What is libx265 encoder codecs? Did you try it? Which software can use it?

[Stears555]

Hello!

What is libx265 HEVC encoder codecs? Did you try it? Which software can use it?

I read about its existence in the "Version history/Release notes:" section of ffmpeg 2.2 page: https://www.videohelp.com/tools/ffmpeg

Do you know its quality?

Thank you for your reply!

[LigH.de]

Did you try to read any other post in this forum which mentions x265?

The HEVC encoder x265 is available as stand-alone command-line encoder, as well as a library to be used by applications ("statically" embedded in the other executable, or "dynamically" used on demand from a separate DLL).

HEVC = "High Efficiency Video Coding" (ITU video standard H.265) is the successor of AVC = "Advanced Video Coding" (ITU video standard H.264), so you will probably expect a similar quality at less bitrate, but with a much higher computing expense.

[racer-x]

I tried the latest version of ffmpeg to encode h.265 via libx265, but kept getting errors. Something about aspect ratio needs to be greater than 0.

As already stated, there are other free options such as x265 and divix265 that are being developed and work just fine.

[LigH.de]

As often as the x265 interface has changed in the recent past, it may still change in the future, so it is well possible that the ffmpeg developers are not always up-to-date regarding a correct use of the just current libx265. To avoid such a kind of errors, it may be required to add a few CLI options to ffmpeg, possibly even encoder specific options (maybe x265opts, similar to x264opts?).

[Marchand]

Works well, even with extensions MP4, MOV.

General
Complete name : C:\Users\Marchand\Videos\Videos\00200j.mp4
Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media
Codec ID : isom
File size : 1.03 MiB
Duration : 7s 503ms
Overall bit rate : 1 151 Kbps
Writing application : Lavf55.34.101

Video
ID : 1
Format : HEVC
Format/Info : High Efficiency Video Coding
Codec ID : hev1
Codec ID/Info : High Efficiency Video Coding
Duration : 7s 466ms
Bit rate : 1 020 Kbps
Width : 1 920 pixels
Height : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 16:9
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.021
Stream size : 930 KiB (88%)

Audio
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format profile : LC
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 7s 503ms
Duration_LastFrame : -20ms
Bit rate mode : Constant
Bit rate : 128 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : Front: L R
Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz
Compression mode : Lossy
Delay relative to video : 83ms
Stream size : 118 KiB (11%)

ffmpeg version N-61444-gf3d3e3f

built on Mar 13 2014 22:21:46 with gcc 4.8.2 (GCC)

configuration: --disable-static --enable-shared --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --disable-w32threads --enable-avisynth --enable-bzlib --enable-fontconfig --enable-frei0r --enable-gnutls --enable-iconv --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libcaca --enable-libfreetype --enable-libgsm --enable-libilbc --enable-libmodplug --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopus --enable-librtmp --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvo-aacenc --enable-libvo-amrwbenc --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwavpack --enable-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libxavs --enable-libxvid --enable-zlib

libavutil 52. 66.101 / 52. 66.101
libavcodec 55. 52.102 / 55. 52.102
libavformat 55. 34.101 / 55. 34.101
libavdevice 55. 11.100 / 55. 11.100
libavfilter 4. 3.100 / 4. 3.100
libswscale 2. 5.101 / 2. 5.101
libswresample 0. 18.100 / 0. 18.100
libpostproc 52. 3.100 / 52. 3.100

[LigH.de]

Well, okay, but ... I wouldn't trust an MP4 container generated by ffmpeg, better remux it once with MP4Box (GPAC Nightly).

[racer-x]

Works well, even with extensions MP4, MOV.

Could you post the ffmpeg command string, please?

[x265]

I tried the latest version of ffmpeg to encode h.265 via libx265, but kept getting errors. Something about aspect ratio needs to be greater than 0.

As already stated, there are other free options such as x265 and divix265 that are being developed and work just fine.

x265 is used as one of the many codec libraries in FFMPEG. In FFMPEG it is labeled libx265. The FFMPEG developer team pulls new source code occasionally for new builds of FFMPEG, but new builds of FFMPEG are not created every time there are changes to x265. So libx265 in FFMPEG may represent an older version of x265, depending on how recent the build of FFMPEG was created.

[x265]

As often as the x265 interface has changed in the recent past, it may still change in the future, so it is well possible that the ffmpeg developers are not always up-to-date regarding a correct use of the just current libx265. To avoid such a kind of errors, it may be required to add a few CLI options to ffmpeg, possibly even encoder specific options (maybe x265opts, similar to x264opts?).

