x264 + MeGUI = Frustrating

[MyBestLaidPlans]

Sorry if this is a repeat post but I am very frustrated. While trying to encode h.264 videos with the x264 codec and the MeGUI tool. It gets this error right before finishing.

avis [info]: 320x240 @ 29.97 fps (1157 frames)
x264 [error]: Error: 2pass curve failed to converge
x264 [error]: target: 151969.00 kbit/s, expected: 7083.71 kbit/s, avg QP: 1.0014
x264 [error]: try reducing target bitrate or reducing qp_min (currently 1)
x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities MMX MMXEXT SSE 3DNow!
mp4 [info]: initial delay 0 (scale 2997)
x264 [info]: slice I:11 Avg QP: 1.00 size: 54552
x264 [info]: slice P:1146 Avg QP: 1.00 size: 29147
x264 [info]: mb I I16..4: 21.8% 0.0% 78.2%
x264 [info]: mb P I16..4: 5.9% 0.0% 0.0% P16..4: 67.1% 12.9% 13.9% 0.0% 0.0% skip: 0.1%
x264 [info]: kb/s:7046.2

Actual bitrate after encoding without container overhead: 7046.34

any help?

[stephanV]

x264 [error]: target: 151969.00 kbit/s, expected: 7083.71 kbit/s, avg QP: 1.0014

You could try a less insane bitrate than that. Try something like 1000 for starters.

[MyBestLaidPlans]

my bitrate is set to 700... I used this (http://arstechnica.com/guides/tweaks/ipod-video.ars/6) tutorial to configure the apps.

[foxyshadis]

Can you give the exact commandline that megui uses? Click "show command line" in 2nd pass options.

[MyBestLaidPlans]

[Video]
"x264.exe" --bitrate 700 --analyse p8x8,b8x8 --qpmin 22 --progress --no-psnr --output "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\zim.mp4" "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\zim.avs"

[Audio]
"C:\Program Files\BeLight\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\VTS_02_1 T01 2_0ch 192Kbps DELAY -78ms.ac3" -output "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\VTS_02_1 T01 2_0ch 192Kbps DELAY -78ms.mp4" -logfile "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\VTS_02_1 T01 2_0ch 192Kbps DELAY -78ms.besweet.log" ) -azid( -s stereo -c normal -L -3db ) -dimzon( -dllname bse_FAAC.dll -b 128 ) -ota( -d -78 -g max )

note: that I did try lowering the qpmin to 1 and it had no effect.

[MyBestLaidPlans]

It looks like the target file size... is larger than the program expected... and causes it to abort.

[berrinam]

@MyBestLaidPlans: Post the entire MeGUI log.

[MyBestLaidPlans]

Generating jobs. Desired size: 734003200 bytes
Setting desired size of video to 734003200 bytes
Next job job1-1 is an audio job. besweet commandline:
"C:\Program Files\BeLight\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\VTS_02_1 T01 2_0ch 192Kbps DELAY -78ms.ac3" -output "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\VTS_02_1 T01 2_0ch 192Kbps DELAY -78ms.mp4" -logfile "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\VTS_02_1 T01 2_0ch 192Kbps DELAY -78ms.besweet.log" ) -azid( -s stereo -c normal -L -3db ) -dimzon( -dllname bse_FAAC.dll -b 128 ) -ota( -d -78 -g max )
successfully set up audio encoder and callbacks for job job1-1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Log for job job1-1

besweet: "C:\Program Files\BeLight\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\VTS_02_1 T01 2_0ch 192Kbps DELAY -78ms.ac3" -output "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\VTS_02_1 T01 2_0ch 192Kbps DELAY -78ms.mp4" -logfile "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\VTS_02_1 T01 2_0ch 192Kbps DELAY -78ms.besweet.log" ) -azid( -s stereo -c normal -L -3db ) -dimzon( -dllname bse_FAAC.dll -b 128 ) -ota( -d -78 -g max )

BeSweet v1.5b29 by DSPguru.
--------------------------

[00:00:00:000] Initializing...
[00:00:00:000] -- Initializing...

