Canopus Procoder versions comparison

[lordsmurf]

- I mainly use version 1.x, had it for several years now, no complaints.
- I've had version 2.x for a little while now, on a second computer.
- And I've used the Express one a couple times in the past, mostly just demos, betas and trials given to me for review purposes..

Procoder 1.x still looks best. Pretty close to realtime encoding, clean quality, nothing wrong. Added bonus is file sizes can often end up lower than other encoders AND still be higher quality. Double the fun.

Procoder Express is a lot like a stripped down Procoder 2.x and mostly only does DV style encoding for DVD output. It's alright, $50 is fine for it, does a decent job for making 720x480 DVDs

Procoder 2.x is odd. It's faster when it shouldn't be, mastering quality can look worse than highest, and I finally saw a video come out soft a few days ago (although it may be random or based on factors I've not narrowed down yet). Most of the time it works as good as version 1 with some extra filters. But sometimes not. Strange.

I need also add most of the 1.x and 2.x encodes are Half D1 work. Still no problems for Full D1 work.

I know people have discussed this software in length here in the not-so-distant past, thought I'd share some updated experience and observations. Most people, of course, won't care, as this software is priced well above what they'd need.

[FulciLives]

If I recall Procoder Express is lacking an option found on Procoder 2.x (and maybe Procoder 1.x) that has something to do with luminance levels and this was a big deal in another thread.

I don't use Procoder but that seems like an important point to bring up.

Maybe someone else can fill in the details here on this issue.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[lordsmurf]

Another thing is Procoder 1 and 2 have "cheats" that let you either edit or create your own altered DVD-compliant MPEG templates.

Express lacks the ability of advanced settings, and by default it disables sequence headers. So using anything OTHER THAN the DVD template will make non-compliant MPEG streams.

Procoder 2 is the same way, but it DOES have advanced settings so you check the sequence headers option.

Procoder 1 never disabled sequence headers, you had to do it manually or start with a generic MPEG template and never select DVD or that option.

If that makes sense. You'd probably have to see it to understand. But it is aggravating.

[dipstick]

My experience with Procoder 2, is that it does Interlaced footage OK, but it does poorly on Progressive source.

TMPGEnc and MainConcept are much better choices as far as I'm concerned. CCE is better too, but expensive.

[Moontrash]

Have only ever used Procoder 2 and it was for PAL/NTSC conversion...it did a great job of that...Losing the 5.1 audio to 2 channel stereo was a bummer but I didn't mind.I liked my results w/ PC2 over tmpg but tmpg wasn't too bad either.Now if I get a PAL region...I just run it through PC2 and never look back....Now if they had an authoring app like tmpg does canopus would have something....

[lenti_75]

I had a post about this not a long time ago...

I used both, and didn't see any difference, maybe because I don't use it that much avery day.

[Wile_E]

If I recall Procoder Express is lacking an option found on Procoder 2.x (and maybe Procoder 1.x) that has something to do with luminance levels and this was a big deal in another thread.

I don't use Procoder but that seems like an important point to bring up.

Maybe someone else can fill in the details here on this issue.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

The option lacking is the 601 to 709 colorspace conversion. This may be why the whites and some colors seem a tad brighter and/or different, when converting DV to DVD. Procoder does something to the color, specifically whites. It is very faint, yet noticeable if you compare it's output to other encoders. There are several comparisons of it's output on this forum, showing the clear differences. One comparison even showed that it had blown-out whites. I emailed Canopus about the 601-709, and they said I had to buy the full version to get this option. Instead of hassling with this problem, I bought CCE Basic instead. Keeps the original colors true to the original DV. Canopus needs to give it's users an option, whether to let it's software automatically enhance the video. Not just do it behind the users backs.

[FulciLives]

About the 601 to 709 colorspace conversion thing.

This seems to only crop up with DV footage, correct?

There are a number of DV codecs but there is a Canopus DV codec and of course Canopus makes Procoder so you would think that the Canopus DV codec would work "correctly" with Canopus Procoder (any version).

I'm wondering if the problem has something to do with using a DV codec other than the Canopus DV codec?

Also I wonder if the 601 to 709 thing can be done before feeding the DV file to Procoder Express using something like AviSynth. For instance maybe you can adjust 0-255 to 16-235 (assuming this is what the 601 to 709 option does) in AviSynth and then have a similiar effect using Procoder Express as you would without AviSynth but use Procoder 2.x with the 601 to 709 option?

See what I am saying?

Tis a thought.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman