AVC encoders comparison feature table

[MySchizoBuddy]

Just created a simple table to highlight supported features of various encoder and which profile they support. the table is in Wikipedia H.264 Software encoder feature comparison (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.264/MPEG-4_AVC#Software_encoder_feature_comparison)

It would be nice to have this table completed :)

[DarkZell666]

I've got a gmail account but can't find my way in Google Spreadsheats. I've got a "File" and a greyed "Saved" button, but can't find where to change the color of a cell.

From what is visible in the options, Nero doesn't support "Separate Cb and Cr QP control" (or it isn't configurable), and doesn't support all interlaced modes you listed.

If you could verify this and correct the spreadsheet or explain me how to change the color of a cell ... it'd be great :)

I was also thinking someone might be able to add other encoders they use (Elecard, VSSH, <put_your_h264_encoder_here>, etc.)
Elecard's latest AVC encoder scored relatively well so I believe it's worth while adding ;)

Nice initiative though !

[MySchizoBuddy]

looks like u need an invite. PM me ur gmail and i'll send u an invite. that will give you editing previleges

its the seventh icon from left (bold, italic, underline, formula,fontfamily, text color, background color)
select the cell and click on the square icon with 4 colors.

u want to select the cell and then click on background color and change it to white or green.

yes thats the idea. if u know about other encoder feel free to add them.
regarding nero i thought nero supported the High profile, that why i just copied the high profile features. obviously i'm wrong :), which interlaced modes it doesn't support

plus it has automatic save on. so mostly save is greyed out cause it has already saved it.

for people who don't want to edit themselves, just reply here and tell me the features that are supported so i can update it. :)

[DarkZell666]

PM sent :)

In fact I hadn't paid attention to the fact "View only" was indicated =)

About Nero's interlacing modes, they are in fact non-existent.
I've had a look round the nero recode interface and it only offers to deinterlace the source. Nothing indicates that it's possible to encode interlaced.

ChronoCross states so too here : http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=878331#post878331

[Manao]

A few remarks :
- I seriously doubt Apple handles FMO / ASO / RS ( it would make them the only encoder supporting them, and coming from Apple, that would be more than highly surprising )
- what does CoreAVC there ? I thought we were talking about encoders.
- Nero supports independant Qp for Cr/Cb ( it uses a delta of +1 iirc )
- x264 doesn't handle Paff/MBaff nor 4:0:0

[check]

is film grain modelling in that list somewhere? I couldn't see it, but I didn't take too long looking at it either.

[MySchizoBuddy]

A few remarks :
- I seriously doubt Apple handles FMO / ASO / RS ( it would make them the only encoder supporting them, and coming from Apple, that would be more than highly surprising )
- what does CoreAVC there ? I thought we were talking about encoders.
- Nero supports independant Qp for Cr/Cb ( it uses a delta of +1 iirc )
- x264 doesn't handle Paff/MBaff nor 4:0:0

Doesn't Quicktime support baseline profile.?
ok fixed about x264 and also nero

thanks guys. I really apprciate it. :thanks:

[MySchizoBuddy]

is film grain modelling in that list somewhere? I couldn't see it, but I didn't take too long looking at it either.
NO its not on the list. the list is taken from wikipedia H.264 page
I can add it, if u ahve info regarding it

[Manao]

Doesn't Quicktime support baseline profile ?Only for decoding ( and even so, since I don't have any FMO/ASO video file, I can't check whether it actually supports that or not )

Film grain modeling is an additionnal tool that is part of the high profile. It's named after what it does.

[MySchizoBuddy]

Only for decoding ( and even so, since I don't have any FMO/ASO video file, I can't check whether it actually supports that or not )

Film grain modeling is an additionnal tool that is part of the high profile. It's named after what it does.
thank i've added it.
plus do u know which encoders support filmgrain modelling

also does x264 support Separate Cb and Cr QP control,Quantization Scaling Matrices or 8x8 vs. 4x4 Transform Adaptivity

[Kostarum Rex Persia]

Guys, download that table from http://rapidshare.de/files/34208821/H_1_.264_encoder_feature_comparison.rar

[ChronoCross]

Guys, download that table from http://rapidshare.de/files/34208821/H_1_.264_encoder_feature_comparison.rar

why....you can just view it online. Your not supposed to rip the spreadsheet. The whole point of it being online in the format that it currently is, is because it can be easily update.

[Jay Bee]

Nice project. Interesting that there is no encoder that fully supports any profile, not even Baseline. Does this mean that the profile system is useless or just that software companies have some catching up to do?

[unmei]

At first i thought that link was wrong, but then i realised you first have to sell google your soul to be redirected to the table ><

[akupenguin]

Nice project. Interesting that there is no encoder that fully supports any profile, not even Baseline. Does this mean that the profile system is useless or just that software companies have some catching up to do?
It means that the profile system is intended to categorize the abilities of decoders, not of encoders. If your encoder chooses not to use a given feature, you've only lost a little bit of quality. If your decoder doesn't support a given feature, then you're completely unable to decode such a video.
It also means that while h264 is not nearly as bad as mpeg4part2 in terms of including useless features, it still has some.

why....you can just view it online.Because you need to sign in to even view it, and I'm not interested in yet another online account. Put it on wikipedia, or maybe http://wiki.multimedia.cx/ is more appropriate.

[Jay Bee]

It means that the profile system is intended to categorize the abilities of decoders, not of encoders. If your encoder chooses not to use a given feature, you've only lost a little bit of quality. If your decoder doesn't support a given feature, then you're completely unable to decode such a video.
It also means that while h264 is not nearly as bad as mpeg4part2 in terms of including useless features, it still has some.


Yes, that makes sense. But that makes statements like
"Nero Recode comes now with a sensational H.264/AVC high profile HD encoder, which has received professional acclaim as the best H.264/AVC high profile HD encoder available"
which can be found here (http://ww2.nero.com/nero7/eng/Nero_Recode_2.html) somewhat pointless or even misleading.

A similar spreadsheet for decoders would be interesting too.

[MySchizoBuddy]

Ok as requested the table is on the table is in Wikipedia H.264 Software encoder feature comparison (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.264/MPEG-4_AVC#Software_encoder_feature_comparison)

[MySchizoBuddy]

Yes, that makes sense. But that makes statements like
"Nero Recode comes now with a sensational H.264/AVC high profile HD encoder, which has received professional acclaim as the best H.264/AVC high profile HD encoder available"
which can be found here (http://ww2.nero.com/nero7/eng/Nero_Recode_2.html) somewhat pointless or even misleading.

A similar spreadsheet for decoders would be interesting too.

same issue with x264 page on wikipedia. it claims to be a high profile encoder, when it doesn't completely support high profile.
how should the decoder page be like. for eg. Apple quicktime, can decode baseline, extended and most of main profile (according to doom9.org). should i just include the most features supported. and merge all the profiles in one collumn. So the column of apple quicktime will be have all of baseline, all of extended and some of main.

[foxyshadis]

No. Any encoder that supports even one part of a higher profile (everything has to support at least most of baseline) is an encoder of that profile - you can't call something that generates high profile streams a main profile decoder, what are you going to do when a main profile decoder can't decode it? Say oops?

All the mpeg specs have useless and less-than-entirely-useful parts, they're just partitioned up this way so that there's no major mismatch between encoders and decoders. Now, for a decoder to claim to be fully high profile, it has to decode all of it, so decoders should include the profile as well as any additions or ommissions. It's sort of messed up, since baseline really shouldn't have included any of extended's extra junk, but oh well. It's what you get from designed by committee.

I'm surprised they let companies like apple get away with calling their software an "H.264 decoder" without mentioning that it's a baseline with minimal main profile capability.

[GodofaGap]

Despite they make profiles and levels, MPEG never has seem to be very interested in a certification process for that. I remember the mess when the first self-proclaimed "MPEG4" capable DVD players came out. It took DivX and Nero certification to at least make some things clear about that. Of course, most of the hardware certification will go through HD-DVD/Blu-Ray with H264. Regarding Apple, by now I don't expect anything more than half baked support from them of anything anyway.

[RBF]

Elecard encoder is added - Software encoder feature comparison (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.264/MPEG-4_AVC#Software_encoder_feature_comparison)

[MySchizoBuddy]

btw have anyone of you used Apple Compressor (http://www.apple.com/finalcutstudio/compressor/). It comes with Final cut Studio pro

[RBF]

I used Apple Compressor. At first sight there are no differences in quicktime encoder feature. I shall look more in detail...

[bond]

Elecard encoder is added - Software encoder feature comparison (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.264/MPEG-4_AVC#Software_encoder_feature_comparison)mainconcept's own encoder doesnt exist anymore. mainconcept now uses elecard

[MySchizoBuddy]

mainconcept's own encoder doesnt exist anymore. mainconcept now uses elecard
deletting a column from wikipedia is such a pain. Any one knows of a software that can take a table and give me wiki code. Perhaps an table in html format converted to wiki.

PLus bond can u verify that the table is correct. I'm not missing any features for the codec. You know more about this than anyone else. :)

Is it possible to compare these features with VC1

[IgorC]

mainconcept's own encoder doesnt exist anymore. mainconcept now uses elecard
Well. Then it will be more correct to rename Nero to Ateme since Nero AVC is pure Ateme encoder.

[Kostarum Rex Persia]

Well, Nero is a "buggy Ateme H.264 encoder". Ateme won't give Nero their best H.264 encoder.

[Blue_MiSfit]

perhaps crippled is a better term than buggy. I've yet to run into any real "bugs" with the Nero AVC software, though I don't use it on any regular basis...

~MiSfit

[MySchizoBuddy]

What features does Ateme have compared to Nero

[RBF]

Popwire encoder is added - Software encoder feature comparison (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.264/MPEG-4_AVC#Software_encoder_feature_comparison)
It supports 4:2:2 Chroma Format

QuickTime H264 encoder and Apple Compressor H264 encoder are no differences, except for the maximal profile - main 4.0 vs main 4.1

[MySchizoBuddy]

isn't popwire bought out by telestream. the same company that makes WMV encoders for mac (flip4mac).
i believe the new product is called Episode (http://www.flip4mac.com/episode.htm)

[RBF]

MySchizoBuddy
Yes.
I shall check up Episode Pro later, and bring in changes if they are.

[RBF]

I have checked up Episode Pro 4.1.2. There are no changes in H264 encoder.