x264 and ffmpeg equivalent commandline options ?

[hydra3333]

Hello. I use variations of this commandline to convert TV captures, using x264 originally sourced from x264.nl before that site bit the dust.

"x264-x64.exe" --thread-input --frames "148541" --profile high --level 4.1 --preset slow --interlaced --tff --no-cabac --crf 18 --sar 16:11 --colormatrix bt470bg -o "Y:\HDTV\tv-movie-temp.MP4" "Y:\HDTV\tv-movie.mpg"

The variations are mainly for "--preset xxx" and "--crf dd".

I thought I'd try to compare using these two supposedly equivalent commandlines in Win7:

"x264-x64.exe" --thread-input --profile high --level 4.1 --preset slow --interlaced --tff --no-cabac --crf 18 --sar 16:11 --colormatrix bt470bg -o "Y:\HDTV\TV-MOVIE.x264.mp4" "Y:\HDTV\TV-MOVIE.mpg"

SET x264opts=cabac=0:interlaced=1:tff=1:colormatrix=bt470bg:sar=16/11
"ffmpeg.exe" -i "Y:\HDTV\TV-MOVIE.mpg" -map 0:v -an -c:v libx264 -preset slow -crf 18 -profile:v high -level 4.1 -coder 0 -flags +ildct+ilme -x264opts %x264opts% -x264-params %x264opts% -y "Y:\HDTV\TV-MOVIE.ffmpeg.mp4"

(x264opts and x264-params are repeated because some google results seemed to indicate sometimes one worked better than the other)
(in this case neither seems to work for SAR, see the encode logs below)

The results from both encodes seemed close enough, although certainly not identical likely due to a newer version of ffmpeg vs x264.

So the questions remain
- how to make ffmpeg accept a specified SAR ?
- anything else to make them "closer" ?

Suggestions welcomed.

x264 log results:

ffms [info]: 720x576i 64:45 @ 25/1 fps (vfr)
x264 [warning]: interlace + weightp is not implemented
x264 [info]: using SAR=16/11
x264 [info]: using cpu capabilities: MMX2 SSE2Fast SSSE3 SSE4.2 AVX
x264 [info]: profile High, level 4.1
x264 [info]: frame I:56 Avg QP:14.00 size: 89713
x264 [info]: frame P:3002 Avg QP:17.23 size: 26488
x264 [info]: frame B:5492 Avg QP:22.44 size: 2793
x264 [info]: consecutive B-frames: 2.9% 4.7% 89.2% 3.2%
x264 [info]: mb I I16..4: 6.7% 73.8% 19.5%
x264 [info]: mb P I16..4: 2.7% 13.5% 3.1% P16..4: 40.3% 17.2% 8.5% 0.0% 0.0% skip:14.7%
x264 [info]: mb B I16..4: 0.2% 0.2% 0.0% B16..8: 47.0% 4.3% 0.4% direct: 2.8% skip:45.1% L0:19.5% L1:65.9% BI:14.6%
x264 [info]: field mbs: intra: 5.6% inter:2.9% skip:1.8%
x264 [info]: 8x8 transform intra:69.8% inter:74.6%
x264 [info]: direct mvs spatial:99.9% temporal:0.1%
x264 [info]: coded y,uvDC,uvAC intra: 78.7% 78.7% 41.5% inter: 16.7% 18.8% 5.0%
x264 [info]: i16 v,h,dc,p: 46% 21% 13% 20%
x264 [info]: i8 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 26% 16% 30% 4% 4% 5% 4% 6% 7%
x264 [info]: i4 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 29% 12% 8% 6% 9% 11% 9% 9% 8%
x264 [info]: i8c dc,h,v,p: 38% 22% 33% 8%
x264 [info]: ref P L0: 70.4% 20.0% 3.9% 3.0% 2.4% 0.1% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
x264 [info]: ref B L0: 75.0% 21.3% 2.7% 1.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
x264 [info]: ref B L1: 73.7% 25.6% 0.4% 0.2%
x264 [info]: kb/s:2336.41
encoded 8550 frames, 71.97 fps, 2336.43 kb/s

ffmpeg log results:

