unabled to remove VBV buffer underflow error in x264

[survivant001]

we have a winner

"x264.exe" --pass 2 --bitrate 7304 --stats ".stats" --progress --keyint 14 --min-keyint 2 --bframes 3 --qpmin 7 --qpmax 51 --mixed-refs --trellis 1 --ref 3 --filter 0,0 --subme 6 --direct auto --vbv-bufsize 14745 --vbv-maxrate 30000 --me umh --level 4.1 --weightb --b-rdo --bime --analyse p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,i8x8 --8x8dct --threads 1 --thread-input --aud --nal-hrd --sar 1:1 --me-prepass --qcomp 0.50 --ipratio 1.10 --pbratio 1.10 --no-psnr --output "D:\DVD-convertion\converting\temp\movie.264" "D:\DVD-convertion\converting\temp\movie.avs" -v 2>pass_verbose_050.txt

[Atak_Snajpera]

Why are you so happy ? ( --threads 1 --keyint 14 --min-keyint 2 ... )

[survivant001]

@Atak_Snajpera

why.. because I been able to get it to work. That was the first step.. after that is to be able to get it to work with settings that are more meanfull.

Now I'm trying a test with keyint 24
.

if the vbv buffer can be avoid just by using 1 thread, I'll stick to that until the bug is fix.

I don't need speed, just reability.. I start the encoding at night.. and I'm working all day.. so if I takes 12 hours instead of 8.. fine with me. I just don't want to reencode the movie twice.

and I didn't try to mux it with Scenarist.. will try that later.. hope that all the settings doesn't break the compatibility.

[shon3i]

Why are you so happy ? ( --threads 1 --keyint 14 --min-keyint 2 ... )
--keyint 18 --min-keyint 1 are safer and better compatability with scenarist and hw standalone's.

[Atak_Snajpera]

--level 4.1 --sar 1:1 --aud --nal-hrd --vbv-bufsize 14000 --vbv-maxrate 25000 --filter 0,0 --ref 3 --mixed-refs --bframes 3 --b-rdo --bime --weightb --direct auto --subme 6 --trellis 1 --analyse p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,i8x8 --8x8dct --me umh --threads auto --thread-input --progress --no-psnr --no-ssim --output "video.264"

+ TSRemux BluRay Structure and PS3 plays without any problem. Tested with high bitrates in 1920x1080 :)

[tymoxa]

shon3i
Can you (please) provide an "Ateme digital encoder" profile for Blu-Ray?

[shon3i]

shon3i
Can you (please) provide an "Ateme digital encoder" profile for Blu-Ray?
Here :) (http://tom.niko.users.sbb.co.yu/BluRay.cfx)

[survivant001]

--level 4.1 --sar 1:1 --aud --nal-hrd --vbv-bufsize 14000 --vbv-maxrate 25000 --filter 0,0 --ref 3 --mixed-refs --bframes 3 --b-rdo --bime --weightb --direct auto --subme 6 --trellis 1 --analyse p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,i8x8 --8x8dct --me umh --threads auto --thread-input --progress --no-psnr --no-ssim --output "video.264"

+ TSRemux BluRay Structure and PS3 plays without any problem. Tested with high bitrates in 1920x1080 :)

but your command line doesn't always work :)

ok.. I did a new test.. keyint 25 and it pass.. I 'll use your command line, but with thread 1, if that pass... the problem will be confirm to be in x264 (threading problem)

