x264 and Sony PSP?

[Gunhed]

is there a way (maybe someone can give guide?) to get a working PSP-AVC from x264 or nero?

What settings should be used?
How to mux audio and video?

thx in advance ;)

[MuTeK]

MobileConvertor for SonPSP.
http://elecard.com/products/mobile_convert.shtml

[bob0r]

http://x264.nl/psp/ (this link is really made for browing with your psp)

Grab: http://x264.nl/psp/x264-psp.exe (self extracting 7zip)

You basically just use the Default x264 settings.
But the PSP requires 15fps or 29.97 to run!

These few files allow you to simply encode with your .avs to a PSP compatible file (also the .mp4 file is edited else it won't play, Atomchanger, http://pspvideo9.com, does this)

readme.txt

This is experimental version 0.00001 or 0.000001, and encodes with these x264 settings:
--progress --bitrate <bitrate here> --analyse p8x8,b8x8,i4x4 --output video.264 psp.avs (Default profile)


1: place your AAC file as audio.aac into the x264-psp dir
2: modify psp.avs, can be your own .avs <-- JUST READ THE NOTES in psp.avs!
3: place the latest x264.exe in the x264-psp dir
4: edit psp.bat and set the bitrate
5: run psp.bat
6: output file: MAQ00264.MP4 copy to PSP:\MP_ROOT\100ANV01\


psp.avs

# ... your normal .avs contents here, just note:
# - AviSource("movie.avi", false, fourCC="XVID") - sample how to re-encode your divx/xvid movie to x264-psp
LanczosResize(368,208) # note the PSP resolution (this is widescreen), 320x240 for fullscreen
ChangeFPS(29.97) # note the FPS change to 29.97, needed for PSP AVC playback (remove when your video is already 29.97 FPS)


psp.bat

start /belownormal /b /w x264.exe --progress --bitrate <bitrate> --analyse p8x8,b8x8,i4x4 --output video.264 psp.avs
start /belownormal /b /w MP4Box.exe -fps 29.97 -add video.264 output.mp4
start /belownormal /b /w MP4Box.exe -fps 29.97 -add audio.aac output.mp4
start /belownormal /b /w ATOMChanger.exe output.mp4 MAQ00264.MP4 AtomAVC.ini


This is all very basic, but works fine.
If you have used megui with the latest mp4box to create your AAC file in the .mp4 container, you can just do: MP4Box.exe -fps 29.97 -add video.264 megui_audio.mp4 and remove the add audio part!

[Gunhed]

@MuTeK thx for the link

@bob0r Thx for the very quick answer and for this very fine guide....I am on for testing ;)

:thanks:

[Gunhed]

hmmm

with every encoding done that way my PSP locks up and I have to push the power button for several seconds...

could someone give me a hint?

I used x264 v291 and v292 ... always the same...

[bob0r]

hmmm

with every encoding done that way my PSP locks up and I have to push the power button for several seconds...

could someone give me a hint?

I used x264 v291 and v292 ... always the same...

What is your PSP Firmware?
Post your .avs file if used
Post your x264.exe settings
Is the video 29.97 FPS?

New to try:
Your audio file, is it AAC LC? <-- i forgot to mention but your PSP AAC LC file MUST BE 48KHz (48000Hz) (sorry will update it in readme.txt and psp.avs later :o)

[Gunhed]

Thx for your info

you were right.....the audio was my problem...
I used MeGUI before...

I converted the audio again with belightgui ... selected the aac-lc profile and now it works :)

many thx ;)

:thanks:

[mgillespie]

Am playing with this now, as there are some DVD's I am trying to convert, that suffer from lipsync issues, when I use my previous tool (PSPVideo9).

