Encoding Tranformers 1080p HDDVD to x264 720p

[Sasovics]

Folks,

I got a Transformers MKV version that is widely available on the net, the 720p x264-iLL version. It is a very good quality encode, so I decided to compare it to mine encodes... unfortunately I never managed to get close to the quality of iLL release.

I managed to get all x264 settings used in that release using avinaptic, even managed to decode the CQM matrix used (it was Prestige btw) however my result is always worse.

I think the guy "Bobby" who encoded the movie, had to use some kind of combination of avs filters as I am using the very same x264 encoder settings and of course the very same source, US retail HDDVD.

I have tried various avs filters, including Sagekilla's TemporalDegrain, FastDegrain, Dark Shikari's GrainOptimizer,
as well the LimitedSharpenFaster alone and many more.

None of them helped to get to the quality of iLL release :(

My encode is smoother (I am somehow loosing details too)
and also my encode features some kind of violet blockiness especially in the dark areas. Also AVInaptic reports High DRF Quality, but Medium DRF for my encodes.

Here are some screenshots and avinaptic results from both clips:

http://www.mediafire.com/?cbdtud9z8jx

(zoom-in the pics to see the anomalies I mentioned above)

FYI- I did not use any filtering in this clip just simple resizing and cropping:

DirectShowSource("Slice.grf", fps=23.976, framecount=165876, audio=false)
Crop(0,144,0,-136)
Spline36resize(1280,536)
Trim(110000,110500)

My x264 settings:

x264 --pass 1 --bitrate 5708 --stats ".stats" --bframes 3 --b-pyramid --direct auto --deblock -6:-6 --subme 1 --analyse none --me dia --threads auto --thread-input --cqmfile "prestige.cfg" --progress --no-psnr --no-ssim -o NUL video.avs

x264 --pass 2 --bitrate 5708 --stats ".stats" --ref 8 --mixed-refs --no-fast-pskip --bframes 3 --b-pyramid --b-rdo --bime --weightb --direct auto --deblock -6:-6 --subme 7 --analyse all --8x8dct --trellis 1 --aq-strength 0.3 --me umh --threads auto --thread-input --cqmfile "prestige.cfg" --progress --no-psnr --no-ssim --output VIDEO.MKV Video.avs



If anybody can give me a hint what I am doing wrong, I'd appreciate it very-very much... as I am already desperate and out of all my options.

[Sagekilla]

Do the following:

Change deblock to -2:-1 (-6:-6 is VERY BAD)
Use --bframes 16 on both passes
Bump up your aq-strength to 0.5
Use another cqm (Like M4G's matrices)
Try crf mode (use 18 - 20) (It doesn't need two pass either)

Try using TD with degrain=1 to reduce the amount of degraining done (and therefore, less details will be lost)

[Sasovics]

Thanks Sagekilla for your quick reply!

I know the -6:-6 is very bad, but according to avinaptic the guys who encoded the iLL release used the very same x264 settings as seen above, that means deblocking of-6:-6 and still his quality is better then mine... and this is the one thing I'd like to understand why :(

[bob0r]

When you are using an AQ x264 build, you can keep deblock filter at the default, especially when you use enough bitrate.

[Sharktooth]

Rule 6 applies...

[Sasovics]

Comon guys!

What are you talkin about ? I am not propagating any groups here,
I dont care about them, neither support them!

All I care about a way how to encode my movie with the same quality, or even better then the sample I have.

I wanted to hear from you a technical advise/answer to my questions above. and I am sure that is not against to rules here!

[Sasovics]

Folks,

I have changed my x264 encoding settings to these:

x264 --pass 1 --bitrate 5708 --stats ".stats" --bframes 3 --b-pyramid --direct auto --deblock -2:-1 --subme 1 --analyse none --me dia --threads auto --thread-input --cqmfile "prestige.cfg" --deadzone-inter 8 --deadzone-intra 4 --progress --no-psnr --no-ssim -o NUL Video.avs

x264 --pass 2 --bitrate 5708 --stats ".stats" --ref 5 --mixed-refs --no-fast-pskip --bframes 3 --b-pyramid --b-rdo --bime --weightb --direct auto --deblock -2:-1 --subme 7 --analyse p8x8,b8x8,i4x4,i8x8 --8x8dct --trellis 0 --aq-strength 0.5 --aq-sensitivity 12 --deadzone-inter 8 --deadzone-intra 4 --me umh --threads auto --thread-input --cqmfile "prestige.cfg" --progress --no-psnr --no-ssim --output VIDEO.MKV Video.avs

Please comment...

[Sagekilla]

Try raising bframes to 16 too! It lets the encoder pick the best number to use.

[pelle412]

@Sasovics:

Have you had any further luck in encoding Transformers?

[Sagittaire]

Try raising bframes to 16 too! It lets the encoder pick the best number to use.

completely useless setting like ref 16, merange 32, esa ... ect. More doesn't mean always better. 3 pyramidal bframes is in practice the best setting for quality and hardware/software compatibility.