[00:00:38:528] |

[00:00:00:018] Asserting negative delay..
[00:00:38:450] Finalizing...
[00:00:38:450] Conversion Completed !

Visit DSPguru's Homepage at :
http://DSPguru.doom9.net/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
job job1-1 has been processed. This job is linked to the next job: job1-2
this series of jobs starts with an audio job and is followed by regular twopass video jobs
The audio job is named job1-1 the first pass job1-2 and the second pass job1-3
The second pass job has a desired final output size of 734003200 bytes and video bitrate of 700 kbit/s
The size of the first audio track is 616064 bytes
Desired video size after substracting audio size is 716193Setting the desired bitrate of the subsequent video jobs to 151975 kbit/s
Next job job1-2 is a video job. encoder commandline:
"C:\Program Files\x264\x264.exe" --pass 1 --bitrate 151975 --stats "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\zim.stats" --no-cabac --subme 1 --analyse none --qpmin 22 --me dia --progress --no-psnr --output NUL "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\zim.avs"
successfully set up video encoder and callbacks for job job1-2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Log for job job1-2

avis [info]: 320x240 @ 29.97 fps (1157 frames)
x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities MMX MMXEXT SSE 3DNow!
x264 [info]: slice I:10 Avg QP:22.00 size: 15271
x264 [info]: slice P:1147 Avg QP:22.00 size: 1589
x264 [info]: mb I I16..4: 31.7% 0.0% 68.3%
x264 [info]: mb P I16..4: 1.6% 0.0% 0.0% P16..4: 13.1% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% skip:85.2%
x264 [info]: kb/s:409.4

Actual bitrate after encoding without container overhead: 409.51

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
job job1-2 has been processed. This job is linked to the next job: job1-3
Next job job1-3 is a video job. encoder commandline:
"C:\Program Files\x264\x264.exe" --pass 2 --bitrate 151975 --stats "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\zim.stats" --no-cabac --analyse p8x8,b8x8 --qpmin 22 --progress --no-psnr --output "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\zim.mp4" "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\zim.avs"
successfully set up video encoder and callbacks for job job1-3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Log for job job1-3

avis [info]: 320x240 @ 29.97 fps (1157 frames)
x264 [error]: Error: 2pass curve failed to converge
x264 [error]: target: 151975.00 kbit/s, expected: 409.48 kbit/s, avg QP: 22.0000
x264 [error]: try reducing target bitrate or reducing qp_min (currently 22)
x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities MMX MMXEXT SSE 3DNow!
mp4 [info]: initial delay 0 (scale 2997)
x264 [info]: slice I:10 Avg QP:22.00 size: 15120
x264 [info]: slice P:1147 Avg QP:22.00 size: 1459
x264 [info]: mb I I16..4: 30.4% 0.0% 69.6%
x264 [info]: mb P I16..4: 1.1% 0.0% 0.0% P16..4: 7.5% 2.6% 3.6% 0.0% 0.0% skip:85.3%
x264 [info]: kb/s:378.0

Actual bitrate after encoding without container overhead: 378.11

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

[Wishbringer]

The size of the first audio track is 616064 bytes
and you are encoding with 128 kbit audio,
so your video is only 40 secs?
Generating jobs. Desired size: 734003200 bytes
and for 40 secs you use a whole CD?

It's clear why you have such an insane bitrate for video...
Even with constant quant=1 it can't reach that target
avis [info]: 320x240 @ 29.97 fps (1157 frames)

[leowai]

I believe you used "AutoEncode" button to encode a ~40s video to fit 1CD (700MB) in MeGUI. If you did, you now should change the output file size to some number much smaller than the 700MB shown, says 5MB or less. Estimated bitrate will be shown below the file size. Increase/decrease the file size untill it shows a close bitrate that you want.

[MyBestLaidPlans]

Now I get audio muxing errors.

