MeGUI Custom x264/AVC video profiles.

[tuber99]

Thanks for the link to the other thread about MP4Box usage, that's definitely been a push in the right direction! I'm still somewhere near the bottom of the learning curve on this stuff and only being able to work on it during "free time" definitely makes it slow going...

My goal for now is to create an H.264/AAC-LC M4V using MeGUI/MP4Box that very closely matches functionality and look/feel of one that is created solely from QuickTime Pro. Currently, there are still two areas of difference that I see:

1) H.264 encoding differences. This is the issue with not knowing which MeGUI profile to use and which settings the AppleTV does not like.

2) MP4 container metadata differences. The most obvious place to see this issue is by looking at the Movie Properties in QuickTime player and comparing the QuickTime generated file with the MeGUI generated. Bitrate and some other values are showing as 'N/A' in QuickTime for the MeGUI generated files. I'm not sure if this is affecting performance/playback in any way, but it's an obvious difference.

Another tool, along with MP4Box that has been helpful is the QuickTime Atom Viewer. This makes it very easy to see the metadata changes that are made using various MP4Box parameters.

So... finally back to the original thread thought. To answer the previous question, if I use the "PD-AppleTV" profile in MeGUI, follow the error's instruction and de-select P4x4 macroblocking, encode and use the correct MP4Box muxing instructions for AppleTV, I end up with a choppy, unwatchable video on the AppleTV. From looking at some other posts, one setting that most agree is not Apple-TV compatible is the B-pyramid setting. If I leave all other settings alone and disable the B-pyramid, the video playback is much smoother and *almost* matches the playback quality of the QuickTime encoded. This is what I'm still working on.

Sorry for the long post.

[Kurtnoise]

First of all, thanks for the feedbacks and tests...I hope Sharktooth will look around.

2) MP4 container metadata differences. The most obvious place to see this issue is by looking at the Movie Properties in QuickTime player and comparing the QuickTime generated file with the MeGUI generated. Bitrate and some other values are showing as 'N/A' in QuickTime for the MeGUI generated files. I'm not sure if this is affecting performance/playback in any way, but it's an obvious difference.
well...you compare apples and oranges. So, this is normal you have several differences. Anyway, this doesn't rely on the playback side.

[Sharktooth]

ill update the profile

[tuber99]

sharktooth - you're free to update the profile as you see fit, but I'm fairly certain I will have other changes to it by the time I'm done...

kurtnoise13 - As far as comparing apples to oranges, I really don't think so. More like comparing fuji to gala :p Seriously, 95% of the metadata (that I've manually compared) is identical between what comes out of QuickTime export to M4V and what comes out of MP4Box using MeGUI-encoded AAC and H.264. Obviously, I can't speak to the content of the actual data streams, but I'm not sure how much that accounts for the properties differences I see in QuickTime player. That's really what I'm trying to determine.

Thanks both for the replies.

[tuber99]

Just so it doesn't appear like I've totally dropped off the map, (and in case anyone else has had the same questions I have) I wanted to follow-up with this issue.

I've discovered that most of the playback issues with AppleTV (that are most annoying to me, at this point) seem to be less to do with the x264 options used to encode the h.264 stream and more with the details around how the final MP4/M4V gets muxed. I had never used handbrake before (http://handbrake.m0k.org/) and I kept hearing about AppleTV profile support, so I downloaded and gave it a try. Someone there has been doing their homework because AppleTV playback is perfect! I have posted questions on one of the Handbrake developer forums to find out if there is a way to duplicate those results using MP4Creator or MP4Box (without mods) and at this point, I think the answer is 'no'. Which leads me to my next effort, which may be to code a custom version of MP4Creator with the HandBrake-specific mux mods...

I just can't believe no one's ever run into this before...:confused: Someone please stop me and tell me they already have the tool I'm looking for.

[Theliel]

I have make a new profile for My iPod Touch. I dont know if work on iPhone or newers iPod classic or nano, if someone can try them on others...

Support ALL Baseline profile and Level 3 features, the only limitation are 6 ref frames, more ref frames corrupt the video.

