Comments and Questions for RV9

[justin]

I just did a movie Rip in Real Video 9 in EHQ, although it took twice as long to encode as the other MPEG4 codecs would take (aproximately 40 hours vs 19), the quality seemed incredible. I want to state the major difference between RV9 and the other MPEG4 Codecs. RV9's blurring balancing compared to MPEG4: With RV9, static scenes are so detailed (more detailed than MPEG4) while the action scenes become blurry and artifacty despite having the maximum bitrate turned up high. Some balancing there or an option to change the encoding method would be nice so that action scenes seem closely as detailed as static scenes and taking different visual tradeoffs, while making the static scenes suffer a little more in quality. Also, the low motion scenes sometimes blur in the areas you don't want to be blurred, mostly these artifacts are visible on faces on occasion (both white and black people).

Anyway that's my concern with Real Video 9. While it's more detailed than the others, it's also more artifactyish :eek:

Time for a Question: RV9 seems better than MPEG4 for low bitrate situations, that is until H264 encoding methods become mainstream for MPEG 4 codecs. But, if RV9 uses H264 encoding methods in it's codec too, and blurry/static scenes quality improves, will RV9 take over as the best codec?

[Sirber]

Hi

1) There is a new build tuned to improve high bitrate scenes

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=64163

2) RV9 don't use MPEG4 or H264 encoding methods.

[karl_lillevold]

Hi Justin, thanks for your feedback. it sounds like just what you need are the 2-pass VBR improvements to RV9 (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=64163) I just completed. The problem you mention was the main change in this update. These improvements will be included in the next Milestone build, but for now you can get it from the link above. If you do not use this DLL, any change to maxBitrate is more or less ignored, and even high avgBitrate clips, will save too many bits during high action, blurring too much.

In addition to the improved bit allocation, this DLL also provides much more flexibility in terms of analyzing the 2-pass file to see how the codec decided quantizers, and individual scenes can be adjusted, and the 2nd pass repeated. For a long encode, this is not very desirable, but with a fast computer or shorter clips it could be useful. Another very useful tool is D-C's bitrate analysis tool. I wish there was something like that for general AVI files, it would be great for comparisons.

Also, as you can see from the thread above, with this DLL, the maxBitrate provides a way to adjust how constant the quality level turns out, while it does not actually limit the actual max bitrate in either case. A little confusing, but that's how it is. The parameter should really be changed to something like VBR window-size.

between RV9 and the other MPEG4 Codecs
A little clarification: RV9 is not an MPEG-4 class codec.

Hope this helps!

[justin]

it helps, hehe. YAY! well :( encoding again will take another 38 hours

Another nifty feature was added too, the ability to encode 1st and 2nd passes seperately :) Is it also possible to pause/resume encodings in case you have to turn your computer off (or in case your computer freezes or you have to do something else that uses up all the CPU for a bit). Cause that would be neat to have too :p

I predict that Sirber will say: Set producer to IDLE and enjoy your CPU :p

[Sirber]

Set producer to IDLE and enjoy your CPU :p

[justin]

but it can take alot longer though and if your computer freezes or other programs freeze that your running, than it's all over :(

Also, for VP6's sharpness with textures, would real video be able to do that too with textures?

[Sirber]

Editing is your weak point :p

Last edited by justin on 6th November 2003 at 09:40

For VP6 I can't tell, it hasn't worked for me yet.

[ammer]

try Process Explorer from http://www.sysinternals.com/ to pause or "suspend" the encoding. nice little proggie.

[Sirber]

is it freeware? I could include it with SUI...

[ammer]

it's free for home and work use but requires a commercial license for redistribution. sorry