[log]
Generating jobs. Desired size: 1048576 bytes
Encoded audio file is present: C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\VTS_02_1 T01 2_0ch 192Kbps DELAY -78ms.mp4 It has a size of 616064 bytes.
Setting desired size of video to 1048576 bytes
Next job job1-1 is an audio job. besweet commandline:
"C:\Program Files\BeLight\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\VTS_02_1 T01 2_0ch 192Kbps DELAY -78ms.ac3" -output "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\VTS_02_1 T01 2_0ch 192Kbps DELAY -78ms.mp4" -logfile "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\VTS_02_1 T01 2_0ch 192Kbps DELAY -78ms.besweet.log" ) -azid( -s stereo -c normal -L -3db ) -dimzon( -dllname bse_FAAC.dll -b 128 ) -ota( -d -78 -g max )
successfully set up audio encoder and callbacks for job job1-1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Log for job job1-1

besweet: "C:\Program Files\BeLight\BeSweet.exe" -core( -input "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\VTS_02_1 T01 2_0ch 192Kbps DELAY -78ms.ac3" -output "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\VTS_02_1 T01 2_0ch 192Kbps DELAY -78ms.mp4" -logfile "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\VTS_02_1 T01 2_0ch 192Kbps DELAY -78ms.besweet.log" ) -azid( -s stereo -c normal -L -3db ) -dimzon( -dllname bse_FAAC.dll -b 128 ) -ota( -d -78 -g max )

BeSweet v1.5b29 by DSPguru.
--------------------------

[00:00:00:000] Initializing...
[00:00:00:000] -- Initializing...

[00:00:38:528] |

[00:00:00:018] Asserting negative delay..
[00:00:38:450] Finalizing...
[00:00:38:450] Conversion Completed !

Visit DSPguru's Homepage at :
http://DSPguru.doom9.net/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
job job1-1 has been processed. This job is linked to the next job: job1-2
this series of jobs starts with an audio job and is followed by regular twopass video jobs
The audio job is named job1-1 the first pass job1-2 and the second pass job1-3
The second pass job has a desired final output size of 1048576 bytes and video bitrate of 700 kbit/s
The size of the first audio track is 616064 bytes
Desired video size after substracting audio size is 417Setting the desired bitrate of the subsequent video jobs to 88 kbit/s
Next job job1-2 is a video job. encoder commandline:
"C:\Program Files\x264\x264.exe" --pass 1 --bitrate 88 --stats "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\zim.stats" --no-cabac --subme 1 --analyse none --qpmin 22 --me dia --progress --no-psnr --output NUL "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\zim.avs"
successfully set up video encoder and callbacks for job job1-2
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Log for job job1-2

avis [info]: 320x240 @ 29.97 fps (1157 frames)
x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities MMX MMXEXT SSE 3DNow!
x264 [info]: slice I:10 Avg QP:32.30 size: 7679
x264 [info]: slice P:1147 Avg QP:37.71 size: 330
x264 [info]: mb I I16..4: 43.2% 0.0% 56.8%
x264 [info]: mb P I16..4: 1.7% 0.0% 0.0% P16..4: 9.5% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% skip:88.8%
x264 [info]: kb/s:94.3

Actual bitrate after encoding without container overhead: 94.35

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
job job1-2 has been processed. This job is linked to the next job: job1-3
Next job job1-3 is a video job. encoder commandline:
"C:\Program Files\x264\x264.exe" --pass 2 --bitrate 88 --stats "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\zim.stats" --no-cabac --analyse none --qpmin 22 --progress --no-psnr --output "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\zim.mp4" "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\zim.avs"
successfully set up video encoder and callbacks for job job1-3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Log for job job1-3

avis [info]: 320x240 @ 29.97 fps (1157 frames)
x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities MMX MMXEXT SSE 3DNow!
mp4 [info]: initial delay 0 (scale 2997)
x264 [info]: slice I:10 Avg QP:34.60 size: 5893
x264 [info]: slice P:1147 Avg QP:37.79 size: 316
x264 [info]: mb I I16..4: 43.8% 0.0% 56.2%
x264 [info]: mb P I16..4: 1.6% 0.0% 0.0% P16..4: 6.1% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% skip:92.3%
x264 [info]: kb/s:87.3