Work perfectly with pal/ntsc

Up to PAL/NTSC resolution -> 720*576 25fps / 720*480 30fps
Baseline Profile
Level 3
Bitrate up to 10000 -> yes, 10Mb/s ->
I have set the maximun at 10mb/s but only use up to 1Mb/s for 480*320, up to 2Mb/s for 640*48, up to 4MB/s PAL content and Up to 10Mb/s only for testing purpose .
5 Reference Frames
Mixed refs
no-fast-pskip
Deblocking (-2,-1 in my case)
Subme 7
Analyse p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,p4x4
Me UMH
No-dct-decimate

[damngod]

Hi,

I have a problem with the 360/PS3 profile. In fact, I doubt the profile is the cause but I need some help on this :

First, I tried both 720p and 1080p (understand, with some cropping, so it's something like 1920x... or 1280x...). 720p encodes only work on the 360 and 1080p's only work on the PS3. Otherwise it's said that the files are not compatible.

My 360 is connected in 720p to a CRT (which accept only 720p and 1080i) and the PS3 is connected in 1080p to a FullHD LCD (in the PS3 settings, 720p, 1080i and 1080p are all activated).

So what's the problem ? Is the 360 not capable of downscaling 1080p x264 encodes to 720p ? Is the PS3 not capable of upscaling 720p encodes to 1080p ? Should I need to unchecked 1080i and 1080p in the PS3 settings (can't test until tonight). Or is there something else ?

Thanks in advance.

[Sharktooth]

v43:
- too much changes to be listed.

[morphx2]

What is everyone using for HD-DVD settings? Sharktooth said he is going to remove the HD-DVD profile (which I agree with since it is taking me a looooooong time encoding it).

Anyone have any other settings or guides out there to setup MeGUI to back them up?

Thanks!

[Sharktooth]

actually i added another one... and faster...
keep in mind you need the nal hrd patched x264 build to have a compatible hd-dvd video stream...

[sazoki]

theliel,
i try u're profile for my ipod clasic 5.5, and itunes refuse it,

--pass 2 --bitrate 5000 --stats ".stats" --level 3 --ref 6 --mixed-refs --no-fast-pskip --filter -2,-1 --no-cabac --subme 7 --analyse none --qpmin 16 --vbv-maxrate 10000 --me umh --merange 12 --threads auto --thread-input --progress --no-dct-decimate --no-psnr --no-ssim --output "output" "input"

[Theliel]

ipod classic dont equal to ipod 5.5
ipod classic is the newer ipod (80 and 160Gb), called now c"lassic". So if yo have a 5.5 you need use 5.5 profile.

[sazoki]

i try 5.5 profile for my ipod 80 Gb
and also not working with itunes after last ubdate 7.4.3.1

[Theliel]

if your ipod are a newer classic 80Gb and my profile dont work, then ipod touch and classic use different decoder and my profile are only valid for touch and maybe iphone.

Sorry then and thank for your test :)

one ask. itunes refuse to upload into your ipod?

maybe your problems are mp4 uui.
with the latest itunes you dont need uui changes anymore, but sometimes itunes refuse to load anyway
try demux your video with yamb (for example) and remuxing again. In first time compliance=standard, and second time compliance=ipod

[sazoki]

yes refuse to upload into ipod,
So,what the best profile in my case, other how , i try the Xvid4psp the 640ipod profile and it working good

[Theliel]

try demux-remux with yamb and tell me. (first with 5.5 profile, and if work, try your profile)

its very possible that Xvid4psp use a diferent muxer.
and if you need more info or problems, send me MP and talk by IM for example, and no more off topic :)

[morphx2]

actually i added another one... and faster...
keep in mind you need the nal hrd patched x264 build to have a compatible hd-dvd video stream...

Well, it won't be on an HD-DVD. It is just a backed up copy to play on zoomplayer if that matters for anything or if it is still the same.

So when will the new profile be out to try? :D I hope it is a lot faster too :D

And what is a nal hrd patched x264 build?

[Atak_Snajpera]

yes refuse to upload into ipod,
So,what the best profile in my case, other how , i try the Xvid4psp the 640ipod profile and it working good

Did you try floola (http://www.floola.com/modules/wiwimod/index.php?page=WiwiHome)?

[Sharktooth]

Well, it won't be on an HD-DVD. It is just a backed up copy to play on zoomplayer if that matters for anything or if it is still the same.

So when will the new profile be out to try? :D I hope it is a lot faster too :D

And what is a nal hrd patched x264 build?
The dev version (0.2.6.x) has the new profiles and yes, there is a fast profile...

hrd+pulldown: https://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=125568&highlight=x264+nal+hard

[sazoki]

well,thanks for help
the problem was in the mp4 muxer,i forgot to use the nic mp4 muxer with the ipod5.5 profile
it's working now
thanks

[JarrettH]

why do all the "Slow" profiles default using 16 b-frames now?:cool:

[Sharktooth]

why not?:)

[morphx2]

Ill let ya know how the new HD-DVD profile works; I am running it now. Seems faster at around 8 fps on 2nd pass. But that could be due to my fixing of my computer. Turned out not enough power was going throw my HTPC with a new videocard and slowed things down somewhat.

[Sharktooth]

the HD-DVD_Fast is definatly FASTER than the other one...

[morphx2]

I wanted to let you know Shark that it came out wonderful! I did not use the patched file like you said though..would that really change anything?

[Sharktooth]

it wont be HD-DVD compatible.
however h264info (https://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=138139&package_id=225029) may come handy...

[morphx2]

Well, I dont need HD-DVD compatible. Just look the best in x264/mkv format to playback from my harddrive.

After watching parts of Riddick and comparing it to the HDDVD, it looks grainer in a lot of scenes instead of being sharp.

I am going to go test it via another method and compare to the 2 and see what looks better to my eye.

[decayed.cell]

Just an observation: I'm running iTunes 7.4.1.2 and using the stock MP4Box that comes with MeGUI, neither the PD-iPod-5G nor the PD-iPod-5.5G profile works with a 320x240 encoded clip i.e. transfer onto iPod using iTunes.

However with NicMP4Box, the PD-iPod-5G profile works but the 5.5G profile still doesn't work. 640x480 video does not work in both cases.

[Taxidermista]

What about a Blu-Ray profile based on the Blu-Ray HD AVC profile in Elecard Converter Studio 2.0? These are its default options:

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f391/Taxidermista/elecardblurayprofile1.png

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f391/Taxidermista/elecardblurayprofile2.png

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f391/Taxidermista/elecardblurayprofile3.png

[halpern]

What is the recommended profile for encoding x264 for HD TV shows?

[gnutellafan]

What would be the best profile for transparent encoding of HD content to the lowest possible bitrate? How about DVD content?

My goal is to transcode HD and DVD content to the lowest bitrate that still preserves as much of the original as possible while saving as much space as possible. They will be viewed on large screen high resolution HDTVs.

Its my understanding that much of the HDDVD and BR content is way over size to prevent copying. I want to bring these down to a reasonable size while preserving the HD quality for a home/private media server.

[Adub]

1. Don't ask what is best. Especially in this situation as it varies from source to source.

2. It varies from source to source. Try starting out with some of the HD profiles or even better the HQ profiles. They are designed to squeeze the most out of every bit in a video encode.

Also, it is arguably "impossible" to get a transparent encode while shooting for the lowest possible bitrate. However, you should run a few test runs using the HQ profiles at bitrates varying from 2000kbps or so on up to maybe 8-10k. Again, it varies with your source, plus what kind of filtering and deinterlacing you are doing.

[halpern]

Sharktooth,
Is there anyway you can post descriptions for the Xvid profiles that come with MeGUI? I'd be interested in learning more about them. Thank you.

[Adub]

You can find descriptions in the Xvid section. If it is not on the first page, then use search.

[Chainmax]

I have a question about the PSP profile. Can the following settings:

* Deblocking @ > 0/0
* RDO Level 2 (S.R 7)
* Trellis = 2
* No DCT Decimation
* No Fast P-Skip

be enabled and still have smooth playback?


[edit]I forgot, what about B-Pyramid, can it be enabled too?

[Sharktooth]

those settings do not affect the decoding complexity except for deblocking which is already enabled in the profile... so, basically, yes.

[SpAwN_gUy]

What is the recommended profile for encoding x264 for HD TV shows?

some info could be found here (http://www.google.com/search?hl=ru&client=opera&rls=ru&hs=IpJ&q=x264+rules+scene&btnG=%D0%9F%D0%BE%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%BA&lr=)... but.. but i reeeealy don't like it.. ;) ..

try something around HQ profiles or HD (i prefer HQ's..) try some search about custom martices.. and.. "start diggin' " ;)

[Adub]

spawn_guy, that is a weird site. It seems more for illegal dvd ripping and distribution more than anything else.