I have my VOB files on my HDD, and using MeGUI, and x264 (latest). My avisynth script is as follows:

DirectShowSource("I:\Ripped\Pheonix Nights S1\VTS_02_1.VOB")
LanczosResize(368,208)
ChangeFPS(29.97)
ConvertToYV12()

My meGUI profile is as follows:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<VideoProfile xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<Name>PSP2</Name>
<Settings xsi:type="x264Settings">
<EncodingMode>4</EncodingMode>
<BitrateQuantizer>448</BitrateQuantizer>
<KeyframeInterval>700</KeyframeInterval>
<NbBframes>0</NbBframes>
<MinQuantizer>10</MinQuantizer>
<MaxQuantizer>51</MaxQuantizer>
<SARX>4</SARX>
<SARY>3</SARY>
<Turbo>false</Turbo>
<V4MV>false</V4MV>
<QPel>false</QPel>
<Trellis>false</Trellis>
<CreditsQuantizer>40</CreditsQuantizer>
<FourCCs>
<string>VSSH</string>
<string>x264</string>
<string>avc1</string>
</FourCCs>
<Logfile>2pass.log</Logfile>
<CustomEncoderOptions />
<FourCC>0</FourCC>
<Zones />
<NbRefFrames>3</NbRefFrames>
<AlphaDeblock>2</AlphaDeblock>
<BetaDeblock>2</BetaDeblock>
<SubPelRefinement>6</SubPelRefinement>
<MaxQuantDelta>1</MaxQuantDelta>
<TempQuantBlur>0</TempQuantBlur>
<BframePredictionMode>2</BframePredictionMode>
<VBVBufferSize>-1</VBVBufferSize>
<VBVMaxBitrate>-1</VBVMaxBitrate>
<METype>2</METype>
<MERange>16</MERange>
<NbThreads>1</NbThreads>
<MinGOPSize>25</MinGOPSize>
<Profile>1</Profile>
<IPFactor>1.4</IPFactor>
<PBFactor>1.3</PBFactor>
<ChromaQPOffset>0</ChromaQPOffset>
<VBVInitialBuffer>0.9</VBVInitialBuffer>
<BitrateVariance>25.0</BitrateVariance>
<QuantCompression>0.6</QuantCompression>
<TempComplexityBlur>20</TempComplexityBlur>
<TempQuanBlurCC>0.5</TempQuanBlurCC>
<SCDSensitivity>40</SCDSensitivity>
<BframeBias>0</BframeBias>
<Deblock>true</Deblock>
<Cabac>true</Cabac>
<WeightedBPrediction>false</WeightedBPrediction>
<AdaptiveBFrames>false</AdaptiveBFrames>
<BFramePyramid>false</BFramePyramid>
<ChromaME>false</ChromaME>
<P8x8mv>true</P8x8mv>
<B8x8mv>true</B8x8mv>
<I4x4mv>true</I4x4mv>
<I8x8mv>false</I8x8mv>
<P4x4mv>true</P4x4mv>
<AdaptiveDCT>false</AdaptiveDCT>
<Lossless>false</Lossless>
<QuantizerMatrix />
<QuantizerMatrixType>0</QuantizerMatrixType>
</Settings>
</VideoProfile>


I run the resulting file through AtomChanger, and it reports to have changed the atom. The resulting file appears to be unplayable. VideoLAN crashes, Quicktime 7 does not play it, PSP says it's corrupted. I have tried the unAtomchanged version, with the same results (so it's not that).

What is slightly confusing, some peiple seem to be splitting the audio and then encoding the video and audio seperately, and then re-joining, I am not doing this (reading from the VOB), is this my problem???

[Gunhed]

yes you have to split it.

convert the video with x264 and the audio with besweet...then join them with mp4mux as bob0r said.

I use x264 now to 2pass my Video files... nice quality on the PSP :devil:

[Doom9]

is there a complete set of video and audio specs for the PSP all in one place? I should be getting one by the end of the week so I might add a flag to the settings that disabled non PSP compliant options / enforces them (I'm not fully decided on how to implement it yet) in MeGUI.
Also one thing, what do you guys do with 25fps content if the PSP can only handle 29.97fps?

[Gunhed]

we have to use ChangeFPS(29.97) in our avs script.

[bob0r]

DirectShowSource("I:\Ripped\Pheonix Nights S1\VTS_02_1.VOB")
LanczosResize(368,208)
ChangeFPS(29.97)
ConvertToYV12()


Why ConvertToYV12() ??? (never used it, for all the samples i tried)

[Scarpad]

Has anyone written a Guide to follow using this method? Especially in the area of using the synth script ?

[Doom9]

uhh.. but ChangeFPS only takes care of the video so you'll end up having an audio problem, won't you? Wouldn't you have to perform a proper PAL -> NTSC conversion, including slowing down, pulldown and stretching the audio to make it work properly?

