High quality AVI to MP4 conversion?

[conchord]

I have a bunch of large AVI files from my Canon IS 850 camera. To save disk space, I would like to convert these AVI files to a format that will let me keep the same quality. I tried converting a few of these AVI files to MP4 [h.264 in MP4(4:3)] using WinFF. While it greatly reduced the file size (the MP4 files were about 10% the size of the original AVI), I noticed the quality wasn't as good. Not terrible but noticeably worse that the original AVI. So how can I increase the quality of the generated MP4 files? I'm OK if the size of the MP4 files increase as long as it's less than the original AVI. Is ffmpeg the best tool for this? If so, what settings do I need to use? If not, can anyone recommend other free tools? I'm using Vista x64 SP1.

Please help.

I'm not set on MP4. I'm really looking for the best format that will let me keep the original quality [or as close to it as possible], while reducing file size.

These files will be used for PC viewing only.

Thanks.

[Baldrick]

Increase the video bitrate or increase the quantizer(don't know if it's possible to change the quantizer in winff though).

You could also try another h264 converter like staxrip or xvid4psp. Use Constant Quality Quantizer encoding settings(usally default).

[conchord]

Thanks Baldrick. I downloaded Staxrip, when through downloading the plug-ins and after selecting a small file to convert, I was completely baffled by the jobs dialog box. I'm not sure what to do here. I assumed it was processing so I it let it go for 5 mins and there was no feedback, so I aborted. What a maddening UI!! I have no idea how to use this app.

[bigstusexy]

I don't know if this will work for you but I just tried my script that I use for my TV archiving on my D90's Videos and I think its great so far I'll have to examine them more closely but have a go at it if you like.

Open notepad, copy the code and past it, then save the file as named "whatever.bat" if saving and creating file name from notepad keep the quotes.

@echo off
set done=
:Process
IF "%done%" EQU "%1" GOTO trs ELSE (
"C:\Program Files\ffmpeg\New Folder\ffmpeg.exe" -aspect 16x9 -threads 2 -i %1 -f mp4 -vcodec libx264 -b 2048k -bt 768k -maxrate 3072k -bufsize 8192k -level 13 -aspect 4:3 -acodec libmp3lame -ac 2 -ab 160k -mbd 2 -flags +mv4+trell+aic -cmp 2 -subcmp 2 "%~dpn1.m4v"
shift /1
GOTO Process
)
:trs
echo Success

Make sure you change the path to where ffmpeg resides on your computer and I got my build of FFMpeg from Tripp's unofficial build list as I know its been built with the x264 intel dual core fix. http://arrozcru.no-ip.org/tripp/

This will produce an mp4 file with x264 and mp3, at around 960MB per hour, multiple drag and drop and no I don't explain all of the code posted, the information about the flags I got form the Internet and I've been happy with it so far.

[Baldrick]

Thanks Baldrick. I downloaded Staxrip, when through downloading the plug-ins and after selecting a small file to convert, I was completely baffled by the jobs dialog box. I'm not sure what to do here. I assumed it was processing so I it let it go for 5 mins and there was no feedback, so I aborted. What a maddening UI!! I have no idea how to use this app.

Then use xvid4psp. Load the avi and choose mp4 and convert. Almost.

[45tripp]

yes ffmpeg is a fair tool to use.

Make sure you change the path to where ffmpeg resides on your computer and I got my build of FFMpeg from Tripp's unofficial build list as I know its been built with the x264 intel dual core fix. http://arrozcru.no-ip.org/tripp/

that's no longer a valid address. Go here:
http://tripp.arrozcru.com

also with latest builds you need to replace

-flags trell

with

-trellis 1

and

-me

with

-me_method

i recently looked at the latest staxrip beta,
looks elegant to me.

for an ffmpeg gui i use and recommend Avanti.

if you're goig to encode to h264,
megui using x264 directly is rather popular.


tripp

[bigstusexy]

Thanks trip you are awesome, I don't know if I'll start over with something else because to tell you the truth I don't know half heck a quarter of this stuff, motion vectors, estimation,chroma subsampling,trellis, this list goes on and on. Although I could look up everything I don't know and I've tried a few I don't understand how that relates to quality of what I'm doing and what I do and don't want etc etc etc.

I remember the simple xVid days when I could set the bit rate, quantizer and a few others and 2 pass a way all night long and consider myself smart and have a good compressed item.

[45tripp]

Although I could look up everything I don't know and I've tried a few I don't understand how that relates to quality of what I'm doing and what I do and don't want etc etc etc.

time consuming...
often with minimal gains btw

fortunately,
all these apps, come with profiles,
try them out for size,
pick one,
maybe tweak it.

Avanti has a nice ffmpeg h264 profile.
megui has tons of x264 profiles.


tripp

[conchord]

Thanks you all for the feedback. It seems like I have a lot of options.

I know very little about this subject. So given some of these options, what's the best format for retaining the quality of my AVIs (I want to strive to retain 100% of the original quality) but reduced file size?

[45tripp]

if you are targeting size,
h264 is the right choice.
for quality retention,
encode with a cfr, give 18 a try.

provide a sample if you want,
upload on mediafire.com

[FulciLives]

I use XVID4PSP and I use the PS3/XBOX 360 "MP4" profile. I use either the Ultra 18 or Ultra 16 settings. The default is the Ultra 21 setting but I think 18 is a good choice and 16 if you are really anal about quality LOL

I do this MP4 conversion whenever I download XviD videos that my PS3 doesn't like because although the PS3 will play XviD it is very finicky as to how it is encoded and if I need to re-encode then MP4 or even M2TS is a better choice as the quality loss is minimal at Ultra 18/Ultra 16 setting(s).

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[vincent21]

hi, i'm italian boy, and I work in a webTV, (excuse me for my bad english). my problems is a conversion from avi to h264. I used the command line with the software mencoder for conversion my videos from avi (DV codec) to h264 (avi). ("[b]command line is:[/bmencoder.exe" %1 -sws 9 -of lavf -lavfopts format=mp4 -vf scale=768:576,dsize=768:576,harddup -ovc x264 -x264encopts subq=7:frameref=3artitions=all:8x8dct:me=umh:bframes=3:b_pyramid:we ight_b:bitrate=700:vbv_maxrate=700:vbv_bufsize=200 0:nocabac:me=umh:trellis=1:level_idc=30:global_hea der:threads=2ass=1:turbo -oac faac -faacopts mpeg=4bject=2:br=128:raw -channels 2 -srate 48000 -o %NOMEFILE%_convertito.mp4), but the final result is a video in this link http://www.giocoegiochi.com/h264.mp4
how can i obtain ta better result for my videos?
thx

vincent

[conchord]

for quality retention,
encode with a cfr, give 18 a try.

Sorry for my ignorance 45tripp, but what does "cfr" and "give 18 a try" mean?

[poisondeathray]

Just a typo. He probably mean "crf" or constant rate factor.

This is a 1-pass encode, and each encode will have the same level of "quality" i.e. constant quality encoding. Lower values give higher quality and larger filesize (most people use between 18-22). However, the resulting file size will vary depending on the source. So if you need a set filesize, you are better off using 2-pass mode and a set bitrate (but 2-pass mode will take longer to encode)

[45tripp]

yes crf
typo.

quality seemed to be the aim.