Problem with x264 encoding for Blu-ray

[colinhunt]

Hello gents,

I hope someone here can help me with this. I'm having trouble creating Blu-ray compatible .264 streams with x264(-64.exe). The resulting disc plays nicely on software players and on every standalone player I tested it on - except on PlayStation 3 and 4. On those playback stutters and jerks, like the stream is missing half its frames.

My source is a 1080p/24.00fps ProRes 4:2:2 file. Here's the pass 1 command line I used:

x264-64 --demuxer lavf --fps 24 --bluray-compat --preset veryslow --open-gop --bitrate 24000 --aud --nal-hrd vbr --level 4.1 --keyint 24 --sar 1:1 --b-pyramid strict --slices 4 --vbv-bufsize 30000 --vbv-maxrate 35000 --pass 1 -o VERYSLOW35MB_OUT.264 prores_feature.mov

I read on x264 wiki that "--b-pyramid strict" enforces restrictions imposed by the Blu-ray standard... but looking at BD-Rebuilder's LASTCMD.TXT I noticed this: "--b-pyramid none".

Other parameters used by BD-RB not present in my command are:
--weightp 1
--b-adapt 1
--pic-struct
--min-keyint 1

I also noticed that by omitting "--ref 4" the encoder seems to have used only 3 reference frames. MediaInfo reports 3 refs in Format settings, even though 4 refs are mentioned under encoder settings.

What I'd like to know:

1) What's the deal with --b-pyramid; "strict" or "none" for Blu-ray compatibility?
2) Which parameteres do I need to add to ensure proper playback on BD players, PlayStations included?
3) Does the order of parameters make a difference; i.e. should "--bluray-compat" be one of the first or one of the last parameters in the command?


I'm ever so grateful for any help and assistance you see fit to provide.

[Asmodian]

Have you already looked at www.x264bluray.com (http://www.x264bluray.com/)?

x264 --bitrate XXXXX --preset veryslow --tune film --bluray-compat --vbv-maxrate 40000 --vbv-bufsize 30000 --level 4.1 --keyint 24 --open-gop --slices 4 --colorprim "bt709" --transfer "bt709" --colormatrix "bt709" --sar 1:1 --pass 1 -o out.264 input.file

x264 --bitrate XXXXX --preset veryslow --tune film --bluray-compat --vbv-maxrate 40000 --vbv-bufsize 30000 --level 4.1 --keyint 24 --open-gop --slices 4 --colorprim "bt709" --transfer "bt709" --colormatrix "bt709" --sar 1:1 --pass 2 -o out.264 input.file

parameters are order agnostic, order does not matter.

[Sharc]

I think to remember that playstations have issues with --b-byramid; hence it had to be set to none.

[colinhunt]

Have you already looked at www.x264bluray.com (http://www.x264bluray.com/)?
That was new to me; thanks!

parameters are order agnostic, order does not matter.
What happens if I have a parameter that conflicts with --bluray-compat? Which parameter "wins"?

[colinhunt]

I think to remember that playstations have issues with --b-byramid; hence it had to be set to none.
That's very good to know, thank you.

I ran another encode last night:

x264-64 --bitrate 24000 --preset veryslow --bluray-compat --ref 4 --tune grain --direct auto --b-adapt 1 --demuxer lavf --fps 24 --b-pyramid none --weightp 1 --open-gop --qpmin=0 --aud --nal-hrd vbr --pic-struct --vbv-bufsize 30000 --keyint 24 --min-keyint 1 --vbv-maxrate 35000 --threads auto --level 4.1 --slices 4 --thread-input --colorprim "bt709" --transfer "bt709" --colormatrix "bt709" --sar 1:1 --pass 1 -o V3_BDRBpars_OUT.264 source.mov

Will find out shortly if this one works any better. Fingers crossed :)

[sneaker_ger]

The PS3 is a fully fledged Blu-Ray player. It can't be broken with b-pyramid in general, lots of commercial Blu-Rays would fail. Could as well be a muxing problem (though disabling b-pyramid or bframes could be a workaround for a broken muxer).

[Ghitulescu]

I think to remember that playstations have issues with --b-byramid; hence it had to be set to none.

All BD-players may have a problem with b-pyramids. In particular the older ones, with less memory on board. Newer ones might play such a stream, but it's a bonus (like playing back DivX) because the BD specs also limit the b-pyramids to a max. number, according to the chosen profile.

[colinhunt]

Last night's encode plays properly on PS3. Didn't have time to test on PS4 yet.

I was wondering about b-pyramid and all those thousands of commercial releases also; are they all encoded without b-pyramid for PlayStation compatibility?

The muxer I use has been used by studios on commercial releases so I doubt that's the issue. Can't be 100% sure about that, of course.

[sneaker_ger]

Old version of Sony Blu-Print?

[colinhunt]

Old version of Sony Blu-Print?
Blu-Disc Studio which uses DVDLogic's muxer.

[Sharc]

Any evidence of commercial BDs using in fact b-pyramids?

[bigotti5]

BD Standard allows only one B frame as ref
So if you use b-pyramid you have to use --b-pyramid strict

[nixo]

I think it could well be a muxer issue:
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=1540116#post1540116

Better use "none", I'd think. Also, there are certainly commercial BD's using the exact settings from http://www.x264bluray.com.

--
Nikolaj

[colinhunt]

I think it could well be a muxer issue
Yes, it is. I just got confirmation from DVD Logic; their muxer has a problem with b-pyramids. Bad news for me, but it's good to know where the problem was, regardless.

Thank you very much indeed to all who took time to reply & comment.

[iSeries]

This issue has been present for quite a while:

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=160682&page=8