ffmpeg version N-59595-g4816d63 Copyright (c) 2000-2014 the FFmpeg developers
built on Jan 5 2014 22:01:52 with gcc 4.8.2 (GCC)
configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --disable-w32threads --enable-avisynth --enable-bzlib --enable-fontconfig --enable-frei0r --enable-gnutls --enable-iconv -
-enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libcaca --enable-libfreetype --enable-libgsm --enable-libilbc --enable-libmodplug --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopencore-amrn
b --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopus --enable-librtmp --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enabl
e-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvo-aacenc --enable-libvo-amrwbenc --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwavpack --enable-libx264 --enable-libxavs --
enable-libxvid --enable-zlib
libavutil 52. 62.100 / 52. 62.100
libavcodec 55. 47.100 / 55. 47.100
libavformat 55. 22.102 / 55. 22.102
libavdevice 55. 5.102 / 55. 5.102
libavfilter 4. 0.103 / 4. 0.103
libswscale 2. 5.101 / 2. 5.101
libswresample 0. 17.104 / 0. 17.104
libpostproc 52. 3.100 / 52. 3.100
Input #0, mpeg, from 'Y:\HDTV\TV-MOVIE.mpg':
Duration: 00:05:41.98, start: 0.240000, bitrate: 1523 kb/s
Stream #0:0[0x1e0]: Video: mpeg2video (Main), yuv420p(tv), 720x576 [SAR 64:45 DAR 16:9], max. 9608 kb/s, 25 fps, 25 tbr, 90k tbn, 50 tbc
Stream #0:1[0x1c0]: Audio: mp2, 48000 Hz, stereo, s16p, 192 kb/s
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] interlace + weightp is not implemented
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] using SAR=16/11
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] using cpu capabilities: MMX2 SSE2Fast SSSE3 SSE4.2 AVX
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] profile High, level 4.1
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] 264 - core 140 r2377 1ca7bb9 - H.264/MPEG-4 AVC codec - Copyleft 2003-2013 - http://www.videolan.org/x264.html - options: cabac=0 ref=5 deblock=1:0:0
analyse=0x3:0x113 me=umh subme=8 psy=1 psy_rd=1.00:0.00 mixed_ref=1 me_range=16 chroma_me=1 trellis=1 8x8dct=1 cqm=0 deadzone=21,11 fast_pskip=1 chroma_qp_offset=-2 thre
ads=12 lookahead_threads=2 sliced_threads=0 nr=0 decimate=1 interlaced=tff bluray_compat=0 constrained_intra=0 bframes=3 b_pyramid=2 b_adapt=2 b_bias=0 direct=3 weightb=1
open_gop=0 weightp=0 keyint=250 keyint_min=25 scenecut=40 intra_refresh=0 rc_lookahead=50 rc=crf mbtree=1 crf=18.0 qcomp=0.60 qpmin=0 qpmax=69 qpstep=4 ip_ratio=1.40 aq=
1:1.00
Output #0, mp4, to 'Y:\HDTV\TV-MOVIE.ffmpeg.mp4':
Metadata:
encoder : Lavf55.22.102
Stream #0:0: Video: h264 (libx264) ([33][0][0][0] / 0x0021), yuv420p, 720x576 [SAR 64:45 DAR 16:9], q=-1--1, 12800 tbn, 25 tbc
Stream mapping:
Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (mpeg2video -> libx264)
Press [q] to stop, [?] for help
frame= 8550 fps= 68 q=-1.0 Lsize= 97662kB time=00:05:41.92 bitrate=2339.9kbits/s
video:97552kB audio:0kB subtitle:0 global headers:0kB muxing overhead 0.113477%
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] frame I:56 Avg QP:13.93 size: 89723
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] frame P:3002 Avg QP:17.15 size: 26495
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] frame B:5492 Avg QP:22.42 size: 2791
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] consecutive B-frames: 2.9% 4.7% 89.2% 3.2%
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] mb I I16..4: 6.6% 73.9% 19.5%
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] mb P I16..4: 2.7% 13.5% 3.1% P16..4: 40.3% 17.2% 8.5% 0.0% 0.0% skip:14.7%
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] mb B I16..4: 0.1% 0.2% 0.0% B16..8: 47.0% 4.3% 0.4% direct: 2.8% skip:45.1% L0:19.5% L1:65.9% BI:14.6%
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] field mbs: intra: 5.6% inter:2.9% skip:1.8%
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] 8x8 transform intra:70.1% inter:74.6%
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] direct mvs spatial:99.9% temporal:0.1%
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] coded y,uvDC,uvAC intra: 78.9% 78.9% 41.6% inter: 16.7% 18.8% 5.0%
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] i16 v,h,dc,p: 46% 21% 13% 20%
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] i8 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 26% 16% 30% 4% 4% 5% 4% 6% 7%
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] i4 v,h,dc,ddl,ddr,vr,hd,vl,hu: 29% 12% 8% 6% 9% 11% 9% 9% 8%
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] i8c dc,h,v,p: 38% 22% 33% 8%
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] ref P L0: 70.5% 20.0% 3.9% 3.0% 2.4% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] ref B L0: 74.9% 21.4% 2.7% 1.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] ref B L1: 73.8% 25.6% 0.4% 0.2%
[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] kb/s:2336.66

