What x264 settings should I use for encoding desktop recorded source?

[slipknot!]

I'm going to record a VOD of me playing online poker. Looks like this:
http://i023.radikal.ru/1212/f7/2ba1d136ba8at.jpg (http://i023.radikal.ru/1212/f7/2ba1d136ba8a.png)
I'm going to record it 10 fps RGBA, but it only records 8bit for some reason. What settings should I change in default x264 profile considering the source type (8 bit, low fps, 960x704 resolution, not much action going on)? Or maybe I should let it upscale to 24bpp? Bitraite of 300-400 kbps would be more than enough I think.

I have an overclocked i5 2500k (4 cores, 4700 mhz each), so CPU heavy encoding settings are ok.

[Dark Shikari]

Lossless mode will probably work really well here.

[slipknot!]

will it be upscaled to 24bit?

[poisondeathray]

will it be upscaled to 24bit?

24bit or 24bpp (bits per pixel) for RGB implies 8bit Red, 8bit Green + 8bit Blue = 24 . This is known as "8 bit video"

24bpc (bits per channel) implies 24bit Red, 24bit Green, 24bit blue = 72 . Not supported by x264 or AVC specs

RGBA is probably useless in your case, because you are not using alpha channel (R+B+G+A = 32bpp)

[slipknot!]

24bit or 24bpp (bits per pixel) for RGB implies 8bit Red, 8bit Green + 8bit Blue = 24 . This is known as "8 bit video"

24bpc (bits per channel) implies 24bit Red, 24bit Green, 24bit blue = 72 . Not supported by x264 or AVC specs

RGBA is probably useless in your case, because you are not using alpha channel (R+B+G+A = 32bpp)So my RGBA 8 bit video is 32 bpp, but alpha channel is always at 0 transparency and costs 1/4 size of the whole video? And x264 converts it to RGB 24 bit (8 bit per each color)?
I would use a different codec, but the software I'm using has only this RGBA. The best codec in this case would be just RGB lossless, right?

[poisondeathray]

So my RGBA 8 bit video is 32 bpp, but alpha channel is always at 0 transparency and costs 1/4 size of the whole video? And x264 converts it to RGB 24 bit (8 bit per each color)?
I would use a different codec, but the software I'm using has only this RGBA. The best codec in this case would be just RGB lossless, right?


yes, if you're using uncompressed video that' s true. Many people use a losslessly compressed video format and the ratio would be different. Alpha is useful for other things like compositing applications, graphics, etc.. But eitherway the point is it still costs something and is a waste since it's not being used in your project .

Yes, x264 doesn't support alpha channel, its going to be discarded anyway. AFAIK h.264 the spec doesn't support it either

[slipknot!]

cool
what you think about the bitrate? Would 300 kbps be enough for 10 fps 960x704?

[kypec]

cool
what you think about the bitrate? Would 300 kbps be enough for 10 fps 960x704?

I'd say 300kbps for your resolution & framerate is pretty generous, given the static nature of gameplay. I've converted my complete DVD collection of Peppa Pig cartoons at 320kbps with --tune animation and the result looks transparent to me on my 40" Samsung LED panel. ;)

[slipknot!]

megui won't index RGBA source:
http://s017.radikal.ru/i417/1212/e6/5df418bb12b9.png
any ideas?
Maybe I should try a different software to record which has its own RGB lossless codec. Total Recorder is the one I'm using.

[poisondeathray]

What format and container is it? use mediainfo (view=>text) . If it's AVI, use AVISource()

[poisondeathray]

Other recording software you could try : camstudio (free) , camtasia, fraps, dxtory...

[slipknot!]

What format and container is it? use mediainfo (view=>text) . If it's AVI, use AVISource()yes, it's in AVI container, thanks! AVISource() worked:AVISource("video.avi")
ConvertToYV12()thanks :cool:Other recording software you could try : camstudio (free) , camtasia, fraps, dxtory...I've tried camstudio, but there was no lossless codec:
http://s017.radikal.ru/i429/1212/85/c55f55862bce.png
It didn't even detect its own default CamStudio codec, which is strange. So I gave up on them.
fraps is only for DirectX AFAIK
camtasia is like $200 or something :eek:
dxtory same as fraps, it's even it the title, you see? :D

[poisondeathray]

yes, it's in AVI container, thanks! AVISource() worked:AVISource("video.avi")
ConvertToYV12()thanks :cool:I've tried camstudio, but there was no lossless codec:


When you use ConvertToYV12() , it's no longer RGB - it's YUV subsampled 4:2:0 - maybe that's what you wanted ?

Camstudio relies on system installed VFW codecs. So if you installed something like UT Video Codec, or lagarith it would show up . You have nothing installed, so nothing shows up. (I think those in your screenshot are bundled with windows install)

[slipknot!]

