Preferred encoding settings

[yoko]

I noticed that lb keeps the width 720p, squeezes the height to 384p and uses 2000 Kbps video bitrate:

Code: Select all

General
Complete name                  : The Space Children 1958 isoRip loverboy.mp4
Format                         : MPEG-4
Format profile                 : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID                       : mp42
File size                      : 1 020 MiB
Duration                       : 1h 5mn
Overall bit rate               : 2 162 Kbps
Encoded date                   : UTC 2013-02-17 07:19:40
Tagged date                    : UTC 2013-02-17 08:08:22
Writing application            : HandBrake 0.9.8 2012071700

Video
ID                             : 1
Format                         : AVC
Format/Info                    : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                 : Main@L3.0
Format settings, CABAC         : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames      : 4 frames
Codec ID                       : avc1
Codec ID/Info                  : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                       : 1h 5mn
Bit rate mode                  : Variable
Bit rate                       : 2 000 Kbps
Width                          : 720 pixels
Height                         : 384 pixels
Display aspect ratio           : 1.875
Frame rate mode                : Variable
Frame rate                     : 25.000 fps
Minimum frame rate             : 8.333 fps
Maximum frame rate             : 25.000 fps
Color space                    : YUV
Chroma subsampling             : 4:2:0
Bit depth                      : 8 bits
Scan type                      : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)             : 0.289
Stream size                    : 942 MiB (92%)
Writing library                : x264 core 120

Audio
ID                             : 2
Format                         : AAC
Format/Info                    : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile                 : LC
Codec ID                       : 40
Duration                       : 1h 5mn
Bit rate mode                  : Variable
Bit rate                       : 160 Kbps
Maximum bit rate               : 201 Kbps
Channel(s)                     : 2 channels
Channel positions              : Front: L R
Sampling rate                  : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode               : Lossy
Stream size                    : 75.4 MiB (7%)
Language                       : English

I have recently rather kept the height at 576p (PAL DVD), expanded the width to 1024p (actual width and height are a bit smaller due to cropping) and used video bitrate 1500 Kbps, which seems to be sufficient (no significant encoding artifacts when comparing the original and encoded material with the same filters applied). For example, here is the mediainfo of "Vera med flera":

Code: Select all

General
Complete name                            : vera_med_flera_ep1.mp4
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media
Codec ID                                 : isom
File size                                : 336 MiB
Duration                                 : 28mn 43s
Overall bit rate                         : 1 633 Kbps
Writing application                      : Lavf54.59.106

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4.2
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames                : 16 frames
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 28mn 43s
Bit rate                                 : 1 500 Kbps
Width                                    : 976 pixels
Height                                   : 560 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 25.000 fps
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.110
Stream size                              : 308 MiB (92%)
Writing library                          : x264 core 128
Encoding settings                        : cabac=1 / ref=16 / deblock=1:-1:-1 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=10 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.15 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=24 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=2 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-3 / threads=12 / lookahead_threads=2 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=8 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=25 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=60 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=1500 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AAC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile                           : LC
Codec ID                                 : 40
Duration                                 : 28mn 43s
Duration_LastFrame                       : -11ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 128 Kbps
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel positions                        : Front: L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 KHz
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Delay relative to video                  : 80ms
Stream size                              : 26.3 MiB (8%)

Anamorphic encode at the original DVD resolution 720x576 would be another option, but I'm not sure if all players can deal with that correctly.

So, which settings (width, height, bitrate) are nowadays preferred? I'm planning to do several rips in the near future and it would be a sad waste of time if my rips were not optimal.

[starfish21]

there's not really such thing as 'common preferred settings' it varies so much from person to person.i've tried loads of variations and never had anyone report playing problems.

[yoko]

Well, most people just take what is offered and criticism can be considered impolite ("beggars can't be choosers", or how they say).

But suppose that two DVD rips were available (1h movie):

720x384, 1 GB filesize, mp4 x264 (lb's settings)
976x528 (1024x576 minus cropping), 768 MB filesize, mp4 x264 (my usual settings)

Which one would most people choose? Can one be considered an "upgrade" of the other?

[ptguardian]

It is usually optimal to encode aspect of original source. Handbrake in which LB used usually does this as default(can be changed). Quality greatly depends on the source and encoding process. I could do an identical size and aspect of The Space Children and it would be a big upgrade because my source would be Blu-ray.

Also the newer software out in recent years does a better encoding than older divx and basic xvid. If a file here is an avi and is several years old any basic rip with handbrake will be more detail. Soon 265 compression(HEVC) will be common and all this we are doing now will be old school.

[yoko]

I could do an identical size and aspect of The Space Children and it would be a big upgrade because my source would be Blu-ray.

I don't see how a 720x384 bluray rip could be better than 720x384 DVD rip, provided that both DVD and bluray have the same source (master).

Also the newer software out in recent years does a better encoding than older divx and basic xvid. If a file here is an avi and is several years old any basic rip with handbrake will be more detail.

At the same filesize, yes. I think x264 is up to 2 times more efficient than xvid, so an x264 file should be up to 2 times smaller than it's xvid counterpart with the same quality.

Soon 265 compression(HEVC) will be common

Or VP9

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VP9

[ptguardian]

I don't see how a 720x384 bluray rip could be better than 720x384 DVD rip, provided that both DVD and bluray have the same source (master).

Watching at 720x384 you will see color improvement. Expand to full screen on a big tv you will see more detail in the rip from blu-ray. A dvd is already compressed and has lost information(detail). Ripping from dvd you lose more information. Where as a blu-ray has all information and when you rip from that as a source you have a better end result size to size comparison. This is also true with the sound. I am surprised you cannot see the difference. My monitor is 47" and it is obvious to me.

Or VP9

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VP9

I like the prospects of that. Thanks

[loverboy]

I don't see how a 720x384 bluray rip could be better than 720x384 DVD rip, provided that both DVD and bluray have the same source (master).

Watching at 720x384 you will see color improvement.

In a black-and-white movie? I look forward to seeing that!

My monitor is 47" and it is obvious to me.

Difficult.....I'm in a small apartment at present & using a 47" monitor would involve taking it in the garden. There's also a thunderstorm in full swing & we're due a coptic storm.....

lb

[starfish21]

Clearly Ptg lives in a mansion,and when viewng movies in his private cinema uses a 386" projector screen,it's only when he's in his small movie lounge he uses the 47" monitor,viewed from 35 feet away,in the centre of the room.

[Phuzzy4242]

You forgot to mention the underground film vault and the full-time projectionist.

[ptguardian]

I was speaking in general terms not specific to that movie. I was under the impression yoko was as well.

I could post a rip of that movie and everyone can play screen comparison on their tiny screens...