[poisondeathray]

sar switch seems broken in ffmpeg . Some variations might be -setsar , -sar_num, -sar_den , but none of them work

A workaround is to use -aspect 16:9 , and ffmpeg will use non ITU ratios (64:45 for PAL 16:9 )

[poisondeathray]

This appears to work (non ITU ratios work as well), and checked at the bitstream level

-x264opts sar=x/y

[hydra3333]

Thanks.
@poisondeathray pls see ffmpeg log above where 16/11 is specified but SAR 64:45 is what the log says ("[SAR 64:45 DAR 16:9]")

Also, I've been using these based on old posts elsewhere. Are they incorrect ? eg for PAL 720x576i - using 16:11 in a 16:9 frame ?

REM SAR = DAR / PAR
REM for 16:9 720x576i   use --sar=16:11 (most 4:3 are in 16:9 shell frame nowadays, so use this)  
REM for 16:9 1440x1080i use --sar=4:3  
REM for 16:9 1920x1080i use --sar=1:1  
REM
REM http://developer.divx.com/docs/divx_plus_hd/Creation_with_x264/
REM Interlaced resolution 	 Support SARs
REM 1920x1080i50                  1:1   (16:9 frame)
REM 1440x1080i50                  1:1   (4:3 frame),  4:3 (16:9 frame)
REM 720x576i50              1:1, 16:11 (16:9 frame), 12:11 (4:3 frame)
REM 704x576i50              1:1, 16:11 (16:9 frame), 12:11 (4:3 frame)
REM 480x576i50              1:1, 24:11 (16:9 frame), 18:11 (4:3 frame)
REM 352x576i50              1:1, 32:11 (16:9 frame), 24:11 (4:3 frame)
REM 
REM 1920x1080i60                  1:1   (16:9 frame)
REM 1440x1080i60                  1:1   (4:3 frame),  4:3 (16:9 frame)
REM 720x480i60              1:1, 40:33 (16:9 frame), 10:11 (4:3 frame)
REM 704x480i60              1:1, 40:33 (16:9 frame), 10:11 (4:3 frame)
REM 640x480i60                    1:1   (4:3 frame)
REM 480x480i60              1:1, 20:11 (16:9 frame), 15:11 (4:3 frame)
REM 352x480i60              1:1, 80:33 (16:9 frame), 20:11 (4:3 frame)
REM

[poisondeathray]

Short summary: There are ITU and non ITU aspect ratio guidelines. Roughly speaking, the non-ITU are based on the full frame 720 width (they work out mathematically). ITU are based on 702 width (rounded to 704px) even though the frame width can be 720

The 1st set are ITU values, 2nd set are non ITU values

NTSC 4:3 => sar 10:11 (or 8:9)
NTSC 16:9 => sar 40:33 (or 32:27)
PAL 4:3 => sar 12:11 (or 16:15)
PAL 16:9 => sar 16:11 (or 64:45)

Certain situations may require on or the other (e.g SD blu-ray specs use ITU). Some hardware use one or the other