[SpAwN_gUy]

spawn_guy, that is a weird site. It seems more for illegal dvd ripping and distribution more than anything else. //link modified ;)
well. it has some "rules" and info about how to do it "right" .. yes, in quotes.. written by someone (i may think he or they are also here, somewhere..)
and also has.. some x264 comLines.. like some sort of "Profiles", i guess..
this site (http://nwgat.net/) also has something.. about encoding (btw,.. the first profile for HD-Encode i took from there)..
it is somehow like a "tutorial"...

sorry for my offtop.. i quit it..

i do have some questions... but not here, sorry for that..

[Chainmax]

Thanks for the clarification, Sharktooth :).

SpAwN_gUy, I didn't visit your link but I'm curious. Is it anthing like the old TDX rules?

[SpAwN_gUy]

Is it anthing like the old TDX rules?what is TDX?

anti-offtop: Sharktooth about.. "profiles"... i wonder.. do i need to ask, when i made some meGUI mod (for x264farm) (and sent code to berrrinam)... in my mod(or "add") i use x264profiles for generating comLine for x264farm..

do i need to ask you for allowance to use your profiles?
(sorry, for a stupid question, but i have not made any of profiles, or anything)

[Sharktooth]

you can use and abuse my profiles in any ways :)

[fleon]

hi sharktooth, sorry if someone have asked before but right now I have dialup so I cant search everything, can you confirm wich of your two ipod profiles: pd-ipod and pd-ipod 5.5 works better with the new ipod nano 3rd gen?

[Sharktooth]

eh... i really dont know coz i have no ipods to test but the 5.5 profile should be ok for the nano. do some test encodings and choose the one which is better. if someone has the ipod 3rd gen exact specs i can make a new one though.

EDIT: I just saw the nano has almost the same specs as the 5.5. So you can safely use the 5.5 profile.

[fleon]

So the ipod 5.5 have the same specs as the classic and also as the nano? well in any case here are the specs of the nano

H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Low-Complexity version of the H.264 Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; H.264 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.0 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats

EDIT: also I used to use Staxrip for encoding but it have old profiles and doesnt have the 5.5 profile and well, if you sharktooth actually create a new profile based of the specs above it wont have that profile, so that's why I'm changing (and least for ipod enconding) but is way too different so I dont know what to do I tried some things but I need a guide so I searched and I found this one http://mewiki.project357.com/wiki/Main_Page but when i put on the part of ipod conversion guide on the part encoding video it just says No such action The action specified by the URL is not recognized by the wiki so maybe you can help me thanks

[redfordxx]

Hello,
I have question...
I'd like to backup my digicam videos with sort of two pass at constant quality level:
First pass on quality I decide...let's say qp=25...and then improve the quality with second pass.

In fact it should be normal two pass, only the bitrate I will learn from the cq pass... but I cannot make it using any profile am i right?

Well, related question is, how much better is the quality of the 2pass...if it is worth it..

[Adub]

Yeah, the wiki is down temporarily, but hopefully it will be up some time this month.

Redfordxx, there is no such thing as two pass cq. That is the very definition of CQ, "Constant Quantizer". Or CRF for constant quality. Doesn't matter, as those two forms of encoding do not have a 2 pass.

2 pass bitrate encoding is usually best used if you are shooting for a specific file size and want to squeeze as much quality out while still hitting the file size.

[redfordxx]

Redfordxx, there is no such thing as two pass cq. That is the very definition of CQ, "Constant Quantizer". Or CRF for constant quality. Doesn't matter, as those two forms of encoding do not have a 2 pass.
Yeah, I know. The CQ helps me only to decide the bitrate for the two pass, coz every video has different compressibility.

So let's say:
I'd run CQ compression at qp=25...it results in 1500kbit bitrate video.
Then I run 2pass @ 1500kbit

So, question is: has the second pass better quality than CQ? More and more I think about it, I think has not, has it?

But

[Sharktooth]

you would better run a CRF 25 pass instead of a CQ 25 pass.
however, running a 2 pass @ the same bitrate as your CQ or CRF pass is quite useless...

[rack04]

Which avs profile is the least processor extensive? I want to view x264 using CorePlayer on my Axim X51V. Thanks.