What codec do you people use the most?

[Psymaster]

I know this isn't a codec comparison, I just want to see what people use the most, as I have no idea atm. My vote goes to xvid, which is MUCH better than divx5.

[DJ Bobo]

I never understood how to use SBC optimally, so DivX3 was never an option for me.

DivX5 delivers absolutely magnificent quality without having to be a pro. Just enter the correct the correct RC averaging period (half of the number of the frames), set bidirectional encoding if the bitrate is quite low and you'll end up with excellent results. I voted for it.

XviD isn't an option since it has worse quality than DivX5 by equal bitrate (XviD has no bidirectional encoding for example). The second thing is that "it is not DivX" when you understand what I mean. It's kinda "the codec for freaks" or "the codec for people that want to be different". As ogg users (I know, I'm not making friends from the XviD or ogg scene saying this :D)
I don't know where you got your "MUCH better", it's just non sense and pure exageration!

Remains Windows Media. I think I don't have to say any thing about that micro$hit: blurry, isn't suited for subtitled stuff and is a closed standard. I think, that says it all!

[-h]

XviD isn't an option since it has worse quality than DivX5 by equal bitrate (XviD has no bidirectional encoding for example).

They're working well in the dev branch, with smaller sizes and more flexibility than DivX 5 (you can have 8 B-frames in a row if the source allows it, XviD decides dynamically whether it should insert them or not). That's the point of XviD - flexibility.

The second thing is that "it is not DivX" when you understand what I mean.

That's true, it's the same MPEG-4 video, just without the bugs :)

It's kinda "the codec for freaks" or "the codec for people that want to be different".

Or the codec for people who like to be able to customize things. It's like Windows compared to the Mac. (*nix would be MoMuSys in this analogy).

I like DivX and all, there are just too many bugs which have gone uncorrected for too long.

-h

[Psymaster]

XviD isn't an option since it has worse quality than DivX5 by equal bitrate (XviD has no bidirectional encoding for example).

Well, I know it doesn't, but all I care about is whether the movie has better quality in the same filesize, and that's what xvid is giving me, so... b-frames or not, I don't care.

[Teegedeck]

For a good reason, Psymaster asked "What codec do you people use most?" and not "which codec is best". Now, the outcome of this poll really interests me. I guess the number of posts in the XviD-forum is no good indicator for that - with very active people discussing technical questions over there, heh. ;)

BTW, wouldn't this poll have a better place in the 'General'-forum?

[atracus]

sorry guys - why isn't Realvideo9 in the option list? I don't have the feeling that it's not worth mentioning! ;)

[atx]

[WorldBook]

I use SBC. Though I like xvid :)

[manono]

Hi-

I agree that this is a worthwhile poll. I also agree that RV9 should be included. And I also agree that it should be in the General Discussion Forum. If you agree to make those changes Psymaster, let me know here, and I or Acaila will delete this thread after you've started a new poll thread in General Discussion. Is that OK? Can we vote twice?

[Acaila]

1) Polls can be edited by moderators.
2) This thread can be moved to another section and not need to be deleted.

I'll let you do the honors Manono :)
(Just be sure to do #1 before #2)

Ps.
My vote goes to XviD btw.

[Psymaster]

BTW, wouldn't this poll have a better place in the 'General'-forum?

Yes of course, I somehow posted this here even though I wanted to post in General. Silly me...:rolleyes:

***Waits for a mod to move the thread...***

[Psymaster]

Just enter the correct the correct RC averaging period (half of the number of the frames)

I never understood why should it be set at 1/2 frames though... Why not all of them?

[iago]

->XviD isn't an option since it has worse quality than DivX5 by equal bitrate (XviD has no bidirectional encoding for example). The second thing is that "it is not DivX" when you understand what I mean. It's kinda "the codec for freaks" or "the codec for people that want to be different". As ogg users... (DJ Bobo) That's actually the most absurd and ridiculous comment I've come across in the forums for a long time! Yeah, I really mean it :).

iago

[Teegedeck]

...but because DJ Bobo wrote it all in good humour - as he's the helping kinda guy, not the flaming kind - us XviD-fans couldn't by any means find it offending! :)

[Psymaster]

Thanks for adding RV9 there.

Now, could people who vote "other" tell us what is that other? My guess is VP3.

[Wilbert]

I guess I'm the only when who is encoding his analogs caps to DivX4 (and CVD) :)

[iago]

Originally posted by Teegedeck
...but because DJ Bobo wrote it all in good humour - as he's the helping kinda guy, not the flaming kind - us XviD-fans couldn't by any means find it offending! :) @Teegedeck

Yeah, you're absolutely right! Neither could I! :)

iago

[bb]

Originally posted by Wilbert
I guess I'm the only when who is encoding his analogs caps to DivX4
Yes, but why?

bb

[Wilbert]

Yes, but why?

Good question! I'm satisfied with DivX4. I still haven't made my mind up whether I would choose DivX5 or Xvid. But mainly it is just lazyness ...

[theReal]

Well, I should have voted RealVideo9 and not Divx5 because I'm using it more often - but only because I'm encoding one or two Simpsons Episodes (analog captures) per day that look great with RM9 620kbit (including 64kbit audio).

I'm using Divx5 for everything else - I guess I'm not using xvid because I'm lazy and I can achieve good results with Divx5 ;)

[trbarry]

I just started using Xvid because I like the open source and Divx at the time had problems with HDTV resolutions. Then I just got in the habit.

But I didn't realize I was now in the majority.