[bill_baroud]

ChangeFPS changes the frame rate by deleting or duplicating frames.

Looks like it doesn't change the video duration, so audio should mostly be in sync, no ?

[Doom9]

eww.. duplicating frames? EWWWWWW, evil, bad, nasty, ugly, °@°#§°@#§°#@§

[bob0r]

eww.. duplicating frames? EWWWWWW, evil, bad, nasty, ugly, °@°#§°@#§°#@§

Welcome to Sony's world :devil:

[jonny]

there is also ConvertFPS (yuy2 only)
it will blend adjacent video frames, the video is smooth (compared to ChangeFPS), but there is some ghosting and lower compressibility

PSP also support 14.985 :D

[Doom9]

so basically the only proper way to do it is a proper format conversion. How do other psp encoders handle this? It might give me a movitational boost if I were the only one to do it right, but if there's plenty of tools already I don't see the point in spending a lot of time for a really small audience.

[bill_baroud]

I don't think i'm the most aware (JCVD style :D), but seeing all those big company crap or the "total l33t enl4rgement m3gA s0ftW4rE" out there for PSP, i don't think any of them have bothered to deal properly with this.
A clean Doom9 solution would be a Good Thing™ imho.

[Scarpad]

The Locked Framerate is the PSP's main nemesis, even the capped resolution limit of 76000 pixels would look ok on it's screen if it offered 23.97 compatibility. The 29.97 setting causes red colored fringing around the image and a certain ghosting element. This is less noticible in AVC but it's still there. I'm not sure if there's a solution short of a firmware change that removes the limitation. The results are not terrible, but the screen could do better.

[jonny]

I use ConvertFPS or ChangeFPS via AviSynth.
From what i see PSP Video 9 (and all the other tools based on FFMPEG) let FFMPEG doing the conversion (maybe i'm wrong but seems to me something similar to ChangeFPS).

I'm a noob on framerate conversions, is there a better way to convert progressive 25fps (or 23.976fps) to progressive 29.97fps (so without getting some interlaced frames or blending or duplicated frames)?

[Scarpad]

29.97 is what the Framrate needs to be I'm not sure what the ChangeFPS setting would accomplish

[jonny]

little OT

i've tryed PerfectMotion ( http://www.goodervideo.com/index.html )
it generates frames! quite amazing, and seems there are no big artifacts
(but it's not free, slow and pratically not usable without a big HD)

[AnimeTheme]

I have been using x264 to encode AVC movies for my PSP for long, but this little x264-psp package should still help most starters I suppose, heh.

Note that PSP does support 30fps as well. So there is no need to change 30fps video to 29.97fps.

What a pity that, it seems even by using the latest version of x264 and mp4box, the annoying "sticky frame" problem (2 frames skipped just before an I-frame) still presists. This problem may not be that noticeable sometimes though, depending on the motion nature of the movie, and how often and when an I-frame is used.

so basically the only proper way to do it is a proper format conversion. How do other psp encoders handle this? It might give me a movitational boost if I were the only one to do it right, but if there's plenty of tools already I don't see the point in spending a lot of time for a really small audience.

The only FREE PSP AVC encoder out there is PSP Video 9. It does a pretty good job on format conversion, since it is FFMPEG-based. However, I suppose using x264 "wrapped" inside FFMPEG should have some limtations, and probably may not work as well as using x264 directly. The most obvious problem is that PSP Video 9 does NOT (and probably will NOT) support AVC 2-pass encoding, simply because FFMPEG itself does not support this feature.

[Gunhed]

However, I suppose using x264 "wrapped" inside FFMPEG should have some limtations, and probably may not work as well as using x264 directly. The most obvious problem is that PSP Video 9 does NOT (and probably will NOT) support AVC 2-pass encoding, simply because FFMPEG itself does not support this feature.

Thats why I wanted to use x264 directly! ;)

[Scarpad]

I have been using x264 to encode AVC movies for my PSP for long, but this little x264-psp package should still help most starters I suppose, heh.

Note that PSP does support 30fps as well. So there is no need to change 30fps video to 29.97fps.

