How do I know if file is CBR or VBR?

[mst]

I have a video file and I'd like to know if it's encoded with VBR or CBR.

[aedipuss]

try mediainfo or gspot.

[mst]

Mediainfo only lists if the file is CBR/VBR for certain files (like .vob) not the others.
And Gspot only lists if the file is CBR/VBR for the audio part of the file.

[poisondeathray]

Try bitrate viewer

If it's a flat line, then it's likely CBR

If there are spikes and peaks, then it's likely VBR

[aedipuss]

mediainfo give the bitrate of just about any video that hasn't been badly made.

[mst]

mediainfo give the bitrate of just about any video that hasn't been badly made.

It gives the average bitrate, which is not what I'm looking for. It doesn't say if it's VBR/CBR.

[jagabo]

There is no one tool that shows you everything about every video file type.

[aedipuss]

mediainfo give the bitrate of just about any video that hasn't been badly made.

It gives the average bitrate, which is not what I'm looking for. It doesn't say if it's VBR/CBR.

if mediainfo gives you bitrate it is cbr. if it gives you an average bitrate it is vbr.

[mst]

@aedipuss: I've analyzed many files with mediainfo and it said "Bit rate: x kbps". That would mean they're cbr. Yet in Bitrate Viewer their bitrate lines are extremely jagged.

[jagabo]

In my experience MediaInfo isn't very reliable with bitrate reporting. It really only only looks at the headers.

[videopoo]

Bitrate Viewer will do fine. No CBR encode will show a true straight line....there will be variations.

[mst]

....there will be variations.

So then, how do I know if it's cbr or vbr- since both show variations in Bitrate Viewer.

[jagabo]

VBR usually shows a lot more variation.

[jman98]

So then, how do I know if it's cbr or vbr- since both show variations in Bitrate Viewer.

Considering that nobody's life is on the line for the answer here, you'll have to excuse us if we don't share your sense of urgency to get an answer to your question. Nobody else on earth probably cares whether your video is CBR or VBR but since it is so incredibly important to you look at the minimum bit rate. If it's quite a bit below the average bit rate than it's probably VBR. Since you're probably going to come back and say "What is quite a bit lower?" let's just say that if the minimum is more than 1000 Mbps lower that it's probably VBR.

[DSperber]

I know this thread is 7 years old, but I thought I'd pass along that PotPlayer makes use of MEDIAINFO64.DLL.

Right-click on the MP3 file name in the playlist, select "file information...". Down in the AUDIO group of data is "bit rate mode", which will show "variable" or "fixed" (or "constant"?).

[Reddwarf4ever]

I know this thread is 7 years old, but I thought I'd pass along that PotPlayer makes use of MEDIAINFO64.DLL.

Right-click on the MP3 file name in the playlist, select "file information...". Down in the AUDIO group of data is "bit rate mode", which will show "variable" or "fixed" (or "constant"?).

I was looking for exactly this, so thank you.....I thought that windows explorer had a field option to show this, or MP3Tag, but can’t find either of them......I think MP3Tag shows CBR bit if it’s CBR it shows the frequency, will look again later thanks again