H264 HP to BP MPEG4 - best way to convert and best tool to use?

[Cake^^]

Hi,

I'm having problems creating 'MPEG-4 Visual' files, baseline profile at L1.

For some reason every app I've tried except for 3GP Converter has not been
able to generate these files, they either generate MPEG-4 files or they
generate files with BP at L2 or 3 and with reference frames. The device
I want to play these files on can only play back 640by480 Mpeg4 Visual
files at Base Profile @L1, Without any form of B-frames or extra stuff.

Now 3GP_Converter seems to work but some files like this one below:

General
Complete name : C:\Tsukishima_Kirari_starring_Kusumi_Koharu__Happy .mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media
Codec ID : isom
File size : 35.0 MiB
Duration : 4mn 14s
Overall bit rate : 1 155 Kbps
Encoded date : UTC 2007-05-12 07:58:17
Tagged date : UTC 2007-05-12 07:58:17

Video
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L5.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 16 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 4mn 14s
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 1 026 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 2 098 Kbps
Width : 716 pixels
Height : 356 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16/9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Resolution : 24 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.168
Stream size : 31.1 MiB (89%)
Writing library : x264 core 54 svn-635M
Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=16 / deblock=1:-2:-1 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=7 / brdo=1 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=16 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=2 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=2 / deadzone=21,11 / chroma_qp_offset=0 / threads=3 / nr=0 / decimate=0 / mbaff=0 / bframes=3 / b_pyramid=1 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / wpredb=1 / bime=1 / keyint=240 / keyint_min=24 / scenecut=40(pre) / rc=crf / crf=21.5 / rceq='blurCplx^(1-qComp)' / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / ip_ratio=1.40 / pb_ratio=1.30
Encoded date : UTC 2007-05-12 05:17:05
Tagged date : UTC 2007-05-12 07:58:19


generate this when I use 3GP Converter, and even at 2500Kbps the file is full of blocks, and is just
ugly (and is 3x the size of the original).

General
Complete name : E:\3GP_Converter034\Tsukishima_Kirari_starring_Kus umi_Koharu__Happy.MP4
Format : MPEG-4
Codec ID : M4V
File size : 92.7 MiB
Duration : 4mn 14s
Overall bit rate : 3 060 Kbps
Movie name : Tsukishima_Kirari_starring_Kusumi_Koharu__Happy
Encoded date : UTC 2008-09-14 15:13:52
Tagged date : UTC 2008-09-14 15:13:52
Writing application : 3GP_Converter051103 www.nurs.or.jp/~calcium FFmpegCVSb4629
Comment : QuickTime 6.0 or greater

Video
Format : MPEG-4 Visual
Format profile : Simple@L1
Format settings, BVOP : No
Format settings, QPel : No
Format settings, GMC : No warppoints
Format settings, Matrix : Default
Codec ID : 20
Duration : 4mn 14s
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 2 932 Kbps
Nominal bit rate : 3 000 Kbps
Width : 640 pixels
Height : 480 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 4/3
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 29.970 fps
Resolution : 24 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.318
Stream size : 88.9 MiB (96%)
Encoded date : UTC 2008-09-14 15:13:52
Tagged date : UTC 2008-09-14 15:13:52

I generated this file using:

ffmpeg" -y -i "<%InputFile%>" -title "<%Title%>" -timestamp "<%TimeStamp%>" -bitexact -vcodec mpeg4 -s 640x480 -r 29.97 -b 3000 -acodec aac -ac 2 -ar 48000 -ab 64 -f ipod "<%OutputFile%>.MP4""

in 3GP Converter.

SO my problem is this, I need a way of generating MPEG-4 "Visual" files at Baseline profile L1 which
look just as good as this tiny file which seems to have been made at MPEG-4 High@L5.1. For example,
the original 30MB
file looks brilliant, the 97MB file I get above just looks ugly.

Anyone has any pointers or ideas?

Thank you .
e

[poisondeathray]

Try virtualdub with xvid and adjust the profile to simple@L1

[Cake^^]

Thanks. But the output file has to be H264 and not Xvid as this device can only handle
H264 MPEG4 Visual at BP L1. It has no Xvid or Divx support.

[jagabo]

AviDemux

[poisondeathray]

According to your 2nd video mediainfo, that is XviD (MPEG4 part2), not h264 (MPEG4 Part10)

"MPEG-4 "Visual" files at Baseline profile L1 " is XviD specification, not h264

Perhaps you can clarify what you want or the model of your player

[Cake^^]

According to your 2nd video mediainfo, that is XviD (MPEG4 part2), not h264 (MPEG4 Part10)

"MPEG-4 "Visual" files at Baseline profile L1 " is XviD specification, not h264

Perhaps you can clarify what you want or the model of your player

That is very strange indeed. The 2nd video plays but not according to the specs
of the player which are:

"Movie Yes (video: MPEG4 / H.263 / ASF / H.264 *Only decode) "
from:
http://www.sharp-phone.com/country/products/product/spec.php?country=TW&lang=en&product=862-92

So perhaps this means this device can play Xvid back? I'll encode something in Xvid then
and see.... thanks.

[Cake^^]

Yes it turns out XviD files are MPEG-4 visual and they play back on this device! I wish the manufacturer had just specified "xvid" in mpeg4
container instead. Would have saved me so much effort.

Thanks!!! Definately makes this easier.