Actual bitrate after encoding without container overhead: 87.41
desired video bitrate of this job: 88 kbit/s - obtained video bitrate: 88.5657276404494 kbit/s
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
job job1-3 has been processed. This job is linked to the next job: job1-4
Next job job1-4 is a mux job. mp4box commandline:
"C:\MP4Box\MP4Box.exe" -add "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\zim.mp4" -add "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\VTS_02_1 T01 2_0ch 192Kbps DELAY -78ms.mp4" -fps 29.97 -new "C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\zim-muxed.mp4"
successfully set up muxer and callbacks for job job1-4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Log for job job1-4

IsoMedia import - track ID 1 - Video (size 320 x 240)
Unknown input file type
Error importing C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\VTS_02_1 T01 2_0ch 192Kbps DELAY -78ms.mp4: Feature Not Supported

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

[puffpio]

which muxor are you using?
I think a size target of 1mb is too low too...5 mb would be better...because your audio is like 600k!

[MyBestLaidPlans]

I am useing MP4Box... The file size was actually set to 3mb.

[MyBestLaidPlans]

Log for job job1-4

IsoMedia import - track ID 1 - Video (size 320 x 240)
Unknown input file type
Error importing C:\Zim Vol 01 Disc 01\VIDEO_TS\VTS_02_1 T01 2_0ch 192Kbps DELAY 0ms.mp4: Feature Not Supported
(Feature Not Supported)

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

I'm not quite sure what it means by... feature not supported.

[MyBestLaidPlans]

Fixed it... needed to use the beta BeLite... better support for FAAC I guess. However... the videos don't seem to work in quick time... the encode all passes correctly... mux correctly... but won't work with my ipod video. If anyone knows why this is please post back... otherwise thanx for your help everyone.

[lexor]

guide to get video on iPod: http://arstechnica.com/guides/tweaks/ipod-video.ars/6

thread (right below yours, so look next time) for x264 setting to be playable in quicktime: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=102609

[MyBestLaidPlans]

I tried those settings... the audio works in Quicktime... but the video doesn't show up... I am trying to convert videos to IPod Video m4v format (basically a h.264 mpeg file). Any settings I am missing... I even used the ipod profile I downloaded from this website.

[MyBestLaidPlans]

I don't know why... but the x264 codec doens't seem to be capable of encoding proper h.264 files... can anyone recomend a codec that can... or of a way to make the h.264 codec compatible with apple products. I tried word for word two guides on this forum. each time the audio will play... but the video will not. Thanx in advance!

[berrinam]

the x264 codec doens't seem to be capable of encoding proper h.264 files
Take it easy! Clearly, some people have managed to get x264-produced videos working on their iPods (the writers of the guides, for starters), showing that your claim is clearly wrong and simply insulting. Perhaps there is something up with Quicktime on your computer. What version do you have? IIRC, only QT7 supports h.264 video.

Also, try playing the video in another player, eg ffdshow+mpc or nero, etc.

[MyBestLaidPlans]

I don't dislike the codec... the codec works great... I have quick time 7... And the video displays fine in VLAN... I thought maybe it had something to do with my settings... something I don't know I need to conifgure to use h.264 with quick time... so officially it works. I am still working at it. I read somewere that Quicktime only supports AVC level 1.3. That was a dead end also... Anyone who has got this to work have any pointers for me?

[Sharktooth]

The forum is full of posts and info about using x264 to encode quicktime and ipod compatible streams. i even made some megui profiles for that purpouse...
:readrule: and :search:.
And please, before saying "x264 codec doens't seem to be capable of encoding proper h.264 files" ensure your players (quicktime or ipod for example) are able to decode h.264 properly!!!
QT7 and ipod have crippled playback and they dont fully support h.264 but only part of the specs, so it's QT7 and ipod that are not capable to decode proper h.264 files...

