FreeEnc updated

[freelock7]

FreeEnc0.31 (28/11/2004) !
Some new features:

- Bitrate Graph now scrools while file is encoded
- New dummy options -qlb -noqlb to allow use with QuEnc/NuEnc compatible apps
- Fixed(?) the random "Could not open libavcodec MPEG2." message
- New amazing Icon by pizzic@to
- top_field_first added to INI settings
- new modified libavcodec

Downloaded at:
http://www.vmesquita.com/en/index.htm

You know I like this freeware. I don't know why... Maybe for its flexibility and its speed-CCE doesn't run faster!
This thread arrive so late because I had to do some test before posting my first conclusion.
Since I use this new version of Freeenc, I do not have any more problem of reading by the DVD player.
So, I think VMesquita did a good update of its freeware!

Have to test again but the result is very full of promise!
-To avoid high bitrate peak set it at 7000 (max).
-Always disable treillis (can cause macroblocks)
It also produces high quality at low bitrate ( Notch matrix or Cymat 1.2 are great).


I Just used these Tools:

-DGIndex
-Avisynth2.55
-IfoEdit0.971
All tests and reports are very appreciated!

[manolito]

I totally agree: FreeEnc 0.31 is my favorite libavcodec based encoder at the moment. I mainly use it together with DVD2SVCD for ultra low bitrate conversions to SVCD or CVD. The quality looks a little better than with QuEnc (matching parameters as closely as possible), and FreeEnc is also a good deal faster.

The default template has a tendency to undersize (buffer underruns), but the "Incredible_KDVD" template always hits the desired target size right on the spot. For very low bitrates I prefer the "Jawor 1CD" matrix over the default "Notch KVCD" matrix, and increasing the GOP size from 15 to 24 also helps compressibility.

Another strong point of FreeEnc is the user interface. It combines ease of use (by keeping the GUI simple and uncluttered) with powerful tweaking options (by using a template file where a power user can manipulate everything). Compatibility with QuEnc by simply accepting dummy parameters from the command line also is very elegant. (Peter Cheat - are you listening?)


Of course I also have a short wish list for future versions:

It would be nice to have the matrix selection separate from the template file. Maybe a separate "Matrix.ini" file like in DVD2SVCD plus a matrix selection box in the GUI.

And I really miss a short reference about what all the parameters in the template files actually do. The libavcodec documentation on sourceforge is not too helpful IMHO.


Cheers
manolito

[Socio]

I have been testing it out and if I do one pass it is ok but if I set it to do two passes I will get the "Could not open libavcodec MPEG2." message half way through first pass.

It said the issue was fixed in the readme but does not seem to be.

[freelock7]

@Manolito
Thanks for detailled review.
The incredible_KDVD is in fact the <notch> matrix in QuEnc.
To use in 1pass >4500kbs.
In 2pass<4500kbs to avoid pixels in high motion scene.
@Socio
Strange!
If 1Pass is working, 2Pass has to work too!
I read that Win98 don't work with FreeEnc(?).
Mine is: ATHLON1800Ghz/WINXP without SP2
What is your OS?

[Inc]

Beside some other tweaks I did lower the lmin in the ini file which in its default value caused often the targets to mismatch the wanted final sizes. Also I switched Scenechangedetection off IIRC.

[freelock7]

QLB template

Some minor changes (based on the VMesquita incredible KVCD template):

-added the famous QLB matrix used in QuEnc0.59
-scenechange threshold=1
It can detect the scene change with more versatility (chapter for example)
-scplx_mask (spacial complexity masking)
default=0.3 (0.0-1.0)
"larger values help against blockiness, if no deblocking filter is used
for decoding."
(from export ffmpeg documentation).
It enhances the global quality in a frame by reducing block noise.

Produces great results similar to QuEnc0.59B2 encoded picture.

QLB.ini
--------------------------
[libavcodec]
gop_size=15
max_qdiff=3
max_b_frames=2
qcompress=0.5
mb_qmin=1
mb_qmax=31
pre_me=2
rc_eq=tex
lmin=0.3
lmax=31
qmin=1
qmax=15
qblur=0.0
spatial_cplx_masking=0.7
strict_std_compliance=-1
me_pre_cmp=2
rc_qsquish=1.0
rc_buffer_aggressivity=1.0
bit_rate_tolerance=8000000
mb_decision=0
b_quant_factor=1.25
b_quant_offset=1.25
i_quant_factor=0.8
i_quant_offset=0.0
rc_strategy=2
b_frame_strategy=0
luma_elim_threshold=0
chroma_elim_threshold=0
rc_qmod_amp=0
rc_qmod_freq=0
dct_algo=0
lumi_masking=0.0
dark_masking=0.0
temporal_cplx_masking= 0.0
naq=0
prediction_method=0
me_cmp=0
pre_dia_size=0
dia_size=0
trell=0
me_range=0
intra_quant_bias=96
inter_quant_bias=0
coder_type=0
context_model=0
cbp=0
mv0=0
inter_threshold=0
scenechange_threshold=1
intra_matrix=8,16,19,22,26,27,29,34,16,16,22,24,27,29,34,37,19,22,26,27,29,34,37,39,22,22,26,27,29,34,38,42,22,26,27,29,32,36,40,50,26,27,29,32,36,40,50,61,26,27,29,35,40,50,59,73,27,29,35,40,50,59,73,87
inter_matrix=16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,25,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,26,19,20,21,22,23,24,26,28,20,21,22,23,25,26,28,29,21,22,23,24,26,28,29,31,22,23,24,26,28,29,31,32,23,24,25,28,29,31,32,34
vbv=112
mpeg_quant=0
idct_algo=0
dct_algo=0
p_masking=0
me_method=4
rc_override_count=0
mb_cmp=0
me_sub_cmp=0
mb_decision=0
last_predictor_count=0
me_subpel_quality=8
rc_min_rate = 0
top_field_first=1
--------------------------

[dragongodz]

added the famous QLB matrix
its famous ??????

