x265 - interlaced mode

[mparade]

@jdobbs

I have just noticed that with x265 one can enable "interlaced mode" by using the --interlaceMode parameter. In this case "fields must be provided to the encoder, in the correct temporal order" and "the source dimensions must be field dimensions and the FPS must be in units of fields per second". I think it means a SeparateFields() at the end of the script for x265's --interlaceMode to work properly.

It came to my mind because it seems I am going to use x265 with ARCHIVE MODE for my BD collection including a lot of interlaced extras and I did not know before that x265 handles interlaced sources differently from x264...But I think it is not any new for you.

[jdobbs]

As a note, the next release of BD-RB will include a bug-fix related to X265 encoding and interlaced sources. The version of avs2yuv included with prior releases could crash when attempting to encode interlaced content. I've replaced it with a newer one. If you're planning to do ARCHIVE backups of interlaced sources in HEVC format, I'd suggest you google a source and download the 0.24bm3 version of AVS2YUV and replace the one in BD-RB's TOOLS folder in the interim. If you can't find it, I can upload it on my server for you.

[mparade]

As a note, the next release of BD-RB will include a bug-fix related to X265 encoding and interlaced sources. The version of avs2yuv included with prior releases could crash when attempting to encode interlaced content. I've replaced it with a newer one. If you're planning to do ARCHIVE backups of interlaced sources in HEVC format, I'd suggest you google a source and download the 0.24bm3 version of AVS2YUV and replace the one in BD-RB's TOOLS folder in the interim. If you can't find it, I can upload it on my server for you.

I found it and replaced the old one, thank you very much!
Anyway, have you tried to play your x265 encoded "ARCHIVE MODE backups" with some player that is currently available?

[jdobbs]

No hardware player that I know of. Media Player Classic will play the M2TS files. But for the most part the x265 mode is just for archiving. You can archive it (using much less space) and then use BD-RB to convert back to AVC/AC3 at some point in the future.

But, for future reference, HEVC (x265) has already been announced to be supported in future players that are 4K compatible. I would suspect that the HEVC backups will be playable as-is when that becomes standard, but I'm not sure about AAC. I'm also not positive whether the stream ID that TSMUXER uses for HEVC and AAC will match the ones to be outlined in the standard. If not, it's a simple fix that might take 5 minutes or less per archive to correct.

[mparade]

No hardware player that I know of. Media Player Classic will play the M2TS files. But for the most part the x265 mode is just for archiving. You can archive it (using much less space) and then use BD-RB to convert back to AVC/AC3 at some point in the future.

But, for future reference, HEVC (x265) has already been announced to be supported in future players that are 4K compatible. I would suspect that the HEVC backups will be playable as-is when that becomes standard, but I'm not sure about AAC. I'm also not positive whether the stream ID that TSMUXER uses for HEVC and AAC will match the ones to be outlined in the standard. If not, it's a simple fix that might take 5 minutes or less per archive to correct.

I check the "Media Markt" close to my living area what kind of UHD players are currently available.It is strange that in the internet there is still nearly nothing about the new UHD BD standard, however it seems players are already available for sales.

[jdobbs]

I've looked around and haven't seen any yet. It seems that the extent of 4k you can get is streaming or players that do upscaling of 1080p content.

[mparade]

I've looked around and haven't seen any yet. It seems that the extent of 4k you can get is streaming or players that do upscaling of 1080p content.

I asked the representative of a big reseller company in my country half an hour ago and they do not have even any information when the first UHD BD player will arrive at the shelves. But I have found this in the internet as the first UHD BD player:

http://www.samsung.com/us/video/home-audio/UBD-K8500/ZA

Inspite of that it is in "coming soon" status, a user manual can be downloaded. From this it is not so clear for me at all what will be squarely supported (perhaps because the content of the UHD standard is still keeps changing).

[jdobbs]

I asked the representative of a big reseller company in my country half an hour ago and they do not have even any information when the first UHD BD player will arrive at the shelves. But I have found this in the internet as the first UHD BD player:

http://www.samsung.com/us/video/home-audio/UBD-K8500/ZA

Inspite of that it is in "coming soon" status, a user manual can be downloaded. From this it is not so clear for me at all what will be squarely supported (perhaps because the content of the UHD standard is still keeps changing).Interesting that it has a built in HEVC decoder, and it supports playback in MKV, MP4, etc. -- but I couldn't find anything in the manual about playback from BD format.

[sneaker_ger]

Interesting that it has a built in HEVC decoder
Not that surprising since HEVC was the codec chosen for UltraHD BluRay, i.e. it's mandatory for any such player.

About HEVC interlaced encoding: none of the common software players (MPC-HC, VLC) seem to be able to play it back correctly. If you can play it seemingly correct it means you are not encoding it properly. I would not use it. HEVC does not even have efficient coding modes like H.264 had (MBAFF).

[jdobbs]

Not that surprising since HEVC was the codec chosen for UltraHD BluRay, i.e. it's mandatory for any such player.Read the rest of my sentence...

[mparade]

Interesting that it has a built in HEVC decoder, and it supports playback in MKV, MP4, etc. -- but I couldn't find anything in the manual about playback from BD format.

I can get such a player for testing the ARCHIVEs but only in April. In my country there is one month delay in release compared to the U.S. (in the U.S. the release date is this month).

[LowDead]

The Samsung UBD-K8500 is released 22nd of April here in Sweden. Probably the same date for rest of europe. The US have it already..

[jdobbs]

It will probably be a while before I get anything like that -- as BD-RB doesn't have a way of reimbursing me for expenses anymore.