What is MJPEG?

[lnetzel]

What's MJPEG and when do I use that? It's a codec from what I understand?

[Fredrik]

I use mjpeg codec when i want to capture from hy Haupauge Wintv PCI card. To reduce captured file size. Then i reencode to whatever format i want.

/ Fredrik

[skittelsen]

Yes, it's a video codec. It compresses the video as individual images with jpg compression, and not like mpeg where there is compression *between* images as well as single images. Mpeg compression in I-frame mode is basically the same as mjpeg compression. Mjpeg compression is used for high quality video where you can do frame accurate editing.

Sk

[lnetzel]

Yeah, but what is the differense from MJPEG codec from for example Huffyuof 2.1 codec... is just another codec among all the others or is the MJPEG codec specialized for a certain type of footage or usage?

[skittelsen]

The Picview mjpeg compressor has 20 levels of compression, but Huffy has a few levels of compression, all but one level is lossless, so the encoder can only be used for low level compression, like 3:1 The Picvideo mjpeg can easilly do 50:1 compression.

[lnetzel]

Aha, so could I be using this codec as a capture codec even if I usually capture low quality (VHS) footage? Just to get rid of the file size?