[survivant001]

with 1 thread.. I been able to encode my movie without error. and no tweaking

"x264.exe" --pass 2 --bitrate 7304 --stats ".stats" --progress --bframes 3 --qpmin 7 --qpmax 51 --mixed-refs --trellis 1 --ref 3 --filter 0,0 --subme 6 --direct auto --vbv-bufsize 14745 --vbv-maxrate 26000 --me umh --level 4.1 --weightb --b-rdo --bime --analyse p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,i8x8 -
-8x8dct --threads 1 --thread-input --aud --nal-hrd --sar 1:1 --me-prepass --output "movie.264" "movie.avs"
avis [info]: 1280x720 @ 23.98 fps (109920 frames)
x264 [info]: using SAR=1/1
x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities: MMX MMXEXT SSE SSE2 SSE3 3DNow!
x264 [info]: slice I:1496 Avg QP: 7.79 size:122392 PSNR Mean Y:60.39 U:63.96
V:64.73 Avg:61.15 Global:59.44
x264 [info]: slice P:82354 Avg QP: 8.19 size: 41625 PSNR Mean Y:55.95 U:58.52
V:59.12 Avg:56.61 Global:54.73
x264 [info]: slice B:26070 Avg QP: 9.25 size: 21212 PSNR Mean Y:54.60 U:57.29
V:57.91 Avg:55.28 Global:54.37
x264 [info]: mb I I16..4: 39.6% 3.5% 57.0%
x264 [info]: mb P I16..4: 9.5% 1.1% 4.5% P16..4: 44.2% 3.8% 3.3% 0.0% 0
.0% skip:33.7%
x264 [info]: mb B I16..4: 1.3% 0.2% 1.4% B16..8: 21.7% 2.2% 3.9% direct:
2.9% skip:66.4%
x264 [info]: 8x8 transform intra:6.7% inter:17.6%
x264 [info]: direct mvs spatial:96.4% temporal:3.6%
x264 [info]: ref P 89.6% 6.6% 3.8%
x264 [info]: ref B 91.7% 8.3%
x264 [info]: SSIM Mean Y:0.9981233
x264 [info]: PSNR Mean Y:55.686 U:58.306 V:58.912 Avg:56.356 Global:54.684 kb/s:
7266.26

encoded 109920 frames, 3.44 fps, 7270.29 kb/s

[Atak_Snajpera]

Mission accomplished survivant001 :)

3.44 fps for one core ... Nice! Let me guess you have CPU@3GHz?

[survivant001]

don't laugh.. :)

I have a AMD 6000+ 64 bit on XP64bit

at first, I used a command line --qcomp 0.50 --ipratio 1.10 --pbratio 1.10.. (it was by error.. I wanted to use the smallest command line possible).. I did 1.9fps with theses setting.. I tough that x264 was stalled.

I hope that we will have a vbv patch for more than 1 thread..

the truth, I,ll continue to use --thread auto.. and when I'll obtain VBV underflow, I will start again with --thread 1

it's the best compromise

[Atak_Snajpera]

and when I'll obtain VBV underflow, I will start again with --thread 1

Is this a problem? Does your PS3 refuse to play movies with that error?

[survivant001]

with a buffer underflow error, I won't be able to mux it in Scenarist or Encore CS3.

I'm confident that it will play if I use tsmuxer. but what I want is to be able to add chapters and subtitle. that'w why I wil use Scenarist and create a AVCHD. (not sure if I can put substitle and chapters in a m2ts without the avchd..just the movie.m2ts file)

[jphan]

whenever I transcoding HD Mpeg files to x264 files with CLI, There is no vbv uderflows in x264 Cli encoder. But if I see these files with Elecard buffer analyser, There are so many bufferunderflows.
What is the main reason?

any help will be appreciated.

[Sagittaire]

whenever I transcoding HD Mpeg files to x264 files with CLI, There is no vbv uderflows in x264 Cli encoder. But if I see these files with Elecard buffer analyser, There are so many bufferunderflows.
What is the main reason?

any help will be appreciated.


- you use crf mode
- you use AQ from Dark Shikari patch
- you use average bitrate close to max bitrate with high qcomp

... etc etc

[jphan]

I did not use crf. and using r721 with AQ_RDRC_0.45 patch + x264_hrd_pulldown.04 (mp4 output, pthreads)-downed at http://www.mediafire.com/?brjqdtu1zy4

--bitrate 5000 --progress --keyint 15 --bframes 3 --qpmin 9 --qpmax 48 --no-psnr no-ssim merange 32 --mixed-refs --trellis 2 --ref 4 --filter 0,0 --subme 7 --direct auto --vbv-bufsize 5000 --vbv-maxrate 5000 --me umh --level 4.1 --weightb --b-rdo --bime --analyse p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,i8x8 --8x8dct --threads auto --thread-input --aud --nal-hrd --qcomp 0.0 --mvrange 512 --ipratio 1.8 --pbratio 1.2 --scenecut -1 --ratetol 0.0


I want to make streamable cbr files for STB network.

