What Does Mainline have that Baseline Does'nt

[Scarpad]

I've been using Handbrake to encode to both my Pocket PC using TCPMP and my Ipod Video. TCPMP can use mainline profile, while the ipod can only do Baseline. I've encoded two of the same clips using both profiles and the Mainline does look a bit better, better color stability and a bit smoother. In fact they look alot like the files Itunes encodes for purchase. Now since the Ipod cannot do Mainline I have to guess they are using Baseline, but how do they achieve the quality they do. They must be using tools that far exceed ours.

[bond]

for the most important difference between main and baseline profile look at the info sticky

I've been using Handbrake to encode to both my Pocket PC using TCPMP and my Ipod Video. TCPMP can use mainline profiletcpmp should handle high profile too, with the latest avc.plg

In fact they look alot like the files Itunes encodes for purchase.if the files sold on itunes have been made with the apple avc encoder than they are propably baseline profile + 1 b-frame (so to say main profile but with hardly any main profile features used)

Now since the Ipod cannot do Mainline I have to guess they are using Baseline, but how do they achieve the quality they do. They must be using tools that far exceed ours. first of all are you sure the ipod only does baseline? and not maybe baseline + 1 b-frame?

of course for a valid comparison you would need to have the same source as apple for your encode (which you will not have)
comparing different sources (at maybe different bitrates) doesnt mean much

i have made a small comparison between apples encoder and x264 and imho apple doesnt perform that bad for the features it uses (still its insanely slow)

[lexor]

also try using megui with PD-iPod profile, that could yeild better results, no guarantees though :)