- Tom

[theReal]

Ugh, XVID is soooo mainstream! LOL ;)

[Psymaster]

Ugh, XVID is soooo mainstream! LOL

Yeah, it sure is! Seems most people use it, hope it gives courage to guys working on it...:)

[Ookami]

Originally posted by Wilbert
I guess I'm the only when who is encoding his analogs caps to DivX4 (and CVD) :)

Guess I'm the only one who converts my caps to MPEG2 (SVCD) :D .

So, I was one of the lost souls who voted "other".

BTW, everyone who's not using a pre-alpha codec is mainstream ;) .

[trbarry]

Whoohoo! Mainstream! I guess now we can all dress alike and hang out together.

Nobody ever let me do that before. ;)

[sung] I'm in with the in crowd .....[/fade]

Anyway, now I am happy.

Good work Xvid guys. Last week I had a brief fling with WME9, but it didn't work out, so I'm back.

- Tom

[TheUnforgiven]

XviD
i like sharpness and tweaking

[WorldBook]

I must say I am astonsihed at the popularity of the xvid codec. I have to give it a try :D But that involves overcoming a lot of laziness :p

[Psymaster]

I must say I am astonsihed at the popularity of the xvid codec. I have to give it a try But that involves overcoming a lot of laziness

No man, not at all, you can stick with the defaults or change them just a little bit and it will come out good eventually; you can always keep the first pass stats and go for another second one if you don't like what you have.

[cypher_soundz]

At the mo' im using Divx5 just because i feel it works , using Xvid i found it to be kinda divx3 "like" , but im talking from 1 experience with it , after my upgrade i will decide, as hopefully my encoding time on average will be ~2-3hours(2-pass) :D

[Psymaster]

my encoding time on average will be ~2-3hours(2-pass)

With my crappy computer, I get a full 2-pass in 6 hours (100 min movie).

[Koepi]

Am I the only one who is guaranteed to need ~5-6hours for a hundred minutes movie.... for one pass?

:)

Regards,
Koepi

[cypher_soundz]

At the mo' ive got 650mhz duron, Vanilla sky (PAL) & Beautiful mind (PAL) both took me 12 hours :( but on average for 2pass( < 2hour long movie) its normally ~8 hours . Roll on 2200 AMD XP and 512 400mhz DDR RAM! :D

[Teegedeck]

Koepi, I'm currently doing a first pass on a 40-minutes-video (b-frames activated) and it's taking me 4 hours... Hope this is a bit of a comfort for you.:)

[cult]

I got a celeron@1Ghz and 256ram.Curently encoding the lost worild(the bbs film),2h 25min,temporalsoften (2,3,3),BicubicResize(640,352,0,0.75),cpu=6,lumoff=-2),qpel activated-1pass aprox.9h.
Then I am gonna test bframes.

[twistee]

I use DivX5, I used to use Xvid, but every now and then i would have an iddue with it, and i have a slow computer so i dont have time to do it again. I used to use SBC heaps, but when divx5 came out i went to that (after using xvid for a bit).

[SatStorm]

I only use XviD. It is free, supports interlace like a charm and I get very good quality by capturing @ realtime.
XviD is for the true enthusiasts IMO.

[Belgabor]

Originally posted by Koepi
Am I the only one who is guaranteed to need ~5-6hours for a hundred minutes movie.... for one pass?


Have you ever tried transcoding to HuffYUV and working from there? Gave me a significant speed up. On the other hand I was working with a tv cap & heavy filtering/deinterlacing, so it might not pay off for DVD backup.

Cheers
Belgabor

[Koepi]

Well, for HUFFYUV my 20GB HD is simply too small (lots of installation-software etc around there, I can free up to 15GB max. - so for TV caps I have to use MJPEG ;) )

Regards,
Koepi

[ungeraynrand]

i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i si shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do
i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do

i think when you state codec preference you should first build a profile of the sort of videophile you are.

for example:

ME:
- prefers sharper pictures
- not bothered by large number of cds. 2cd , 3cd.
- bothered by smoothness

based on these criteria, i use SBC coupled with mpeg4v2. now its true that mpeg4v2 is blockier than divx3 at lower bitrates ,but perhaps sharper at higher bitrates.

i wish divx5 would give you the option (a la xvid) of selecting mpeg-like quantizers (so it wouldn't be so smooth).

so all the differnt codecs are really just a different compromise of
smoothness/sharpness/block

[Ookami]

@ungeraynrand

What was that about? Humour? Two or three "i shall not feel ashame for feeling as i do" would've been enough.

Please, refrain from such redundant and unuseful sentences in the future. Thanks.

And as for your "preferences", you haven't said anything! Encodings depends on so much things that saying what codec you use alone doesn't say a thing!

Cheers,

Mijo.

[diji1]

Hi - Well, I still prefer DivX 3.11 myself - it still seems more "crystal clear" to me than anything else, tho of course it is horses for courses.
Even tho i can't be bothered to try out this idea i always think that different codecs suit different material better. RV9 seems to produce better results with anime for ( an extreme ) example.

I'll hang my head in shame with you people that are moaning about encoding times: i encoded Akira: Special Edition with rather heavy filter settings and waited ~72 hours on my rather humble Duron@918, 512 sdram ... for 1 (one) pass. hehe, they were the days ...

[Neo Neko]

Originally posted by trbarry
Whoohoo! Mainstream! I guess now we can all dress alike and hang out together.

Nobody ever let me do that before. ;)
- Tom

You don't type/code in the buff already? That is the official uniform no?

[Sven Bent]

Maybe put FU on the poll ?

I'm not using it because i think its the best.
but is's so god damn userfriendly

[abo_alkeem]

i was happy with xvid
and now with B-frames and Qpel
waaaaaaaaaaaw

[wing1]

xvid -> the one! B4 that mpeg4VKI => xvid is much much better. Qpel + mpeg custom matrix can't be touch. 2CD's make happy encoder (me).