPs if maxrate is 15000 or lower.

If ABR is much below 10 Mbps, the longer GOPs might make for better average quality than a higher maxrate.

[shon3i]

IIRC, you can have 2 second GOPs if maxrate is 15000 or lower.Confirm, if maxrate less and equal 15000 then can be used --keyint 48.

The only things that raise my eyebrows are --min-keyint 2, and low-ish VBV values. I thought min-keyint should be 1,--min-keyint 2 are recomended from authoring programs such scenarist for better handling nothing else, --min-keyint 1 is normal and also fine too.

and that BluRay could handle much higher values for VBV - 40000 at least.VBV-Bufseize 30000 is maximum for bluray and VBV-maxrate 40000 but i newer saw retail bluray use higher maxrate than 35000.

So, if you wanted to do an encode with --preset slower:I don't know how is smart is present slower for blu-ray because AFAIK use --ref 8 which is incompatible setting with blu-ray, max for 1080p is 4 and for 720p is 6.

[Jom]

If you specify --levels and do not explicitly set --ref in your command line, then x264 will automatically reduce the number of reference frames to make the stream compliant.

[kolak]

Confirm, if maxrate less and equal 15000 then can be used --keyint 48.

--min-keyint 2 are recomended from authoring programs such scenarist for better handling nothing else, --min-keyint 1 is normal and also fine too.

VBV-Bufseize 30000 is maximum for bluray and VBV-maxrate 40000 but i newer saw retail bluray use higher maxrate than 35000.

I don't know how is smart is present slower for blu-ray because AFAIK use --ref 8 which is incompatible setting with blu-ray, max for 1080p is 4 and for 720p is 6.


You haven't been looking good enough :)
I've done many with 36Mbit CBR or 38Mbit max for VBR (with interlaced source).
Replicated and tested by professional testing facility on many players - no problems :)

btw... does h264 produce BD compliant streams now (there is 4 slices option as I can see)?

[LoRd_MuldeR]

AFAIK there still is no NAL HRD support in x264. Well, there's a NAL HRD patch floating around, but it seems that one wasn't updated for the latest x264 API change yet.

However the API change is the first step to a fully correct NAL HRD implementation. So there's hope NAL HRD will be available in the near future...