What a pity that, it seems even by using the latest version of x264 and mp4box, the annoying "sticky frame" problem (2 frames skipped just before an I-frame) still presists. This problem may not be that noticeable sometimes though, depending on the motion nature of the movie, and how often and when an I-frame is used.



The only FREE PSP AVC encoder out there is PSP Video 9. It does a pretty good job on format conversion, since it is FFMPEG-based. However, I suppose using x264 "wrapped" inside FFMPEG should have some limtations, and probably may not work as well as using x264 directly. The most obvious problem is that PSP Video 9 does NOT (and probably will NOT) support AVC 2-pass encoding, simply because FFMPEG itself does not support this feature.


Anime do have a guide available to walkthru x264 conversions

[Doom9]

is the video progressive or interlaced?
turning 25fps progressive into 29.97 i with 3:2 pulldown, while annoying, certainly is doable, but 29.97 progressive? sure you could pulldown then deinterlace but that's kinda pointless.

[jonny]

video must be progressive, interlaced material is show on PSP like on a PC monitor (and i don't think you can set an "interlaced flag" in the mp4 file and expect the PSP doing deinterlacing in realtime)


sure you could pulldown then deinterlace but that's kinda pointless.

yep probably you'll obtain something like ConvertFPS

29.97 is quite annoying :devil:
sony take care of us :sly:

[Doom9]

I guess I gotta write a pretty destructive review of that device once I get it. Handheld console seen from a video enthusiast's point of view, that ought to be more interesting than the usual raving. With game prices higher than PC prices (even though PC games are harder to develop because they have to work on a gazillion different PCs and not just a simple platform), UMD discs that cannot be copied and are more expensive than DVDs, the company that once sold us MiniDisc recorders as complements for our audio CD now not doing the same for video, there's tons of things that are wrong about this. I know why I like my PC, and why my one and only non portable console was only interesting for about 3 weeks (then I got a PC and I haven't looked back since, and I'll be laughing at people spending money on the new XBox or PS3 as two months later the next gen PC GFX card is going to blow them to pieces).

[tintin1001]

I guess I gotta write a pretty destructive review of that device once I get it. Handheld console seen from a video enthusiast's point of view, that ought to be more interesting than the usual raving. With game prices higher than PC prices (even though PC games are harder to develop because they have to work on a gazillion different PCs and not just a simple platform), UMD discs that cannot be copied and are more expensive than DVDs, the company that once sold us MiniDisc recorders as complements for our audio CD now not doing the same for video, there's tons of things that are wrong about this. I know why I like my PC, and why my one and only non portable console was only interesting for about 3 weeks (then I got a PC and I haven't looked back since, and I'll be laughing at people spending money on the new XBox or PS3 as two months later the next gen PC GFX card is going to blow them to pieces).

How about testing the device and form an opinion once you get it?

As a handheld device seen from a "video enthusiast's point of view" i can easily say that it's number one, even given the stupid limits and flaws that Sony more or less made by choice. UMD movies looks pretty impressive (no i wouldn't buy one because i can buy a DVD instead and convert it to "almost" UMD quality) but from a pure "video enthusiast's point of view" nothing comes to mind that beats this handheld device when it plays UMD, and i can't think of anything that beats it when it plays it's nerf'd AVC format either.

And your PC vs Console comments are not something i would expect from someone whos insightfull writing and sharp opinions has impressed me constantly since you launched this site. They are so short sighted and one sighted that it reminds me of MPAA and RIAA arguments :-)

The console owns the gaming market for many reasons, but some of the exact reasons you mention as a plus for PC's are the exact reason why people by Consoles. Who wants to pay 500$ for the best graphics card? who wants to constantly upgrade their computer to play 50$ games? And who wants to fight Microsoft software,drivers and copyprotection in order to play a game you BOUGHT, not that many actually, we/they are a rare breed. Console owners insert the disc and plays.

And even today old consoles with 32/64 mb memory still deliveres impressive games that more than often leaves PC games in the dust, i wouldn't live without my PC but i sure as hell couldn't say no to the fantastic games my consoles give me.

And now to the important part, there isn't any really good software solutions for DVD to PSP conversion. PSPVIDEO9 is nice, but not nearly good enough, not enough control over sharpness colors etc, and the DVD conversion sucks. The best seems to be Nero Recode but it doesn't support PSP AVC, and it's expensive.

