x264 detail around faces?

[vb41480]

Hello,

I'm currently working on an x264 script to create h264/aac flv files. My target output bitrate is 500k with 128k audio. Things are looking good, the only issue is that I'm seeing a bit of fuzziness around people's faces, and would like to see if there is a way to sharpen that up a bit? I've used the same settings in mpegstreamclip (allows a bit more tweaking) and the results were more in line with what I'm trying to achieve. When I use ffmpeg however it seems that its not quite as sharp in detailed areas. Any ideas on where to look to improve details in faces, etc? Thanks for any help in advance!

[Dark Shikari]

Hello,

I'm currently working on an x264 script to create h264/aac flv files. My target output bitrate is 500k with 128k audio. Things are looking good, the only issue is that I'm seeing a bit of fuzziness around people's faces, and would like to see if there is a way to sharpen that up a bit? I've used the same settings in mpegstreamclip (allows a bit more tweaking) and the results were more in line with what I'm trying to achieve. When I use ffmpeg however it seems that its not quite as sharp in detailed areas. Any ideas on where to look to improve details in faces, etc? Thanks for any help in advance!So you're complaining about the fact that the settings you've used in ffmpeg don't give you as good results as the settings you used somewhere else.

But you didn't post the settings.

Are we expected to be psychic here?

[video_magic]

Have a look at this page, and perhaps particularly at the deblock option. This can help with preserving detail rather than 'smoothing' ...if used correctly.
http://mewiki.project357.com/wiki/X264_Settings#deblock

This is for the x264 command line.

[vb41480]

Thanks for the responses, here are the current settings that I'm using. Thanks again!

ffmpeg -i foo.mov -an -vcodec libx264 -s 640x368 -aspect 16:9 -b 500000 -bt 10000 -bf 16 -refs 16 -g 250 -pass 1 -f mp4 -y /dev/null

ffmpeg -i foo.mov -acodec libfaac -ab 128000 -ar 44100 -ac 2 -vcodec libx264 -s 640x368 -aspect 16:9 -b 500000 -bt 10000 -me_method full -coder 1 -directpred auto -trellis 2 -threads 0 -sc_threshold 40 -qdiff 4 -bf 16 -g 250 -b_strategy 2 -partitions +partp8x8+parti4x4+partb8x8+parti8x8+partp4x4 -refs 16 -subq 9 -me_range 16 -qcomp 0.6 -flags2 +wpred+bpyramid+mixed_refs+dct8x8 -flags2 -fastpskip -flags +loop -deblockalpha 0 -deblockbeta 0 -pass 2 -f flv foo.flv

[Dark Shikari]

Thanks for the responses, here are the current settings that I'm using. Thanks again!

ffmpeg -i foo.mov -an -vcodec libx264 -s 640x368 -aspect 16:9 -b 500000 -bt 10000 -bf 16 -refs 16 -g 250 -pass 1 -f mp4 -y /dev/nullThe fact that this commandline even runs means that your ffmpeg is years too old. Update to the latest ffmpeg+x264 and follow the guide (http://rob.opendot.cl/index.php/useful-stuff/ffmpeg-x264-encoding-guide/).

[vb41480]

You were right in that the latest version breaks some of the defaults. Any idea which settings are no longer valid?

[Dark Shikari]

You were right in that the latest version breaks some of the defaults. Any idea which settings are no longer valid?Read the encoding guide ( http://bit.ly/lOcLb).

[vb41480]

Just wanted to thank you guys for the help, turns out it was referencing an old ffmpeg install from macports, I 86ed that and now that its calling the correct version things are looking much better.