Motion Search Precision improve picture how?

[randallc]

Maybe its just that when I'm encoding at 2000 video bitrate using 2passVBR its not that readily apperant.

But here's my question. I realize that setting the Motion Search Precision to the highest quality is supposed to give me a better picture. But when I encode short test clips from a DVD source using both "Highest Quality" and "Motion Estimate Search" I see no differnce when played back on my TV. In fact the only difference I notice is that HQ takes twice as long as Motion Estimate Search.

Shouldn't the difference be more noticable? Is it just not that different at a 2000 video bitrate?

How many of you use High, or Highest Quality, or Motion Estimate Search?

Randy

[adam]

Your not going to notice much of a difference, if any at all using short test clips. The different motion search quality levels determine how stenuously the encoder checks for motion when allocating bitrate. To see a difference you will need test clips that have scenes with both alot of motion as well as little motion. Furthermore you will need lots of these types of high to low transistions to see the benefits of a higher quality setting since the benefits are compounding.

If you analyze the bitrate of the same movie encoded using both a high and a low quality setting you will see that the lower quality setting will take longer to adjust to changes in movement. Your Q value might peak very high and then drop down very low for a sustained period of time. The low quality motion search encoded file will keep the bitrate at a high level for quite some time after the Q value has dropped before it finally lowers the bitrate to an appropriate level. Of course the same thing happens on low to high transistions as well. Basically its just not responding as quickly to changes in movement.

For the most part the differences from one quality level to another are fairly subtle, and might not even be noticable. But you should see a pretty noticable difference between the lowest and low quality settings and the high and highest quality settings. When I use TMPGenc I almost always use high quality. I don't think the benefits of highest quality over high quality warrant the huge increase in encoding time.

[randallc]

So if I'm to read into what you are saying Adam, wouldn't Motion Search Estimate be highly enhanced in quality by using 2PassVBR? You say that the level is slower to change on both sides of action with a lesser Motion setting, but the 2PassVBR is going to greatly increase that accuracy correct?

I'll have to do some more tests I suppose, but I'm getting the feeling that there won't be a visible difference when changing the Motion Option while using 2Pass - with decent bitrates, say above 1750 or so.

Thanks!