I've been checking doom9 for the solution ever since i got mine PSP, after all this is the place where video enthusiast's go when they wonna have fun.

[Synergy37]

Doom9 here are basic specs that need to be filled in order for the movie to play on the PSP.


Resolution pixels < or = to 76800
Resolution must be in multiples of 16
29.97 FPS
AVC can only be played when it goes through atomchanger


That is really it. It is basically a normal AVC that just needs to go through atomchanger.

[Gunhed]

I convert with the following avs

AVI-Source

AVISource("file.avi")
Tweak(sat=1.2)
Lanczos4Resize(368,208)
Sharpen(0.3)
ChangeFPS(29.97)

DVD Interlaced

LoadPlugin("dgdecode.dll")
LoadPlugin("decomb.dll")
mpeg2source("video.d2v")
FieldDeinterlace(blend=false)
Tweak(sat=1.2)
Lanczos4Resize(368,208)
Sharpen(0.3)
ChangeFPS(29.97)

DVD Progressive

LoadPlugin("dgdecode.dll")
mpeg2source("video.d2v")
Tweak(sat=1.2)
Lanczos4Resize(368,208)
Sharpen(0.3)
ChangeFPS(29.97)

-------------------------

Tweak(sat=1.2) is for more vivid colors and Sharpen(0.3) to get a bit more details...otherwise the picture is too blurry....in my opinion

any suggestions?

[Doom9]

@tintin1001: It's not a smart thing to argue with the admin of a board if your points don't live up to the expectations. For instance, you can play AVC on a pocket PC, without any of the limitations of the PSP. You are also not restricted to use Sony sanctioned memory sticks, Pocket PCs often offer even two means of storage extension, both of them both cheaper than Sony's memory stick, and offering a higher maximum capacity (I'm talking about CF and SD), and that have the additional benefit that you can also use them in most of today's digital cameras (CF used to be pretty much the standard but now I'm seeing some convergence towards SD, probably due to size constraints). The PSP has the capability screen and processor wise to beat everything there is hands down, but Sony crippled it. This is even more frustrating than if the device actually had the limitations they placed upon external content, but I'm quite convinced playing 24 or 25fps content would be no problem, and neither would using the full screen resolution, or using specs compliant container for that matter rather than some perversion of the specs along with filenames that make no sense. Strip away all the nonsense limitations, kick out the stupid memory stick for SD, and you'd have a kickass video player, but as it is now, it's a disgrace.. all that potential going to waste.

And your PC vs Console comments are not something i would expect from someone whos insightfull writing and sharp opinions has impressed me constantly since you launched this site. They are so short sighted and one sighted that it reminds me of MPAA and RIAA arguments :-)Are you trying to get striked? Everything I said is true and has been proven over and over again. Your points about price are well taken and just as true, but the two do not conflict in any way or form.
And who wants to fight Microsoft software,drivers and copyprotection in order to play a game you BOUGHT, not that many actually, we/they are a rare breed. Console owners insert the disc and plays.The Xbox would be Microsoft, too ;) And copy protection? Give me a break.. consoles are protected up the Himalayas and people actually get sentenced to stiff fees for unlocking consoles.. imagine prison for somebody who buys a PC game in the US to play it in Europe (oh wait, you can't that because of region codes). You actually need to open up your console and start soldering in many instances to get around copy protection.. on a PC you fire up CloneCD and that's that.

[jonny]

I can add this to the "specs" (i hope is valid for firmware < 2.0 only):

Using mpeg4 sp (i can't check for avc):

witdh = 208 | 336 | 464 gives artifacts and are not usable
height = 272 basically smash the bottom of the picture
i've forgot to mention that the PSP's resizer s***s

we shouldn't forget bugs when we talk about limitations :D

[tintin1001]

PM instead of derailing the thread.

[bob0r]

It seems PSP can play 25fps just fine, the problem is just you HAVE to set the 29.97fps(or other compatible fps) flag for the .mp4 file(which then causes desynced audio).

if you can set 14.x and 15, 29.x and 30 fps, just like 48000Hz audio, it surely is true the PSP is limited only by cheap number limitations, and not by its contents.

