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fasttimes
6th January 2003, 20:34
I was doing some testing with DivX, and noticed something neat.

Set the encoding mode to 1-pass quality based, and quantizer to 2, and the max keyframe interval to 1, and set the frame type to progressive. The results are virtually lossless, and are still only 1/10 or less the size of the original HuffUYV source AVI, making it 1/25 the size of an uncompressed YUV AVI!

For some reason, the encoder seems to destroy the interlacing, if the set the frame type to interlaced. Don't know why. Also, before I set keyframes to 1, I would get the occasional macroblocking, despite setting the quantization to the lowest setting of 2. There might be a less conservative number that would also work, thus allowing better compression by allowing the use of P frames. For example, I'd like to set max keyframe interval to 9999999, but then set a very low scene change threshhold. This might allow the extra compression, but without the risk of macroblocks. I also want to test exactly how the Psychovisual Enchantment setting effects the quality of the video.

I very well might use DivX as my archival codec. It's smaller than DV, and has the advantage of not being constrained by DV's constant bitrate encoding. The audio could be encoded in one of the lossless audio codecs out there, or high bitrate MP3, AAC, or AC-3 could be employed. The quality is there, in my testing, and seems to leave DV in the dust! Lastly, there is also the potential to play back an archival DVD-R DivX discs directly on the new generation of DivX players now appearing on the market.

This seems to be a very good way to archive analog captures! Anything to stay away from the evil DV format. :)

cordraconis
7th January 2003, 00:14
Maybe it is just me, but what you discribe is MJPEG, with the DivX codec.

I thought there are some other codecs for that. (maybe not very common, but they do exist, and maybe even better quality).

DJ Bobo
7th January 2003, 00:59
Yeah, keyframe on 1 is definitely overkill.
The absolute least would be a keyframe every second, say 24, 25 or 30 frames, that is reasonable enough.
I personally always leave it on 300, no need to change it, DivX inserts a keyframe whenever it is needed anyway.

fasttimes
7th January 2003, 02:52
@Cord:
Yes, it does sound much like using MJPEG, but with the advantage that you should be able to play them on the new stand-alone DivX players. I havent invetigated the quality differneces between MJPEG and I-frame only DivX, but I would assume they would be very very much the same.

@DJ:

As I said, I tried using other keyframe settings, and was getting macroblocking, no matter how high quality I setting! Only setting keyframe to 1 removed all macroblocking!

RathO
18th January 2003, 05:48
Kinda great!

I like the quality, but file are so huge!
I tried to encode my DV sources to DivX and its like 1x 700meg cd for 25 minutes (and no sound yet!)

Im not really sure to understand the quantitizer thing..
just wondering....

I usually do 2pass divx5 with my DV stuff and i use AVIsynth filters now made with GordianKnot and quality is very good!

fasttimes
18th January 2003, 17:48
Originally posted by RathO
Kinda great!

I like the quality, but file are so huge!
I tried to encode my DV sources to DivX and its like 1x 700meg cd for 25 minutes (and no sound yet!)

Im not really sure to understand the quantitizer thing..
just wondering....

I usually do 2pass divx5 with my DV stuff and i use AVIsynth filters now made with GordianKnot and quality is very good!

Yes, the files will be large. Actually, they should be much larger than you reported (at least from my limited testing with analog captures.) The idea is to have virtually lossless encoding, for archival purposes, for later transcoding to "the next big format." You can also make a highly compressed version for casual viewing, and giving out to people.

But, 700MB for 25 minutes is damn small, when you really look at it. On a DVD-R, that's more like 1 hour 45 minutes! That's only about 5.6Mb/s vs DV at 25Mb/s. However, with DV. it's better to just save the original DV on DV tape! I was thinking more for analog captures!

Regarding the Quantizer setting. Just think of it as a quality setting (not exactly, but close enough.) The higher the Q setting, the more information will be discarded in the encoding process. I like to use Q1-Q3.

hakko504
18th January 2003, 19:11
@fasttimes

I love your avatar. :cool:

Why didn't i think of that... *hakko smacks himself on the forehead*