[freelock7]

Yes! I like it for these reasons:

1-I don't need more compression at all if you're working between 2500-6000kbs!
MPEG2 specifications don't like compression.
If somebody try to have a good matrix for this job, it's a waste of time. I advise him to use MPEG4!
Very soon (for the money), the layer break DVD will offer dual capacity. So, why more compression?
2-Quantization level is very good with any underflow (you know the freeEnc underquantization problem).
3-Great picture quality.

[dragongodz]

i am glad you like it. i just had not realised it was famous(except maybe for QuEnc). :)

[freelock7]

i just had not realised it was famous(except maybe for QuEnc).

it's a joke?

[dragongodz]

it's a joke?
just a small one. :D

[Amnon82]

@Freelock:

i just had not realised it was famous(except maybe for QuEnc).

The matrix must be very famous! I found it as one of the default-matrices of HCEncoder (Also my Autoq#2, the one You like so very much is one of them) ;)

[manolito]

@Freelock

I got one question about the scplx_mask value which you changed from 0.3 to 0.7. I've read a few times that the sane range for this parameter goes up to 0.5. Any idea what kind of adverse effects you get when you go above this value?

Anyway, for my ultra low bitrate SVCD encodes FreeEnc with a slightly modified "Incredible_KDVD" template (GOP 24, Amnon's AutoQ2 matrix)is still my favorite encoder. The only way to get a slightly better quality is to use the HC encoder with the highest quality setting (*PROFILE BEST). The penalty you pay is a 50% higher encoding time.

Cheers
manolito

[freelock7]

@Amnon
Ok.I'll try QLB with HC to give you my feeling about it.
@Manolito
Working in DVD MPEG2 can support 24 GOP?

[manolito]

Originally posted by freelock7

@Manolito
Working in DVD MPEG2 can support 24 GOP?
A GOP length of 24 is an old trick from the KVCD people to improve compressibility. AFAIK the TMPGEnc guys even recommend it officially. I've never tried it with DVDs (because I do not own a DVD burner), but with SVCDs there never was a problem. All standalone players I tried swallowed the SVCDs without a single hickup.

Cheers
manolito

[dragongodz]

AFAIK the TMPGEnc guys even recommend it officially.
i would like to know where this comes from. i have never seen any official words of support for breaking specs. the standard templates for vcd/svcd/dvd with Tmpgenc certainly do not break specs that way.

I've never tried it with DVDs (because I do not own a DVD burner), but with SVCDs there never was a problem. All standalone players I tried swallowed the SVCDs without a single hickup.
a lot of modern dvd players(especially cheaper brands) should be able to play them true. its wrong to believe that every dvd player will though since it is out of dvd and svcd specs. infact going from memory kvcd website used to have a list of what players did and what players didnt work with their templates, and yes there was players listed that didnt.

The matrix must be very famous! I found it as one of the default-matrices of HCEncoder
ah yes. so now we have QuEnc, NuEnc and HC all having QLB as part of their default matrices list. and now thanks to freelock7 a QLB template for Freeenc aswell. wow it is starting to get around i guess. :)

[manolito]

Originally posted by lithoc
Something I forgot to put, I always encode my video with GOP size to 24(or follow the FPS of the video).
It play well on my DVD player. Even TMPGENC encourage to have larger GOP.
I think my information came from this post from the QuEnc thread.
Of course you are right that breaking specs is something you should do only if you know what you are doing, but then again there are a lot of specs that simply make no sense (like SVCD audio sample rate has to be 44.1 kHz). For very low bitrate encodes a larger GOP size really gives me better quality, and as long as I do not have to guarantee that this SVCD will play on every standalone ever made, I cannot see why I shouldn't use it.

Cheers
manolito

[dragongodz]

I think my information came from this post from the QuEnc thread.
ah ok. but larger doesnt mean out of spec. i would have to go and find the whole section thats talked about to see if thtas what lithoc was saying.

there are a lot of specs that simply make no sense (like SVCD audio sample rate has to be 44.1 kHz)
yes they may appear to make no sense and yes sometimes they dont. other times you have to remember when these were done and what hardware limits there was at the time etc. S(uper)VCD grew out of VCD for example so the audio being 44.1khz came from there, so that makes sense for example. :)

as long as I do not have to guarantee that this SVCD will play on every standalone ever made, I cannot see why I shouldn't use it.
nobody said you should not use it if you choose to. however recomending it and not giving a warning that ,it plays fine on yours but since its outside of specs there is no guarentee it will on someone elses, is another thing. such warning should be always given right away for any setting or change that breaks specifications IMHO.

[freelock7]

@Manolito
spatial_cplx_masking works like some spatial smoother filters.
"They can smooth out noise very well, but overly aggressive settings for them can cause a loss of detail" (avisynth doc).
You're right: adequate setting (by default) can be adjusted if your source don't need it!
@Amnon
QLB matrix HC picture:
Picture seems to be a little more agressive (sharpen edges) than Libavcodec encoders (smoother) but with a little bit grain-with good sources you don't see it.
QLB matrix CCE2.67 picture:
Looks great with low pass filter enabled.