[Doom9]

the biggest problem with the PSP imho is that with all the raving reviews, nobody bothered to properly check out the video capabilities and call Sony on their BS. The PSP technically is the Ferrari of pocket fitting portable media players, but Sony artificially crippled it (framerate, resolution, not specs compliant and last but not least picking an expensive and size limited expansion module technology (to use Steve Job's words: this is greedy, they obviously make money off licensing fees with Memory Stick)) and turned it into a Fiat 500 when playback of your own content is concerned. It could do so much better, all the components are there, and Sony already unlocked AVC on memory stick, so it's all corporate policy. Sony, unlock the darned thing, we want our high resolution AVC at proper framerates!! (yes, we, I got mine today)

[jonny]

average people will think they need to buy UMDs to tecnically unlock the full power.
a little voice on my left ear keep telling me: buy... buy... buy... buy...
another voice (this is more far) tell me on the right: palladium... (also subtitles! but are not so readable: "?maybe a way to turn your pc to a console?")
sorry, i love to go a little ot ... ;)

[Gunhed]

Sony, unlock the darned thing, we want our high resolution AVC at proper framerates!! (yes, we, I got mine today)

Congratulations :p





I love my PSP :D

[Sharktooth]

PSP = Portable Shit Player... :D
however sony told us the console capabilities from the beginning and all customers knew them before buying their PSP.
So IMHO we shouldnt blame sony for not giving us what we want, but we should blame ourselves coz we bought a product in the hope it could be what we wanted it to be, but it's obviously not... and we knew it before buying it...

[Sirber]

Well, I was more foolish than you and I bought a DS :(

Thank g*d I got rid of it :D

[Doom9]

well, Sony already unlocked AVC playback on the memory stick, so those that bought a v1.0 PSP already got more from the getgo, and show me an official Sony spec sheet when it comes to video... third parties had to figure this out.

[Sharktooth]

Well they never stated the PSP would have been able to open and playback AVC in standard mp4 container. They also never stated the PSP would had a full and unlimited AVC playback with no restrictions.
Sony, as every major company, have experince in advertising products but what they did was obviously a marketing move.
Customers (including me) should learn to not trust anyone when buying a product but only multiple and unbiased reviews.

[AnimeTheme]

We all know Sony is losing money on every PSP they sell. Right now they rely solely on the sales of UMDs to cover the cost and earn money. So from their perspective, it is quite understandable why they would impose restrictions on the Memory Stick movie playback. Unrestricted playback of Memory Stick movies will obviously affect the sales of UMD movies, and there will be people who buy PSP mainly (or solely) for the movie playback capabilities, and in such case, their game sales will be affected as well. You want unrestricted AV playback on PSP at the first hand? Sure, but you need to expect a much more expensive PSP, to a point where Sony loses nothing or even earns money for every PSP they sell.

I think eventually the current restrictions on Memory Stick movie playback will be gone. Starting from 2.0, they allow AVC on Memory Stick. The next step will probably be flexible frame rate support. As the cost of manufacturing PSP drops, eventually they may even allow full-resolution AV playback on Memory Stick.

[jonny]

yep probably it's only a question of time (and hackers may be faster than sony on unlocking fullres)

[qyqgpower]

the frame skip problem is even more serious on nero avc encoded files(1 ref, all additional option off), only Elecard and SONY IC2+'s file is not sufferd from the problem(and both encoder results low quality pictures), i really curious that why x264 and nero produced MP4 would get frame skip when played on PSP.

[azsd]

have you tried remux the x264/nero avc files using elecard muxer?

I think Large GOP size can't really solved this problem


- only Main Profile
- only cabac
- max 3 reference frame
- no weighted (bi)prediction
- no reordered frames (b-pyramid)
- no multiple slices

[nrx][Natas]

Hi,
a few days ago i tried to convert one of my PAL DVDs. I used ChangeFPS in my AviSynth Script. The first pass was encoded with normal speed, 27.xx fps but the second only with 1.xx fps. 14 hours for the second pass is long.:D Is that normal?!? I never had to change the framerate before.

thx

[bill_baroud]

rofl :D
Encoding speed has nothing to do with the actual speed of the video ;)
X264 is just a slow codec, if you have a not so fast processor (like 2ghz) 14h for the 2nd pass is just standard...