XViD Interlaced Material Reported Progressive - Standalone Playback Problem

[nbarzgar]

Hello everyone,

I have got some XViD .avi-files, which are reported as being "progressive" by GSpot as well as MPEG4Modifier, but when I use Avisynth-test with AssumeTFF/BFF and SeparateFields and step through the movie, it is quite obviously interlaced, the field order being "TFF".

On my computer this is no real problem of course, but my standalone (mpeg4-certified) does get the field order wrong sometimes, sometimes not - resulting in jerky motion. :mad: It's like a lottery: might or might not play correctly. I found some awkward work-arounds in skipping to the setup-menu and back and the like, but of course I'd prefer a proper solution.

My question: since the file is reported "progressive" by MPEG4Modifier (which would let you set the field order...) as well as by GSpot, is there any other way of setting the file's flag without re-encoding? :confused:

I tested files I captured from an anlogue TV-card, with XViD and the encoder set to "interlaced". This file is reported correctly by MPEG4Modifier as being "interlaced" and my standalone as well presents no jerky playback problem.
:thanks:

[Comatose]

Try MPEG4 Modifier from http://moitah.net/
I don't think it'll let you flag it as interlaced as it's grayed out in the screenshot. There might be a way to force it or something, though, so...

[nbarzgar]

Thanks for the answer, but my point is:

I have captured test-files from analogue source with XViD set to 'interlaced'. They show up in MPEG4Modifier (s.a.) accordingly, the "field order"-tab is NOT greyed out...

Whereas with the problematic files, that tab IS greyed out...

It follows that I would need some other app to get the flags of the problematic files changed WITHOUT re-encoding... :) ...if possible!

Thanks for any help!

[setarip_old]

@nbarzgar

Hi!I have got some XViD .avi-files, which are reported as being "progressive" by GSpot as well as MPEG4Modifier, but when I use Avisynth-test with AssumeTFF/BFF and SeparateFields and step through the movie, it is quite obviously interlacedIs the original source material (from which you created the problematic .AVIs) progressive or interlaced?



I have captured test-files from analogue source with XViD set to 'interlaced'. They show up in MPEG4Modifier (s.a.) accordingly, the "field order"-tab is NOT greyed out...

Whereas with the problematic files, that tab IS greyed out...What software and procedures did you use to create the problematic .AVIs?

[henryho_hk]

Interlaced materials can be encoded (incorrectly) in progressive mode. I am afraid that you would need to re-encode them in interlaced mode. Yet, the quality would be pretty bad. I suggest you to ask your friends to encode the clips again in interlaced mode.

[nbarzgar]

@henryho_hk
Well, exactly what I was afraid of - that I'd have to re-encode...

@setarip_old
I'd love to do that, but these files are not quite new anymore, I can't reach the person I got them from at the moment. :(

[squid_80]

As you've already figured, re-encoding is the only way to change a progressive encoded stream to interlaced. The field order is just a flag (that's why mpeg4modifier allows you to change it) but it's only present in interlaced streams.

[nbarzgar]

Well, here comes another question:

I've started some tests re-encoding, weighing speed against quality, so to speek.

Note: GSpot never yet reported any difference concerning interlaced/progressive material in mpeg4 (XViD, DiVX, NeroDigital).
Does it show these values for mpeg2 only?

I tried KMPlayer's "Media-Info", it reports interlaced/progressive correctly and during playback does also not de-interlace automatically, so I see the 'scan-lines' on the computer screen.

My tests so far:
1. Used Nero Recode, deactivated "De-interlace", but in KMplayer the footage is recorded as "progressive"..., otherwise output is alright; although the difference to the original is slight, it's noticable yet... :( But it was rather fast (about 21.25 fps, file is 25 fps). Since I set the desired file-size, it resized the file, and I would rather turn that off next time, make it faster that way...and keep some quality ;)

2. Used VirtualDub v 1.8.1 and DiVX, HomeTheater Profile, bitrate set, one-pass, "Keep interlaced" activated (translating from German version, might be called something else in English) and this also was rather slow, practically the same as XViD.

3. VDub again and XViD, set to one-pass quantizer (at 2.5), interlaced encoding, no QPel, etc., but this was rather slow, about 14.25 fps average.
But the quality looks the best to me of the three, a bit crisper, sharper and the colours look less washed-out (perhabs slight differences only, some people might not notice it anyway, but I care about these....).

EDIT: Got a Pentium 4, 1.8 Ghz, 512 MB RAM, not the fastest these days, but still... :) EDIT

So does anyone have an idea how I could speed things up a bit with XViD? (I adjusted the Advanced Simple@L0-profile)

[henryho_hk]

Have you really given GSpot a truly-interlace-encoded XviD?

[nbarzgar]

As I stated above, I have captured with my ATI All-in-Wonder X800 and VDub, used XViD as compressor, set to "interlaced encoding".
The AviSynth-test (s.a.) shows it to be truly interlaced, yet GSpot (v2.60 pß02 and v2.70a) doesn't report that fact. Neither is the 'progressive'-box active.
So it doesn't tell us anything about the nature of the file in this respect....(see attachment) :rolleyes:

EDIT: Sorry, this post contains the wrong sreenshot, I added the correct one below! EDIT

[nbarzgar]

Correct screenshot:

http://www.barzgaran.de/imgs/GSpot_Bsp.jpg

[henryho_hk]

Sorry, I dun have much experience on GSpot. Since all those boxes are dimmed, perhaps it does not detect these stuffs for MPEG4. What does MPEG4Modifier4 say?

[nbarzgar]

@henryho_hk
Well...I think it might be fine, if you just read my posts..?
No offence, but I am typing/posting like hell over here and all the questions I anticipated and answered, are asked all over again. So why am I doing it...:cool:

Now, again:
1. I always use the test with AviSynth to make sure, that I am dealing with truly interlaced material.

2. I use MPEG4Modifier (and at first GSpot as well) to get a report about the 'flag' of the file and found out in the process that apparently GSpot does not report the nature of any mpeg4-file in respect of its being interlaced or progressive. (s.a., correct me if I am wrong.)

3. I stated that I have captured with my ATI All-in-Wonder from analogue source and set XViD to "interlaced encoding", so it is - also with AviSynth-test - apparent that in that case I have got truly interlaced material.

Concerning the solution I found:
I remembered about ATI's Multimedia Center software containing its "Library", which includes the possibility to export (i.e. encode) to numerous formats (either with given or self-created template). I ran a test with one of the files.
- Speed is fine on my system (Pentium 4, 1.8 Ghz, 512 MB RAM, Windows XP Pro), about 1.5x-2x realtime.
- The quality is excellent and the files are reported correctly as interlaced. (You may choose between "interlaced" and "progressive" encoding in the export dialogue).

These re-encoded files play just fine on my standalone!

Thanks for all the help! :D