Nero's PSP Encoding

[GM006]

Well, it's a LOT better than Sony's joke of an encoder, ImageConverter. But it doesn't do better than PSPVideo9/XviD. Recode, for some reason, adds black borders, crop doesn't work nor does the thumbnail selection. The bitrate is locked to 768. Overall, it was disappointing. Picture was ok, but like I said, XviD is still better. I'll try and upload some files for people who have a PSP so they can look for themselves.

[Elias]

Originally posted by GM006
The bitrate is locked to 768. Overall, it was disappointing. XviD is still better.Please do that. And XviD is the best :) One question though, I'm going to buy a PSP soon, so I wonder if it can play 48khz aac? I noticed that the Nero PSP encoder couldn't go beyond 24khz, and that Sony's PSP samples all had 24khz... seems kind of shitty imo if the PSP can't play mp4 files with higher sample rate than that.

[GM006]

The PSP AAC Audio frequency can't be greater than 24khz. Honestly you can't really hear the difference. My Matrix encode sounds really good and looks great.

Oh yeah Recode also only encodes at 320x240 and 160x112. 320x240 is not the ideal resolution for 16x9 content IMO. Especially since Recode adds black borders to it instead of squishing it like mpeg2 encoders. Oh well. Maybe on the next update it'll have more freedom and not so locked up like Sony's ImageConverter.

[plonk420]

how about enabling the "hacked" header mode availible in FFMPEG/PSPVideo9 (allowing up to ~1500kbps)? that would really be nice...

also, there's no 368x308 mode? i haven't loaded it yet...

[GM006]

Nope. There are only 2 possible resolution sizes - 320x240 & 160x112. 1500 is a bit high for a movie. I personally set mine to 1300 max - with audio set to 80. This prevents the PSP from choking on fast moving frames and frames that have lots of detail (ie the far shot in Dodgeball when the team wins and all the confety falls from the ceiling or Neo Vs Smith in Matrix Revolutions). Recode is a waste of time if your're trying to encode for PSP. Until Nero unlocks the bitrate and can change the resolution, there is no need to upgrade Recode (in terms of PSP Encoding).

[Elias]

GM006: do you know perhaps what bond is talking about in this thread? http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=91165 Something about that the PSP requires special information placed in the mp4 file?

[plonk420]

GM006, there IS a 368x308 (just not in Nero Recode, i guess), and it looks pretty darn good. i encode all of my widescreen stuff at that bitrate.

also, i haven't done anything with high motion to really say how it does at 1500kbps (that's i've watched all the way thru and closely) but that's one of the two settings in PSPVideo9.


changing the subject, it's interesting to see how Sony and the Devs have gotten around the slowness of certain colors (but not using them in games)... the musicvideos "Simply Being Loved" by BT and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" show off the laggyness of red quite well, as does the PSP ep of South Park, ironically.

[GM006]

There are a few resolution sizes. And when I said that there wasn't, I was referring to Recode. If I remember correctly, there are about 10 different resolutions that PSP Supports. PSPVideo9/FFMPEG/XviD, whatever you wish to call it is the best encoder out so far. Nero's does a good job given the bitrate lock though. Try any of the 3 Matrix films and you'll notice that the PSP chokes on fast moving/highly detailed frames. Can get annoying at times but you eventually get used it.

Bond was referring to the headers of the .MP4 file. Sony, was, I guess trying, to lock people out of encoding onto Memory Sticks using any program they chose. Nero (before the current release) didn't modify the headers of the file and therefore the PSP refused to play it. PSPVideo9 and current version of Recode add the correct headers (well Recode actually writes compliant streams without the use of the "hack"). PSPVideo9 allows you to use the max bitrate for the PSP memory stick and multiple resolutions depending on your taste. Now its time for bed.

[Elias]

Originally posted by GM006
Bond was referring to the headers of the .MP4 file. Sony, was, I guess trying, to lock people out of encoding onto Memory Sticks using any program they chose. Nero (before the current release) didn't modify the headers of the file and therefore the PSP refused to play it. PSPVideo9 and current version of Recode add the correct headers (well Recode actually writes compliant streams without the use of the "hack"). PSPVideo9 allows you to use the max bitrate for the PSP memory stick and multiple resolutions depending on your taste. Now its time for bed. Well, that was a stupid (and I really mean stupid) move of Sony. This "hack" only destroys the awesome interoperability that *.mp4 has. I hope that they'll release a new firmware upgrade for the PSP so we don't need this "hack." Seriously, what's the point with it? If more programs can create PSP *.mp4 videos, that's just better for Sony because more people can create videos for their hardware. Once again: STUPID!