When you use ConvertToYV12() , it's no longer RGB - it's YUV subsampled 4:2:0 - maybe that's what you wanted?megui adds ConvertToYV12() to every script before encoding, I can't remove it

[poisondeathray]

megui adds ConvertToYV12() to every script before encoding, I can't remove it

Huh? You can edit the script with megui

Or don' t even use megui to generate the script. All you need is 1 line AVISource()

[slipknot!]

Huh? You can edit the script with megui

Or don' t even use megui to generate the script. All you need is 1 line AVISource()no I make the script by myself, but when I choose the script as video source megui adds this line.

[poisondeathray]

but did you specify --output-csp ? it defaults to i420 (yv12 equivalent in avisynth)

http://mewiki.project357.com/wiki/X264_Settings#output-csp

[slipknot!]

but did you specify --output-csp ? it defaults to i420 (yv12 equivalent in avisynth)

http://mewiki.project357.com/wiki/X264_Settings#output-cspit didn't change anything, x264 settings I'm using:
http://s018.radikal.ru/i505/1212/81/fb2bae63f459.png
it still defaults to yv12 and video quality sux(
I compared my resulted video to and old VOD from 2008 and its quality is way higher than mine.
Old 2008 183 kbps VOD:
http://s020.radikal.ru/i710/1212/78/fcc9af40b0d7t.jpg (http://s020.radikal.ru/i710/1212/78/fcc9af40b0d7.bmp)
New 2012 500 kbps VOD (I did crop it to mod16):
http://s60.radikal.ru/i170/1212/e5/91bd30a49b90t.jpg (http://s60.radikal.ru/i170/1212/e5/91bd30a49b90.bmp)
Source:
http://s018.radikal.ru/i524/1212/76/546e020513b0t.jpg (http://s018.radikal.ru/i524/1212/76/546e020513b0.bmp)

You see, green is not green anymore, colors became darker.

[slipknot!]

Mediainfo report:
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L5.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 5 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 1h 4mn
Bit rate : 181 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 3 650 Kbps
Width : 1 368 pixels
Height : 972 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 1.407
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 15.000 fps
Color space : YUV
Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0
Bit depth : 8 bits
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.009
Stream size : 83.2 MiB (78%)
Writing library : x264 core 60
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:-2:-1 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=esa / subme=7 / brdo=1 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / chroma_qp_offset=0 / threads=12 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / mbaff=0 / bframes=5 / b_pyramid=1 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / wpredb=1 / bime=1 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40(pre) / rc=crf / crf=20.0 / rceq='blurCplx^(1-qComp)' / qcomp=1.00 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / pb_ratio=1.30 / aq=2:1.00
Encoded date : UTC 2008-09-08 05:28:18
Tagged date : UTC 2008-09-08 05:28:25
http://s017.radikal.ru/i420/1212/53/ea3af176f997.png

[poisondeathray]

not sure - I don't really use megui anymore

maybe the x264 binary it uses doesn't have support for other colorspaces ?

can you post the log file? or try asking in the megui thread

[slipknot!]

can you post the log file?you mean like this?

[poisondeathray]

Attachments can take a few days for approval. If you post to something like mediafire.com or sendspace.com someone can look at it faster

Eitherway - just encoding with a x264.exe binary works fine, confirmed RGB, so it must be an issue somewhere in megui - the log file should provide more info

[chainring]

If you're still on the hunt for this, give Blueberry Flashback Express a try for the screen recording. It will use any, I believe, Directshow, filters for encoding and it's options are much better than anything else I've tried.

Note: I'm not sure if "filters", as used here is correct.

[poisondeathray]

your log file says you still have ConvertToYV12() in the avs script - take it out

Create a New script with 1 line (AVISource()) in notepad (don't use megui to create the script)

[slipknot!]

your log file says you still have ConvertToYV12() in the avs script - take it out

Create a New script with 1 line (AVISource()) in notepad (don't use megui to create the script)that's my avs script:AVISource("vod2_2.avi")
crop(4, 2, -4, -2)I give it to megui:
http://s42.radikal.ru/i095/1212/5e/73deaeeb372et.jpg (http://s42.radikal.ru/i095/1212/5e/73deaeeb372e.png)
Click "Config" and select these settings:
http://s53.radikal.ru/i140/1212/cb/908376b690b3t.jpg (http://s53.radikal.ru/i140/1212/cb/908376b690b3.png)
Click "Ok", click "Queue" in Megui. And this windows pops out just before encoding starts:
http://i082.radikal.ru/1212/e0/eb6ddb5a68b9.png

[Warperus]

You can try --input-csp rgb

[slipknot!]

You can try --input-csp rgbyou mean here?
http://s019.radikal.ru/i636/1212/a9/b83f60425e90.png
Didn't help(

[slipknot!]

Tried xvid 3000 kbps, colors look same dark and megui still converts to YV12.
Maybe I can convert it without megui?

[Bleck]

you mean here?
http://s019.radikal.ru/i636/1212/a9/b83f60425e90.png
Didn't help(

you should use bgr24 instead, i believe...