What are your favorite video 'codec killers'/test scenes?

[KpeX]

I'm assuming most forum members, like me, have one or two favorite test scenes that you use for testing a new codec, testing a new version, or whatever other video comparisons you do. We all know Doom9's from the codec comparisons, I'm curious to know what other good scenes are out there that really stress a codec.

I'll start with my personal favorite: Chapter 14 of Mission Impossible 2. The scene starts with a couple helicopter pan shots of an island with a blue sea background and many bright colors, cuts to a helicopter shooting/bridge fight scene with several dramatic, slow motion explosions, and finishes with a fast paced motorcycle chase scene. The scene works very well for testing every facet of a codec's performance.

So what are yours? :)

[dimzon]

"The 10th Kingdom" DVD Serie 3 - 1hr25min duration pal interlaced
It's a REALLY codec killer :)

[mf]

The Excel Saga opening from DVD - super-sharp (well, my filters contribute to that :D), and super-high motion. I haven't tested any codecs with it for 2 years though. Last thing that got tested with it was XviD (api2?) which TOTALLY messed up on this frame (http://mf.onthanet.com/XviD_bug/output.png), and as a result, alas had to lose to DivX3 ;).

[((( atom )))]

i can add a qpel-killer. even when everybody claimed qpel was ok to use, the "ikea-scene" in fightclub never stopped smearing. i stopped using qpel, might even be better nowadays..

[BassPig]

My favorite test scene doesn't come from a movie, but some video that I shot myself of a flock of ducks and geese swimming in a large pond. The agitated water is almost impossible to encode without macroblocks being very evident. Everything is in constant motion and the MPEG encoder has to work the hardest. If this scene can be encoded acceptably, then normal scenes will look great.

[dimitrius]

though I am still waiting for it...

i am gona try every codec i have on the ending of Matrix 3 - when all the squids burst through into the city and also when that rainy scene where neo fights mutated smith at the end. When i was first watching the movie in the cinema i was thinking - how the hell am i gona encode that...

[Doom9]

The end battle of Matrix3 also sparked my interest. Two more: Intro of Austin Powers. With all the bright colors it requires a lot more bitrate than your average movie scene.
And in general underwater shots. Take U751 as an example. When the Germans are dropping waterbombs and you see them exploding near the sub.. that's a real blockfest.

[nFury8]

Originally posted by dimitrius
i am gona try every codec i have on the ending of Matrix 3 - when all the squids burst through into the city...
I agree with you on this one, I would also consider the scene from Jet Li's "Hero" where the two women engage in a swordfight with all the leaves flying around in all that red color theme scene.

[Soulhunter]

For noisy content Ive to remark The 25th hour... :(

PS: I really enjoyed the link in your sign mf !!!


Bye

[mf]

Originally posted by Soulhunter
PS: I really enjoyed the link in your sign mf !!!
Which one?

[Soulhunter]

Originally posted by mf
Which one? Nah, read the line above that... ;)Originally posted by Soulhunter
For noisy content Ive to remark The 25th hour... :(

[mf]

Originally posted by Soulhunter
Nah, read the line above that... ;)
Whoops, missed that :D. Selective vision :p.

[fccHandler]

My favorite codec killer is from a Bollywood film; the song "Chamma Chamma" from the movie "Chinagate." To date, no codec I've tried does a good job with it. :rolleyes:

[DK64_MASTER]

Dude, the source of Chamma Chamma isn't even recorded that well!!

I always see tha song played on Indian Music Television, and the copy they play is horrendous. Heck, my Song DVD copy of it is terrible.

[dvd_master]

R.O.D -THE TV- has a crapload of high motion scenes, some of which are in places with dark colors with very dim lighting (ep26), so I'd use that if I have to.

Excel Saga is a good one. Shoulda thought of that.

[fccHandler]

Originally posted by DK64_MASTER
Dude, the source of Chamma Chamma isn't even recorded that well!!

I always see tha song played on Indian Music Television, and the copy they play is horrendous. Heck, my Song DVD copy of it is terrible.
From what I've seen, those Indian music DVD compilations are not well made. But the source on the "Chinagate" DVD is tons better. Check it out dude. ;)

[mf]

Originally posted by dvd_master
R.O.D -THE TV- has a crapload of high motion scenes, some of which are in places with dark colors with very dim lighting (ep26), so I'd use that if I have to.

Excel Saga is a good one. Shoulda thought of that.
You'd have to get your hands on a DVD source then, cause as far as I've seen the RODTV raws are so messed up on dark areas I invented a special smoothing fix for it for A-Station's encoder who was in the dark(lame pun) about how to fix it.

[DK64_MASTER]

From what I've seen, those Indian music DVD compilations are not well made. But the source on the "Chinagate" DVD is tons better. Check it out dude.

True, true. The movie itself is pretty old. It's not my absolute favorite movie, but I might get it.

[Joe Fenton]

One of the best scenes for stressing a codec is the "red-eye" fight sequence in Cowboy Bebop. Codecs are notorious for having trouble doing red, and it's not only LOTS of red, but very jerky motion thrown in with strange lens effects. RV totally chokes on it. XviD does a decent job.

Make the test a little more fun by doing the whole episode so that you not only do the red-eye fight, but all the hyperspace sequences and the big space pans. Cowboy Bebop episodes contain just about every type of sequence you can think of, usually all in the same episode. :)

[dimitrius]

well, I am a about to try Divx 5.1.1, XVID RC3 and VP6 6.2.0.10 on Spy Kids 3D - Game Over, the actual 3D version for which you need glasses. I wonder how that will work out.