[GM006]

Not quite stupid. Sony wants to sell their UMD Movie discs to consumers. But if consumers own the real DVDs and can make it so they can play the movies back on a memory stick, then that'll mean no sales for their UMDs. Upgrading their firmware won't do much. Sony is trying to keep people from encoding video to memory sticks. However, once again, Sony has failed. And I don't see too many people buying UMDs either, especialy if they own the REAL DVD. Another Sony product (UMD Movies) is going to bite the dust. Just like their Betamax from the late 70s-80's, their minidisc, digital walkman, SACD, atrac3 player, the list goes on and on when it comes to failed Sony products...

[Elias]

Originally posted by GM006
Not quite stupid. Sony wants to sell their UMD Movie discs to consumers. But if consumers own the real DVDs and can make it so they can play the movies back on a memory stick, then that'll mean no sales for their UMDs. Upgrading their firmware won't do much. Sony is trying to keep people from encoding video to memory sticks. However, once again, Sony has failed. And I don't see too many people buying UMDs either, especialy if they own the REAL DVD. Another Sony product (UMD Movies) is going to bite the dust. Just like their Betamax from the late 70s-80's, their minidisc, digital walkman, SACD, atrac3 player, the list goes on and on when it comes to failed Sony products... I doubt that the UMD will be a failure. It all depends on how well the PSP sells, and I believe that the PSP will be a tremendous success. As for selling movies, well, most people just don't have time to learn how to encode, and above all, the money to buy a 1 GB Memory Stick Duo Pro.

[MSlv]

MiniDisc is not a failure! I have one at home (pretty old SHARP model, about 3-4 years old). The music quality is great, it even has optical input! It's better than a CD player, as it's ultra compact and the discs are cased, so no worry for dust or any sort of damage.

Anyway, I have my doubts about UMD movies. Of course only the richest will buy the movies again on UMD, and I doubt those who bought a PSP don't have a DVD player... Memory Stick to the rescue! Thanks to it, you can see your favorite movies (which you should already be owning on DVD) on the PSP too! Too bad you can't use full 480x272 with memory stick-movies... But it's still better than spending 15$ on a DVD. Plus, you can always delete the current movie and copy a new one on the stick! It's so much better than a UMD. But of course, if you like something so much, you could buy the UMD version, if you fell you must have it...

So Sony nearly blew it... again...

[Elias]

I think it's too early to judge out the UMD movie format. Either way, UMD isn't a failure because of the games. One thing that the movie companies should do though is to add an UMD version of the movie with the DVD package.

[plonk420]

i wouldn't spend more than $4-5 on a UMD movie... i'm waiting out the current movies i want to buy on DVD until Blu-Ray or HD DVD comes out. HD is soooo damn sekzi...

[GM006]

I never said UMD would fail. The format is great, but UMD Movies, I think will fail. Now, MiniDisc didn't do as well as Sony had hoped for. They may be good players, but so was Betamax. Betamax was better quality than VHS, but still lost the fight. MiniDisc is "better" than CD players... but it I still see more CDs than MiniDiscs... and more CD Players than MiniDisc Players... IF Sony were to allow users to burn UMDs, then we'd be getting somewhere. Until then, the movies, I don't think will do too well.

[plonk420]

Originally posted by GM006
I never said UMD would fail. The format is great, but UMD Movies, I think will fail. Now, MiniDisc didn't do as well as Sony had hoped for. They may be good players, but so was Betamax. Betamax was better quality than VHS, but still lost the fight. MiniDisc is "better" than CD players... but it I still see more CDs than MiniDiscs... and more CD Players than MiniDisc Players... IF Sony were to allow users to burn UMDs, then we'd be getting somewhere. Until then, the movies, I don't think will do too well.

er, how is it better than cd players? maybe in size and re-recorability and scratch resistance, yes, but not in sound quality...