[survivant001]

try with thread 1 that fix my problem

[jphan]

I read about "tread" to solve the "underflow". I am using penryn 4core. The transcoding speed will be down. The main problem is that There is no vbv uderflows during transcoding with x264 Cli encoder. But There are so many buffer underflows, If I see that file with elecard buffer analyser.

Is there any difference beween two mechanism of analysing?

[Dark Shikari]

I read about "tread" to solve the "underflow". I am using penryn 4core. The transcoding speed will be down. The main problem is that There is no vbv uderflows during transcoding with x264 Cli encoder. But There are so many buffer underflows, If I see that file with elecard buffer analyser.

Is there any difference beween two mechanism of analysing?Are you sure the Elecard buffer analyzer is using the same buffer size, the same initial buffer occupancy, and the same maxrate?

[jphan]

Shikari....I am sure......

[asarian]

While encoding "The Matrix" (HD DVD, RipBot264), I keep seeing errors like these:

[x264] Warning: VBV underflow (-129124 bits)

So, are these Video Buffer Verifier errors serious? I mean, should I abort the encoding and change a setting? I was told I can pretty much ignore this warning. So, I'll do that.

Still, I wonder whether there's something I can do to avoid it? Seems like it's running out of bitrate somewhere (which, presumably, goes at the expense of quality, right?). I use CQ and a CRF of 18. I also thought you couldn't set a max bitrate of CRF, but then again, I'm very new to all of this, so maybe there's a setting I can crank up anyway. :)

[Dark Shikari]

While encoding "The Matrix" (HD DVD, RipBot264), I keep seeing errors like these:

[x264] Warning: VBV underflow (-129124 bits)

So, are these Video Buffer Verifier errors serious? I mean, should I abort the encoding and change a setting? I was told I can pretty much ignore this warning. So, I'll do that.

Still, I wonder whether there's something I can do to avoid it? Seems like it's running out of bitrate somewhere (which, presumably, goes at the expense of quality, right?). I use CQ and a CRF of 18. I also thought you couldn't set a max bitrate of CRF, but then again, I'm very new to all of this, so maybe there's a setting I can crank up anyway. :)VBV is far more effective and accurate in 2pass mode. If you need to use VBV, I strongly recommend 2pass instead of CRF.

[asarian]

VBV is far more effective and accurate in 2pass mode. If you need to use VBV, I strongly recommend 2pass instead of CRF.

Thanks for your answer.

Well, I don't 'need' VBV per se, it just comes with the way RipBot264 does things when I use CQ and CRF 18. :)

Pardon my daftness in the matter, but I thought CRF would give me the best quality, as opposed to 2-pass; right?

See, what I'd like is the very best quality (as I'm converting VC-1 -> AVC, to make it streamable on my PS3). So, I don't mind filesize. But I still like to get rid over the underflow errors.

So, is there a 2-pass configuration that you can recommend that will give me the same quality as CRF = 18? Or is that simply not achievable?

Thanks.

[Dark Shikari]

Pardon my daftness in the matter, but I thought CRF would give me the best quality, as opposed to 2-pass; right?No, they're basically equivalent.
See, what I'd like is the very best quality (as I'm converting VC-1 -> AVC, to make it streamable on my PS3). So, I don't mind filesize. But I still like to get rid over the underflow errors.

So, is there a 2-pass configuration that you can recommend that will give me the same quality as CRF = 18? Or is that simply not achievable?

Thanks.For streaming, just pick a nice high bitrate and a max bitrate/bufsize that goes with your playback device.