TMPGEnc 4.0 Xpress Quantization settings

[gminnick]

I am looking to convert some files from Dvix to h.264 with TMPGEnc 4.0 Xpress. for my PS3 I have tried Nero Recode and PS3 Video 9 but these products seem to be transcoders and do not do a great job on files that have been compressed with low bitrates (around 1000kbps).

I have a trial copy of TMPGEnc, but it seems there are different settings in it that I have not seen in other h.264 encoders. I have looked up guides for x264 and others and it seems each encoder for the same codec has different types of settings. TMPGEnc has the following for its AVC settings

GOP length
B frame count
Reference frame count

Quantization
I Picture
P Picture
B Picture

I have a fairly good understanding of GOP and I, P and B settings from some past mpeg-2 encoding. But I am not sure if the I, P and B listed here is the same since there is already a B frame count setting. And the fact that the default settings for these values in TMPGEnc Xpress are 24 for I, 25 for P and 27 for B. In my mpeg-2 encodes, these numbers were usually much lower, like in the 2-7 range for each.

I have searched for guides on these particular settings but it seems TMPGEnc is the only one I can find that uses them.

[geowharton]

gminnick,

Did you find some answer for this somewhere else?

I too have been trying to use Tmpgenc 4 express. I have gotten fantastic results in ASP (ISO) mp4, but not AVC (H264). My result with AVC in Tmpg4 has been very disipointing. I have experimented some and usually had bumpy videos and the quality was crap for the bitrate compared with what I get from Handbrake or Nero. Yet, still I want to find how to use Tmpgenc.

Doing more experiments with AVC.

GEO

[gminnick]

No I have not. But luckily the Playstation 3 now supports Divx and Xvid, so I don't have to worry about converting to mp4.

[PuzZLeR]

My advice is stick with HandBrake or Recode and don't even bother with Xpress 4.x.

TMPGEnc is an amazing MPEG-1/2 encoder, but includes a (very) watered down version of MainConcept's H.264 encoder as a "token offering" to sell Xpress as a complete solution. Too bad they actually didn't spend any time actually making it a real AVC encoder instead of something that is included to just "be there".

No real encoding, shoddy quality, no QT compatibility, no High Profile, ignorant and contradictory quantizer settings, incredibly slow speeds on 2-pass, missing options, etc.... it simply doesn't do any justice for MC.

To put it simply, it's not finished yet and I do question what it outputs as fully H.264 compliant as well.

I do think they'll figure it out though, but you will have to wait for at least 5.x first.

[PuzZLeR]

Actually, just curious here...

I have tried Nero Recode and PS3 Video 9 but these products seem to be transcoders and do not do a great job on files that have been compressed with low bitrates (around 1000kbps).

What do you mean by "transcoders"?

[gminnick]

I am not exactly sure how they work, but a transcoder takes a file and re-encodes it to a different bitrate or different format. And they somehow do this in a way that they don't need to license the encoder. Programs that will take a DVD that is a 9GB dual sided and be able to put it on a single sided 4GB DVD are usually transcoders. DVD Shrink is like that.
That is my limited understanding and it comes just from what I have seen and read. I don't understand how something can be re-encoded without and encoder, but that is what seems to happen.

[PuzZLeR]

Hi, thanks for your answer. My understanding of transcoding is very similar - taking, for example, an MPEG-2 stream, and making it DvD compatible without really re-encoding, just muxing into a VOB container. NeroVision does this alot.

I was wondering if you meant the AVC encoder was a transcoder. In a way, the way Xpress encodes AVC, it feels like it's just "transcoding" something, not really creating compliant H.264 content.

I don't trust it for H.264. If you're Ok with DivX/Xvid for your box, then I guess you'll be alright. I too can go elsewhere too for my encoding needs as well.

However, if MainConcept continues with TMPGEnc after the DivX acquisition, look for solid improvement in Xpress'es H.264 encoder in version 5.

[geowharton]

Okay I have finished with a lot of testing on short pieces of some different movies.
I can eat my words and appologize to TMEGEnc.
Well, I was right in saying that I got dissapointing results with TMPGEnc in AVC. That was using the 2 pass variable bit rate. One would think that this would be the best bang for the byte. Go figure.
Now, I have been using the constant quantizing. Holy Cow! I can hardly believe the results. Output to TV - FANTASTIC. And in very low bitrates. I finally understand what is so much ado about AVC. I used a one minute segment of of one of my DVDs at a scene with lots of action to run several hundred tests.
To make a long story short, here is what to do:
1. Rip your DVD as you normally would.
2. Open TMPGEnc 4 and start a new project. Use the source wizard and select the DVD folder. Don't worry about getting the chapter points as key frames. TMPGEnc doesn't encode chapter points in MPG4 anyway.
3. TMPGEnc opens the source stage. Check the Clip Properties for interlacing and aspect ratio.
4. If the clip is interlaced go the the Filters tab of the source stage. Select the Deinterlace filter. For deinterlace mode use "24 fps (prioritize motion)". For the deinterlace method use "Inverse pulldown". Encoding 24 fps instead of 30 gets you a smaller file. If the clip is progressive, dont change these.
5. Slide the navigator slide to a location in the video where there is enough brightness to clearly see the top and bottom of the picture. If there are no black bars then you video is doesn't need cropping and you can to step 7. Select Picture crop filter. Check the "Enable Picture crop" box. Increase the top and bottom until you have eliminated the wasted area. Check that your verticle size after cropping is divisible by 8. Add or take a little to make it so if you need to. ( I'm not sure if some players will play video with other sizes not divisible by 8.)
6. If you didn't crop the frame, skip this step. Select the Picture resize filter. For Picture position select "Full screen (no margin)" Check the "Keep aspect ratio" box. I don't know which method of resize is best. I usually just leave it on the default "Lanczos-3".
7. Click OK at the bottom.
8. Select the Format stage. Output format selection opens. Select "MPEG-4 file output" on the left and "MPEG-4 AVC format" on the right. Click Select.
9. Get these settings:

[img]https://forum.videohelp.com/images/guides/p1814542/

If the video is only for watching on the ipod,not TV or computer, reset the 640x360 to 320x180.
10. Select the AVC tab. Get these settings.

[/img]

Some videos needed a little more bitrate and decreasing the I and P frames from 24 and 25 to 22 and 23 worked well. Some needed a little less and likewise I increased the I and P frames to 25 and 26.
11. Set the audio as you want.
12. Select the Encode stage. Give the video a name and location and let TMPGEnc 4.0 Express finish.

This is not fool-proof. But I got better results with this than with any other encoding program I have tried yet. I have tried yet.

[geowharton]

Well my first image didn't get there. Here it is: