Intel H.264 vs x264 vs Mainconcept H.264 , which is better ?

[St Devious]

as the title says , which one is the best ?

I know it could be x264 , but still i couldn't find any comparison on internet .

[Dark Shikari]

"Best" is a relative term.

From what I remember, Intel's was terrible, while x264 and Mainconcept were pretty much tied in most regards, since they're very similar in both PSNR/SSIM and their lack of psyopts.

x264 is better in my mind because its much more customizable IMO.

[Sagittaire]

"Best" is a relative term.

From what I remember, Intel's was terrible, while x264 and Mainconcept were pretty much tied in most regards, since they're very similar in both PSNR/SSIM and their lack of psyopts.

x264 is better in my mind because its much more customizable IMO.


In fact Mainconcept is really better for that:
- Fade scene with wpred for pframe
- Grain retention
- AQ mode with different psy mask (complexity, contrast and lumi)
- HDDVD/BD compliancy
- Speed

[Dark Shikari]

In fact Mainconcept is really better for that:
- Fade scene with wpred for pframe
- Grain retention
- AQ mode with different psy mask (complexity, contrast and lumi)
- HDDVD/BD compliancy
- SpeedAre you talking about Elecard's new encoding software with the Mainconcept core?

Mainconcept's own software package doesn't even have AQ to begin with, and has comparable grain retention to x264, and comparable speed and quality.

[Sagittaire]

Are you talking about Elecard's new encoding software with the Mainconcept core?

Mainconcept's own software package doesn't even have AQ to begin with, and has comparable grain retention to x264, and comparable speed and quality.

I speak about Mainconcept/Elecard SDK AVC core encoder. Many gui use this SDK like MainConcept Reference, Elecard Converter Studio or Sonic Cinevision.

And Mainconcept/Elecard SDK AVC is by far better than x264 for that:

- Fade scene with wpred for pframe
- grain retention with particular core optimisation for grain
- Adaptative Quantisation with different psy mask
- Speed the same quality level (PSNR and SSIM)
- HDDVD/BD compliancy

You can find complete setting in Sonic Cinevsion gui for example. For the other recent gui like MainConcept Reference or Elecard Converter Studio I don't know.

Film Grain Optimization
Optimizes CineVision’s treatment of source material with significant film grain content. Indicate the heaviness of film grain in the source material by entering a number from 0 (for material with no film grain, such as animation) to 100 (for material with heavy film grain).

Brightness AQ Strength
Specifies whether and how much to increase or decrease the quantization level for areas with extremes of brightness. Negative strengths yield a finer (lower) quantization, and consequently a higher quality, for bright areas. Positive strengths yield a finer (lower) quantization for dark areas.

Contrast AQ Strength
Specifies whether and how much to increase or decrease the quantization level for areas with extremes of contrast. Negative strengths yield a finer (lower) quantization, and consequently a higher quality, in areas with high levels of contrast. Positive strengths yield a finer (lower) quantization in areas with low levels of contrast.

Detail AQ Strength
Specifies whether and how much to increase or decrease the quantization level for areas with extremes of detail. Negative strengths yield a finer (lower) quantization, and consequently a higher quality, in areas with low levels of detail. Positive strengths yield a finer (lower) quantization in areas with high levels of detail.

Black normalization level
Improves the appearance of black and very dark areas by mapping colors at or below the specified level to full black (16). This reduces graininess and noise in dark areas