[bond]

I tried those settings... the audio works in Quicktime... but the video doesn't show up... I am trying to convert videos to IPod Video m4v format (basically a h.264 mpeg file). Any settings I am missing... I even used the ipod profile I downloaded from this website."apple ipod video .m4v format" files are plain .mp4 files with a wrong extension. the best is to rename all these .m4v files to .mp4

and yes, there is no need to rename .mp4 to .m4v as all apple tools handle .mp4 fine too (eg the ipod)

i hate apple so much... :devil:

[MyBestLaidPlans]

I used your profile and it doesn't work... And I agree that QT7 doesn't fully support H.64. Which is odd because they claim to be pioneers in h.264 encoding. I even heard Steven refer to the codec as "his codec" anyway... I've have yet to meet anyone who has actually been able to encode a ipod video using x264. Quicktime however; is a different story. Now I know many of you disagree with me on this point but I think encoding directly to mp4 is a mistake. I have had 0 success doing it this way. The best way I have found so far is to create raw 264 streams and mux them. This can easily be accomplished using mencoder (basically another version of x264). If preferred you can use x264 directly but it adds a lot of over head. Those of you who are looking to encode h.264 files that work with your ipod I suggest Videora. What ever it needs to do... and how ever it needs to do it, Videora will handle all the hard stuff :sly:.

[Zep]

i hate apple so much... :devil:

:) i hope you are kidding because if it was not for apple there
would be no good wrapper like mp4. As for h.264 itself it would be
endless waiting on the windows side if not for apple pushing
the format out the door YEARS AGO on macs just like they did
for so many things like USB a tech that apple kick started volume
wise and of course the many other tech pushes like firewire and
on and on...

I have been using h.264 on my macs for years before most windows
users ever even heard of it. (same with pixlet) Apple on purpose
stops after the basic profile because they WANT third parties and
open source to take over where they left off and run with it.
Be it codecs or darwin or KHMTL rendering engine etc...

BTW - I own an AMD 64 X2 4400+ OC to 2.8GHz box as well as a
Dual G5 2.5Ghz so i know very well the pros and cons of both sides.

[Zep]

I used your profile and it doesn't work... And I agree that QT7 doesn't fully support H.64. Which is odd because they claim to be pioneers in h.264 encoding. I even heard Steven refer to the codec as "his codec" anyway... I've have yet to meet anyone who has actually been able to encode a ipod video using x264. Quicktime however; is a different story. Now I know many of you disagree with me on this point but I think encoding directly to mp4 is a mistake. I have had 0 success doing it this way. The best way I have found so far is to create raw 264 streams and mux them. This can easily be accomplished using mencoder (basically another version of x264). If preferred you can use x264 directly but it adds a lot of over head. Those of you who are looking to encode h.264 files that work with your ipod I suggest Videora. What ever it needs to do... and how ever it needs to do it, Videora will handle all the hard stuff :sly:.

Go back and read the dev notes from Apple on h.264 from 2+ years ago
it will explain all you need to know as well as the why apple decided
to only support the basics. And why aren't you using x264 on your
mac like i am? You do not have to use QT if you do not want to.

as for your problems i have had none of them. mp4 streams all work
for me as does playing on my ipod so i'm not sure what you are doing
wrong or what is hosed on your side but it does appear to be a problem
on your set up.

[nm]

Oh dear, I smell a flamewar starting, but can't help myself. How could people build on Apple's H.264 implementation when it is not open source? I don't think Apple is using KHTML because they want others to improve it, but because it currently suits their needs. By the way, are you sure you don't mix years and months here ;)

[MyBestLaidPlans]

as for your problems i have had none of them. mp4 streams all work for me as does playing on my ipod so i'm not sure what you are doing
wrong or what is hosed on your side but it does appear to be a problem
on your set up.

