Is it possible to get xvid to make the output file with the extension .mp4?

[Sgt_Strider]

I remember reading something about the .avi file doesn't handle b-frames well or something like that. Maybe I'm wrong about it but I would like to know. I was wondering if its possible to get xvid to output a file with the extension .mp4. Thx

[Doom9]

I remember reading something about the .avi file doesn't handle b-frames well or something like thatnow that's a case of not having spent enough time searching. you're not even sure. AVI is perfectly okay and will do the job just fine (why the heck do you think it's still the most used format). You also obviously don't follow the news because I've just recently updated the mp4 creation guide and mentioned that fact in the news. And there's a big thread about mp4 creation in the new a/v formats section.

[symonjfox]

Originally posted by Sgt_Strider
I remember reading something about the .avi file doesn't handle b-frames well or something like that. Maybe I'm wrong about it but I would like to know. I was wondering if its possible to get xvid to output a file with the extension .mp4. Thx I understood what you're saying.

Yes, me too, I'd like to see a kind of Virtual Dub Mod that ouptuts also directly in MP4, but I think it won't append because of MPEG 4 patents and those things. Wait Nero Digital, it will support MPEG 4.

Maybe in the next future, it will append that some software will support MPEG 4 natively (as they does with MPEG 1 or 2). I really think that Matroska will be used most (yes, for PC use) and MPEG 4 just for standalone.

As Doom sayd B-frames is NOT a problem, if you can play it, it works ;)

[temporance]

mp4 has native handling of b-frames (it's a hack in AVI).
mp4 has proper support for VBR mp3 (it's an even worse hack in AVI).
mp4 can support variable frame rate encodings (e.g. 24,30fps material)
mp4 can do all sorts of compositing, 3D effects, subtitles, interactivity, chapters, etc. etc. etc........

But most software that supports mp4 is of the 'professional' variety, i.e. unlikely to be on doom9's site. You could have a look at the latest tools from MPEG4IP, though.

EDIT: don't worry about patents when thinking of .mp4 files, it's a red herring. If you worried about patents, you wouldn't touch xvid!!

[ChristianHJW]

Originally posted by symonjfox Yes, me too, I'd like to see a kind of Virtual Dub Mod that ouptuts also directly in MP4, but I think it won't append because of MPEG 4 patents and those things. Wait Nero Digital, it will support MPEG 4.
IMHO its just a matter of time until there will be freeware tools to make and edit MP4 files, but unfortunately the Quicktime container ( = MP4 ) was not really designed to be edited in first instance, a bit similar to Ogg and the old MPEG container. Maybe this is keeping OSS developers from implementing it.
Maybe in the next future, it will happen that some software will support MPEG 4 natively (as they does with MPEG 1 or 2). I really think that Matroska will be used most (yes, for PC use) and MPEG 4 just for standalone.
Its good to have fans :D , thansk for kind words ! Next gens DVD players will be based on a µC version of Linux, all major Japanese manufacturers have anounced that, so we will maybe even have some matroska support on standalones one day, but of course only for some models and very limited, thats why we plan to make hardware profiles also once matroska is more established :)
As Doom said, B-frames is NOT a problem, if you can play it, it works ;)
Well, the current solution in AVI works, but is ugly and not future proof. And there are more things to come for MPEG4, mainly h.264 ( NALUs and stuff ), latest then good old AVI has to be finally dismissed ;) ....

Originally posted by temporance mp4 has native handling of b-frames (it's a hack in AVI).
mp4 has proper support for VBR mp3 (it's an even worse hack in AVI).
mp4 can support variable frame rate encodings (e.g. 24,30fps material)
mp4 can do all sorts of compositing, 3D effects, subtitles, interactivity, chapters, etc. etc. etc........
Yes, MP4 was nice ... i just wonder why the MPEG4IP project develops so slowly ? Maybe its not so easy to handle, the good old MOV container ....
But most software that supports mp4 is of the 'professional' variety, i.e. unlikely to be on doom9's site. You could have a look at the latest tools from MPEG4IP, though.
I did, and i couldnt find any tool to really edit MP4 files. Compare that and the size of the dev team they have to the small team we are. and see what Cyrius has done with libmatroska in VdubMod in less than a month !!!
matroska is designed to be edited, and that will make it be widely accepted in the end, especially in the opensource scene. Its not well suited for streaming, but it can be streamed if the users wants to, even using RTP/UDP. The strong side is video editing and advanced storage container features, the very good acceptance of the users here does prove that IMHO.
EDIT: don't worry about patents when thinking of .mp4 files, it's a red herring. If you worried about patents, you wouldn't touch xvid!!
I am not so sure about the patent covering the 'atoms', even if you keep telling me its not a problem. But, unless somebody ( Avery ? ) decides to add MP4 support to a freeware video editor, its hypothetic to discuss maybe ...

[philippas]

I am not so sure about the patent covering the 'atoms', even if you keep telling me its not a problem. But, unless somebody ( Avery ? ) decides to add MP4 support to a freeware video editor, its hypothetic to discuss maybe ...

Well Avery doesn't touch mpeg-2 because of the patents thus it won't do anything with mpeg-4 also.
On the other hand virtualdubMod developers might ?

[Sgt_Strider]

Originally posted by temporance
mp4 has native handling of b-frames (it's a hack in AVI).
mp4 has proper support for VBR mp3 (it's an even worse hack in AVI).
mp4 can support variable frame rate encodings (e.g. 24,30fps material)
mp4 can do all sorts of compositing, 3D effects, subtitles, interactivity, chapters, etc. etc. etc........

But most software that supports mp4 is of the 'professional' variety, i.e. unlikely to be on doom9's site. You could have a look at the latest tools from MPEG4IP, though.

EDIT: don't worry about patents when thinking of .mp4 files, it's a red herring. If you worried about patents, you wouldn't touch xvid!!

If its all a hack in .avi, will it affect quality?

[TelemachusMH]

The file will playback just fine. You might get sync problems with vbr mp3 audio, but it's not a big problem. These are 'hacks' because they are not offically supported in the avi specs. People have been using these for quite a while now, and there are very few problems with it.

TelemachusMH

[ChristianHJW]

Originally posted by TelemachusMH and there are very few problems with it. TelemachusMH
I dare to deny that. You obviously have never been working as mod on a Newbie's place. VBR MP3 is the worst thing to be done from this point, many 'normal' users who dont have the skills of the people reading here are driven crazy by the fact that no normal video editing tool can handle it correctly ...

[zulu]

Originally posted by TelemachusMH
People have been using these for quite a while now, and there are very few problems with it.

..and IIRC, for proper vbr playback the FhG mp3 codec (hacked by radium, shipping with divx3) must be installed on your system.

[Doom9]

@zulu: that's definitely not the case. I never install the radium codec, I use the windows supplied one which works just fine.

@chris: but I thought we were talking from an application point of view.. not a stupid user point of view. VBR MP3 and B frames in AVIs work just fine, it only gets problematic when people don't follow the guides and that's a general problem.

[zulu]

@zulu: that's definitely not the case. I never install the radium codec, I use the windows supplied one which works just fine.

ok, so i didn't remember correctly :D