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bond
11th August 2005, 13:27
as i found out here (http://www.pspvideo9.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1309) there is now a sony avc encoder tool available called "Image Converter 2 Plus" available on Sony's Store (http://www.jp.sonystyle.com/Nws/Software_dl/Pc/Software/Haa/2105710489100.html)

screenshots and sample files available here (http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20050728/sony.htm)
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20050728/sony4.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20050728/sony1.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20050728/sony2.jpg
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/docs/20050728/sony3.jpg

it seems to be only available in Japan till now (as is the 2.0 firmware of the psp needed for avc playback afaik, not sure)

by analysing the sample files linked to about i found out the following about the encoder:
- it offers the user two avc encoding modes: 768kbps and 384kbps
- the 768 mode outputs H264 Main Profile @ level 2.1
- the 384 mode outputs H264 Main Profile @ level 1.3
- both modes output
- one reference frame (two caused by b-frames)
- one b-frame in a row (not adaptive it seems), the ctts is correct (damn not even apple handled to do that in qt7)
- cabac
- no deblocking
- no weighted (bi)prediction
- access unit delimiters
- buffering period and pic timing SEI
- no reordered frames (b-pyramid)
- no multiple slices
- constant framerate
- both seem to hit the target bitrate pretty accurately
- 320x240 (1:1, no special SAR values defined)
- it outputs .mp4 and seems to use these private uuid atoms too as also the case with mpeg-4 part2 video (private File Brand MSNV)
Scarpad
11th August 2005, 14:42
Both PSP Video 9 and 3GP Converter has also released versions that will do limited AVC conversions. They have not introduced any resolution above 320x240 yet. and the max bitrates are 768k. The files look good considering their size. PSPVideo9 even thou it says it's encoding at 768k seems to be encoding at
368k and the file size bears that out. The files are alot cleaner and clearer than asp files at the same size. Still the clarity is not as good as asp at a higher or variable bitrate. And a properly encoded Xvid still looks better, but the reduced Resolution is the criminal there.
bond
11th August 2005, 15:35
this thread should be about the sony avc encoder only. not the psp or alternative avc encoders
Scarpad
11th August 2005, 15:48
Oops sorry do you know if Sony is going to offer a North American version when they release the 2.0 firmware tommorrow?
bond
11th August 2005, 15:55
Oops sorry do you know if Sony is going to offer a North American version when they release the 2.0 firmware tommorrow?i assume they will do that
AnimeTheme
14th August 2005, 19:15
by analysing the sample files linked to about i found out the following about the encoder:
- it offers the user two avc encoding modes: 768kbps and 384kbps
- the 768 mode outputs H264 Main Profile @ level 2.1
- the 384 mode outputs H264 Main Profile @ level 1.3
- both modes output
- one reference frame (two caused by b-frames)
- one b-frame in a row (not adaptive it seems), the ctts is correct (damn not even apple handled to do that in qt7)
- cabac
- no deblocking
- no weighted (bi)prediction
- access unit delimiters
- buffering period and pic timing SEI
- no reordered frames (b-pyramid)
- no multiple slices
- constant framerate
- both seem to hit the target bitrate pretty accurately
- 320x240 (1:1, no special SAR values defined)
- it outputs .mp4 and seems to use these private uuid atoms too as also the case with mpeg-4 part2 video (private File Brand MSNV)

So you have done a pretty detailed analysis on AVC files produced by the Sony encoder. Movies encoded using IC+ play perfectly on PSP. However, AVC files encoded in x264, while playable on PSP (with the special Sony atoms added), have one strange problem. The last 2 frames just before the next I-frame are NEVER displayed, resulting in observable frame skips (as mentioned here (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?p=698030#post698030)). By looking at the above features for AVC movies encoded using "official" encoder, do you have any idea what the cause of the problem is, and how the problem can be solved?? If this one final problem can be solved, x264 is pretty usable for encoding AVC content for PSP!

Thanks in advance for any info.
bond
14th August 2005, 20:21
what does this have to do with the sony avc encoder?

to answer your question: as you saw in the thread you posted this before either
- noone is getting the same problem as you or
- noone knows what causes it or
- noone knows how to fix it
AnimeTheme
15th August 2005, 07:10
what does this have to do with the sony avc encoder?

to answer your question: as you saw in the thread you posted this before either
- noone is getting the same problem as you or
- noone knows what causes it or
- noone knows how to fix it

This question has nothing directly to do with Sony AVC encoder, but by looking at the AVC features of the movies encoded using this encoder, we may understand the AVC features we should use for other encoders (eg. x264) that may solve the problem and produce movies that play perfectly on PSP. So this question is not totally off topic... I guess (I apologize if you think this is indeed totally off-topic :P ).

I am pretty sure ALL movies encoded in x264 suffer from the same problem, as reported by numerous other users (mainly PSPV9, which is also x264 based). Hopefully we can get a fix soon.