Awsome your the first I've met lol. I am not sure what is the issue either. So you say you use x264, but it sounds like you have a mac and not a PC... so chances are MeGUI is the problem? Also when you import you movies to your ipod... to they seem a bit pixelated to you? Any help you can give me would be appreciated.

[Doom9]

As for h.264 itself it would be
endless waiting on the windows side if not for apple pushing
the format out the door YEARS AGO on macsThat's plain untrue that I cannot let it stand. ateme's AVC implementation (currently still the best I know), was out long before QT7 and it simply and utterly crushes everything Apple can and probably will throw at them (same goes for their ASP codec by the way, but there XviD still rules). I realize Apple has brought the PC industry many useful things (like the UI, widespread Firewire and USB usage started with a Mac, etc), but you cannot possibly claim video for it, especially in a forum that these days has to suffer because of all of Apple's screwups when it comes to video. Apple's half assed AVC implementation slows us down and we'd be better of without it. There are two clearly superior alternatives, one of them even open source and for my part I won't waste time with mediocre commercial products if I have better and less error prone alternatives available.

[stephanV]

As for h.264 itself it would be
endless waiting on the windows side if not for apple pushing
the format out the door YEARS AGO on macs just like they did
for so many things like USB a tech that apple kick started volume
wise and of course the many other tech pushes like firewire and
on and on...

I have been using h.264 on my macs for years before most windows
users ever even heard of it. (same with pixlet)
That's rather amazing since the specs were finalised somewhere halfway 2003 and quicktime 7 was only released spring this year for mac...

[Sharktooth]

Zep, please, we all understand you're an apple fanboy but limit your enthusiasm and try to understand apple is not all the "shine" they say they are.
the h.264 specs were finalized in 2003 (so the phrase "using from years" is a lie) and apple STILL doesnt support them all. Also there were h.264 codecs (experimental or in early stages) for windows when apple still hadn't wrote a line of code of QT7 or his h.264 encoder/decoder.
Apple is just a cancer in the h.264 world...

[zhangtrinity]

Wow, another debate of Mac VS Windows here. Since getting a hot PowerBook 17' three months ago, I once believed now I can handle everyting including H.264 with it. But now I went bact to Doom9 and found out x264 + meGUI are the best of all. h.264 under Macintosh is reasonablly good, but not stunnig. And the weakest point is the H.264 file I created under Tigher looked extremely bad under Windows. So guys, according to my own experience, Apple didn't do their best with video encoding. BTW, now I got a Shutte PC with AMD Athlon X2 3800+ Tasty.......

[nm]

...
And the weakest point is the H.264 file I created under Tigher looked extremely bad under Windows.
...It should look exactly the same on OS X as it does on Windows, or you have a decoder problem. Different displays could make a difference, but when the brightness levels are set properly, it should not be a huge one.

[Sharktooth]

well, as you said it "should"...

[zhangtrinity]

It should look exactly the same on OS X as it does on Windows, or you have a decoder problem. Different displays could make a difference, but when the brightness levels are set properly, it should not be a huge one.

Pardon me if I'm wrong, but it should not. Since under Tiger I use ffmpegx with mencoder, and only the special setting like no more than 1B frame... can let the MP4 playable with QuickTime 7. You see, obviously by this way it reduces the goodis of H.264. So finally how could you expect the movie looks exactly the same. Maybe you got me wrong, but that's the reason I went back to Windows for video encoding. Because after making the H.264 with fully setting of x264 + meGUI, then I still can play them under Tiger with VLC. At this time, the qaulity should be the same. However, VLC is still under heavy developing, so sometimes the movies suffer from buggy and block. Cheers for the coming new versions.

[nm]

Sorry if I misunderstood, but I thought you meant that _decoding_ a video file looked worse under Windows than under OS X. That is, you made a video with Quicktime and it looked fine on OS X Tiger, but bad on Windows. This is not likely.

Of course encoding with better tools results in better video quality. However, I don't see why you need to move to Windows because of that. Just use ffmpegX, mencoder or x264 directly on OS X?