Nero Recode

[agressiv]

Single Pass AVC gave the correct file size for me on a full-length movie. Its just the two-pass that is causing the oversize.

YMMV

agressiv

[sjchmura]

Yeah, short stuff is fine but 2-pass is broken

So the "leaked" version did not have these problems - amazing.

Again, can't nero let the people with legit product keys that encode alot of stuff test this before release?

I am also a bit shocked thast recode (nor Nerovision) allows importing AC3 or MKV. I thought it would be great to encode AC3 files from dvd concert tracks (U2 Live in 2005 is a great DVD - was at thast concert in chicago btw

[DarkZell666]

Well, I'm doing a test encode right now, and I must say I'm not very impressed by the speed ...

I'm on a 2Ghz P4, with good quality ram.
Encoding an anime episode, downsized to 512*384 (with no filtering at all), using the Cinema AVC profile with maxref=3, maxbframes=3, all encoding tools enabled, and default "quality" setting (the slider) :
1st Pass : 45fps (I said w00t at first ...)
2nd Pass : 5fps ... way behind x264, sorry.

Audio target is HE-AAC/64kbps/32000Hz.

I've been victim of the oversize problem too on another test I did yesterday, asking for a 60Mb episode gave me a 190MB episode ... wow !

Edit :Ok, the encode I was trying to do failed : the encoding progress stalled half an hour after the beginning of the 2nd pass.
In fact, it stalled when my expected 60MB were reached, and wouldn't encode further (I checked the filesize with F5 every now-and-again).
I let it run an extra 30minutes just to be sure and indeed the filesize hadn't changed.

Edit2 : Was using Nero Recode 2.3.1.8 (the one available in Nero7's update I downloaded yesterday).

[Skuto]

Originally Posted by DarkZell666

maxref=3

That just makes the encoder assslow without any quality gain. Use maxref=1.

[DarkZell666]

Originally Posted by Skuto

That just makes the encoder assslow without any quality gain. Use maxref=1.

It isn't the case with x264 anyway, using maxref 4 or 5 gives me like 8-10fps on second pass with similar settings.

Thx, will try (if nero stops stalling once past target filesize ... xD)

[sjchmura]

Deblocking Strenght: Negative values are less deblocking (with 0 being the default) I presume??? This would be similar to x264. THe default is -2

[dvd_maniac]

Maybe it's just me but I tried a comparison between this version of Recode and X264 using Staxrip. Both using 1-pass.
I left all the settings at default except for audio which i put to 40kbps and ref frames to 5. In Staxrip I used 512x384 on a Smallville 43 minute episode and it came out to 159MB and looked pretty good 7.5 out of 10.
I then tried a 1-pass in Recode with the same file and put the filesize to 159 using Standard AVC, 40kbps audio, Ref Frames 2. The crop was the same but Recode's resolution was 400x304. Now I figure that if both programs are using the same filesize on the same video using pretty comparable codecs and settings would have comparable results. But I would rate the 1-Pass Recode at a 5.

[ChronoCross]

Originally Posted by Skuto

That just makes the encoder assslow without any quality gain. Use maxref=1.

yeah umm wrong.

[sjchmura]

ChronoCross - can you explain this???? Why at any decent bitrate will a higher maxref matter? I thought it was only relevant at lower bitrates?

[ChronoCross]

it can and does make a difference. Just look at some of the SSIM and PSNR tests that have been done. It may have less of effect on higher bitrates but the quality gain is still noticeable.

[DarkZell666]

Well, I've resorted to 1-pass.

Same source, 512*384, with a destination bitrate of 290kbps and maxed out settings (Cinema AVC profile, extra quality, 3refs, 3bframes, all encoding tools enabled) : a solid 9.8fps. No miracle but not too bad (Still on the same 2ghz P4).

[ChronoCross]

There is no lossless as well ( I thought perhaps one pass with max and min QP of 0 would have the intended effect, no such luck)

So as a recap:
No Lossless
No Interlaced (mbaff, paff, pure interlaced)
Disabling bframes is broken
AQ barely functions
No FGM
2-pass Target bitrate is broken

The only bonus is speed seems to have increased other than that it seems nero's High profile encoder is a lemon.

PS: 1000 posts w00t!

[Kostarum Rex Persia]

Some guys have some doubts about High profile, as well.

It wouldn't be surprise if someone discover that Nero H.264 doesn't have High profile at all.

Very very buggy encoder. Unfortunately. I have high hopes, but...

[DarkZell666]

As long as there's the 8x8 transform they can call it HighProfile ... sad but true ...
And 8x8 transform is there (at least the checkbox is there for it xD). So it's HP, that's all there is to it

[Kostarum Rex Persia]

Yes, but question is how much Nero High profile is good, or better then High profile in x264 codec.

We will see what DmitryV2 H.264 codec test will show.

[Skuto]

Originally Posted by ChronoCross

It may have less of effect on higher bitrates but the quality gain is still noticeable.

Visibly, or just in the metrics?

I might be wrong, but my impression was that maxref != 1 was essentially not worth the disproportionate increase in time.

[ChronoCross]

Originally Posted by Skuto

Visibly, or just in the metrics?

I might be wrong, but my impression was that maxref != 1 was essentially not worth the disproportionate increase in time.

both.

[sjchmura]

Wow, this is TRUE target bug:

Source was 1080i 3.6GB 42 minutes BSG episode ->720p
ENcoded the whole thing to a target of 1/4DVDR (1.1gig)
2-pass AVC High porfile

My final was 9GIGS - BIGGER then the original

[JohnV]

We'll fix this as soon as possible, but the problem is in the low-level encoder implementation. Looks like a recent update to the Ateme AVC codec which was put to the release compilation was buggy unfortunately. We are waiting for Ateme at the moment.
I'll let you know when more information is available.

[Student Driver]

Wow, thanks.

BTW, any luck on getting the bigger video sizes onto the iPod?