You're not looking at the correct part of the log file. Look at the libx264 section

[libx264 @ 04f0abe0] using SAR=16/11

("[SAR 64:45 DAR 16:9]") is what the source is "read" as , libx264 using SAR=16/11 is what libx264 is encoding

e.g Take ffmpeg or ffprobe and look at the output file

ffmpeg -i "TV-MOVIE.ffmpeg.mp4"

It will give you SAR 16:11 for the 1st stream. It will say another SAR value as well - I think that's what the original was . But if you check the elementary stream, the sar value is correct

[hydra3333]

Thanks. Beaut.

Short summary: There are ITU and non ITU aspect ratio guidelines. Roughly speaking, the non-ITU are based on the full frame 720 width (they work out mathematically). ITU are based on 702 width (rounded to 704px) even though the frame width can be 720.

The 1st set are ITU values, 2nd set are non ITU values
NTSC 4:3 => sar 10:11 (or 8:9)
NTSC 16:9 => sar 40:33 (or 32:27)
PAL 4:3 => sar 12:11 (or 16:15)
PAL 16:9 => sar 16:11 (or 64:45)

Based on that I guess I should be changing to use 64:45 since that what my incoming PAL TV sources were reported as.
At least I guess so, these are .mpg outputs from VideoRedo QuickStreamFix ing of recorded .ts files from the venerable TVSchedulerPro.
I suppose I could run mediainfo or ffprobe over the .ts files and the .mpg files to see if that tells me whether VideoRedo has changed anything.

Best Regards

PS

REM 1920x1080i50 1:1 (16:9 frame)
REM 1440x1080i50 1:1 (4:3 frame), 4:3 (16:9 frame)

I suppose for "hd" pal (in Aus that's 1440 ) i should use 4:3; i'll have to google a link.

[poisondeathray]

AR discussion is a massive headache, because there is no necessarily correct answer

It's tough to say what they are, or are supposed to be, as someone might have made a mistake somewhere along the line. (e.g. broadcaster might have goofed up, original transfer might have been messed up, capture hardware might assume something when it's supposed to be something else, etc. etc...) . Eitherway, the AR difference isn't large. If you can find a scene perfect circular object shot straight on (maybe a car tire, circular wall clock...), you can determine what the AR "should" be

ffmpeg/ffprobe might not read some mpeg2 files correctly (some have a sequence display extension). gspot should reveal more information . => but that doesn' t really matter, because what the file current "is" encoded at, isn't necessarily what it should be content wise

I suppose for "hd" pal (in Aus that's 1440 ) i should use 4:3; i'll have to google a link.

Yes, HD PAL or NTSC 1440x1080 DAR 16:9 uses --sar 4:3 . That's uniform for both, and their is no ITU/non ITU confusion (The confusion is only for SD with the conflicting standards) . All the other standard HD resolutions use --sar 1:1 (1280x720, 1920x1080)

Most broadcast , NLE's tend to use ITU interpretation rules

[hydra3333]

OK, so the equivalent commandlines I ended up with for PAL broadcast SD 576i :-

"C:\software\X264\x264-x64.exe" --thread-input --log-level info --profile high --level 4.1 --preset slow --interlaced --tff --no-cabac --crf 18 --sar 64:45 --colormatrix bt470bg -o "Y:\HDTV\TV-MOVIE.x264.mp4" "Y:\HDTV\TV-MOVIE.mpg" 

SET x264opts=cabac=0:interlaced=1:tff=1:colormatrix=bt470bg:sar=64/45:threads=auto
"C:\SOFTWARE\ffmpeg\0-latest\bin\ffmpeg.exe" -i "Y:\HDTV\TV-MOVIE.mpg" -threads 0 -map 0:v -an -c:v libx264 -preset slow -crf 18 -profile:v high -level 4.1 -coder 0 -flags +ildct+ilme -x264opts %x264opts% -x264-params %x264opts% -y "Y:\HDTV\TV-MOVIE.ffmpeg.mp4"

(x264opts and x264-params are repeated because googled posts indicated that sometimes some options one worked with one and not the other ... so I put them in both)