The x265 development team communicates with and supports the FFMPEG development team, to coordinate compatibility issues. We have a system that signals FFMPEG when there are changes to the x265 API that would require changes in FFMPEG. We have been doing as much as we can to make x265 behave like x264 with respect to FFMPEG, to minimize their burden to support x265 flawlessly.

[vhelp]

maybe an alternative for window xp users who can't use x265.exe builds. hopefully someone will post a sample script usage for ffmpeg.

[vhelp]

just downloaded --> ffmpeg-20140327-git-62094e2-win32-static build.

unfortunately, it doesn't seem to work under windows xp. i received the following error:

'The precedure entry point InitializedConditionVariable could not be located in the dynamic link library KERNEL32.dll'

[vhelp]

even though these are 32bit versions, it seems that every build that supports x265xxx no longer works at all. just typing in the ffmpeg.exe on the command line with no parameters give this same error. i guess windows xp is finally screwed even with ffmpeg now. sheesh. thanks.

[El Heggunte]

even though these are 32bit versions, it seems that every build that supports x265xxx no longer works at all. just typing in the ffmpeg.exe on the command line with no parameters give this same error.

I confirm that STUPID design flaw , I have just tried the build from the archive ffmpeg-20140326-git-c05065a-win32-static.7z.

We have been doing as much as we can to make x265 behave like x264 with respect to FFMPEG, to minimize their burden to support x265 flawlessly.

Dropping MSVC and CMake would be a good starting point, granted.

[vhelp]

after many downloads and tries, http://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/builds/win32/shared/ffmpeg-20140317-git-8e92ff2-win32-shared.7z doesn't crash and seems to work but i get an error message. and i'm too tired now to continue investigating what i am doing wrong or am missing in the param string setup.

when i feed this inside a dos console window...

ffmpeg -i c:\video.avs -s 720x480 -r 23.976 -frames 100 -an -vcodec libx265 -x265-params crf=25:fps=23.976:=720x480 -y g:\video.ffmpeg.mp4

...i get the following output report:

ffmpeg version N-61504-g8e92ff2 Copyright (c) 2000-2014 the FFmpeg developers
  built on Mar 16 2014 22:04:08 with gcc 4.8.2 (GCC)
  configuration: --disable-static --enable-shared --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --disable-w32threads --enable-avisynth --enable-bzlib --enable-fontconfig --enable-frei0r --enable-gnutls --enable-iconv --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libcaca --enable-libfreetype --enable-libgsm --enable-libilbc --enable-libmodplug --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopus --enable-librtmp --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvo-aacenc --enable-libvo-amrwbenc --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwavpack --enable-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libxavs --enable-libxvid --enable-zlib
  libavutil      52. 66.101 / 52. 66.101
  libavcodec     55. 52.102 / 55. 52.102
  libavformat    55. 34.101 / 55. 34.101
  libavdevice    55. 11.100 / 55. 11.100
  libavfilter     4.  3.100 /  4.  3.100
  libswscale      2.  5.101 /  2.  5.101
  libswresample   0. 18.100 /  0. 18.100
  libpostproc    52.  3.100 / 52.  3.100
Input #0, avisynth, from 'c:\video.avs':
  Duration: 00:00:46.46, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 4 kb/s
    Stream #0:0: Video: rawvideo (I420 / 0x30323449), yuv420p, 720x480, 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 23.98 tbn, 23.98 tbc
x265 [info]: using cpu capabilities: MMX2 SSE2Slow SlowCTZ
x265 [error]: Sample Aspect Ratio width must be greater than 0
[libx265 @ 00b32180] Cannot open libx265 encoder.
Output #0, mp4, to 'g:\video.ffmpeg.mp4':
    Stream #0:0: Video: hevc, yuv420p, 720x480, q=2-31, 200 kb/s, 90k tbn, 24 tbc
Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (rawvideo -> libx265)
Error while opening encoder for output stream #0:0 - maybe incorrect parameters such as bit_rate, rate, width or height

[LigH.de]

This part looks suspicious, is there a parameter name missing at {?}, or possibly even superfluous because ffmpeg will pass the dimensions anyway?

-x265-params crf=25:fps=23.976:{?}=720x480

I believe you should restrict x265 specific parameters to only the few which cannot be passed from ffmpeg's source analysis or general ffmpeg parameters. Image dimensions and frame rate should be known after the source analysis. CRF is one ffmpeg may not be able to pass, if it doesn't refer to the generic encoding quality parameter.

[racer-x]

It would be helpful if someone would post an actual working script.........

[LigH.de]

Not that hard if you read and understand the previous error messages:

ffmpeg -i test.avs -an -vcodec libx265 -x265-params crf=25:sar=1 -y test.mp4

The key was indeed that x265 needs an aspect ratio which ffmpeg defaults to 0 (=undefined?); for the sar parameter I chose value 1=square (square pixel 1:1) here, vhelp will prefer value 3=10:11 (NTSC 4:3) or 5=40:33 (NTSC 16:9) here.

I had to use the integer value because codec specific options are separated by colons, so I could not use parameter values including a colon.
__

P.S. – also possible (ffmpeg passes appropriate values to libx265):

ffmpeg -i test.avs -an -vcodec libx265 -aspect 16:9 -x265-params crf=25 -y test.mp4

Published x265 options are -preset, -tune, -x265-params (so probably in contrast to libx264, where -crf is published, it has to be provided in -x265-params for libx265).

[racer-x]

Thanks for the detailed explanation, I'll try it out when I get home.

[vhelp]

thank you LigH.de, for the tips, the following works perfectly for me, using the last ffmpeg build for 2014-03-16, all the latest ones are no longer supporting windows xp, period, due to following x265 compilation requirement standards. well, that's how i see it..ffmpeg has been taken over. oh well. anyway. here is the parameter i used. definately use the -preset, because without it, the quality-no matter what the setting-results in poor quality.

ffmpeg -i video.avs -an -c:v libx265 -aspect 4:3 -preset ultrafast -x265-params crf=17 -y c:\video.mp4

if you just want to encode a few frames, the quick and dirty way is to add -frames 30 (or some other number) in that script.
change aspect ratio to your needs, etc. etc. another send off to ffmpeg. good-bye. fair well. i guess mencoder and others will follow suit, soon. then the only way to use those tools is to have windows 7 on your machine. ahh, what crazy nonsense.

[LigH.de]

Stop whining already. The problem is understood. The solution is available. All we need is a C/C++ developer with enough time and experience to implement it.

Like a car accident on an autobahn: Gazers don't rescue lives, but block the ambulance instead.

[racer-x]

Thanks LigH.de for the tips. I was able to get it working on the latest ffmpeg (March 24, 2014), all I needed were the correct commands. This is what I used to make the mp4 with hevc + aac audio:

for %%a in ("*.avs") do "C:\ffmpeg\ffmpeg" -i %%a -c:v libx265 -aspect 16:9 -preset medium -x265-params crf=23 -c:a aac -strict experimental -ar 48000 -ab 256k -f mp4 %%~na.mp4
pause

Works pretty well, have some cookies.......

[Marchand]

Let the tests
Works well, even with extension . MKV

ffmpeg version N-61801-gc25d2cd Copyright (c) 2000-2014 the FFmpeg developers
built on Mar 24 2014 22:01:06 with gcc 4.8.2 (GCC)
configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --disable-w32threads --enable-avisynth --enable-bzlib --enable-fontconfig --enable-frei0r --enable-gnutls --enable-iconv --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libcaca --enable-libfreetype --enable-libgsm --enable-libilbc --enable-libmodplug --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopus --enable-librtmp --enable-libschroedinger --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvo-aacenc --enable-libvo-amrwbenc --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwavpack --enable-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-libxavs --enable-libxvid --enable-zlib
libavutil 52. 69.100 / 52. 69.100
libavcodec 55. 54.100 / 55. 54.100
libavformat 55. 35.100 / 55. 35.100
libavdevice 55. 11.100 / 55. 11.100
libavfilter 4. 3.100 / 4. 3.100
libswscale 2. 5.102 / 2. 5.102
libswresample 0. 18.100 / 0. 18.100
libpostproc 52. 3.100 / 52. 3.100
Input #0, mpegts, from 'C:\Users\Marchand\Videos\Videos\00200.m2ts':
Duration: 00:00:07.46, start: 11.650667, bitrate: 41412 kb/s
Program 1
Stream #0:0[0x1011]: Video: h264 (High) (HDMV / 0x564D4448), yuv420p, 1920x1080 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 90k tbn, 47.95 tbc
Stream #0:1[0x1100]: Audio: dts (DTS-HD MA) ([134][0][0][0] / 0x0086), 48000 Hz, 5.1(side), fltp, 1536 kb/s
x265 [info]: using cpu capabilities: MMX2 SSE2Fast SSSE3 SSE4.1 Cache64
x265 [info]: Main profile, Level-3.1 (Main tier)
x265 [info]: WPP streams / pool / frames : 12 / 4 / 1
x265 [info]: CU size : 64
x265 [info]: Max RQT depth inter / intra : 1 / 1
x265 [info]: ME / range / subpel / merge : hex / 57 / 2 / 2
x265 [info]: Keyframe min / max / scenecut : 23 / 250 / 40
x265 [info]: Lookahead / bframes / badapt : 20 / 4 / 2
x265 [info]: b-pyramid / weightp / refs : 1 / 1 / 3
x265 [info]: Rate Control / AQ-Strength / CUTree : ABR-1500 kbps / 1.0 / 1
x265 [info]: tools: rect amp rd=3 lft sao-lcu sign-hide
Output #0, matroska, to 'C:\Users\Marchand\Videos\Videos\00200MMMM.mkv':
Metadata:
encoder : Lavf55.35.100
Stream #0:0: Video: hevc (libx265), yuv420p, 1280x720 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], q=2-31, 1500 kb/s, 1k tbn, 23.98 tbc
Stream #0:1: Audio: ac3 (ac3_fixed) ([0] [0][0] / 0x2000), 44100 Hz, stereo, s16p, 128 kb/s
Stream mapping:
Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (h264 -> libx265)
Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (dca -> ac3_fixed)
Press [q] to stop, [?] for help

video:1166kB audio:117kB subtitle:0kB other streams:0kB global headers:0kB muxing overhead: 0.273310%
x265 [info]: frame I: 2 Avg QP:15.10 kb/s: 533.71
x265 [info]: frame P: 49 Avg QP:19.94 kb/s: 3214.83
x265 [info]: frame B: 128 Avg QP:22.56 kb/s: 548.69
x265 [info]: global : 179 Avg QP:21.76 kb/s: 1278.36
x265 [info]: Weighted P-Frames: Y:18.4% UV:16.3%
x265 [info]: consecutive B-frames: 9.8% 9.8% 5.9% 68.6% 5.9%

[vhelp]

- success - an ffmpeg re-compilation w/out libx265 support test file.

web topic: http://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1889
the test file: http://test.freeldssheetmusic.org/music/download_file?download_id=6622&name=ffmpeg.lat....no_x265.2.exe

so someone (user rogerdpack on another forum board) made a test compilation of ffmpeg without the libx265 support. i ran a quick test to see if it will load w/out that error message in post # 19 and other posts i've made here in this forum, and am happy to report (unofficially) that it is working successfully on my desktop windows xp 32bit with no problems. (note, no x265 support) but does everything else it was designed (or enabled) to do, though i haven't tested it thoroughly. just a few quicky things i usually use ffmpeg for.

thank you rogerdpack!!

[El Heggunte]

FWIW --- ffmpeg-20140328-git-64b7914-win32-static.7z still is infected by the x265 virus ¬¬

Anyway, now nobody can say that I haven't done my part

http://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1889&start=10#p6482

[racer-x]

I rather like the libx265 built into ffmpeg. it's convenient and can export already muxed to mp4, mov and mkv. I have lot's of batch files for ffmpeg, why not include some to export hevc?

Is it needed? No, x265.exe works just fine in at least two different programs I use including a video editor.

[racer-x]

Absent the negative comments by XP users, this is a legit contender for the rest of us using wn7. I averaged 8.4 fps encoding a downscaled 4k file @ ultrafast-crf=25 1080p mp4 on my 6 year-old Q9300.

Sure, DiviX265 is faster @ -aqo=1, but the quality is unuseable in my opinion. I really wouldn't go lower than -aqo=3, but then there is no speed advantage.

Anyway here is the encoded downscaled Ultrafast-crf=25 1080p clip using ffmpeg libx265 encoder:

[LigH.de]

I always again wonder where you take the second "i" in "DivX" from.

[racer-x]

I always again wonder where you take the second "i" in "DivX" from.

Sorry, my bad. Nobody ever accused me of being a genius anyway.................

[LigH.de]

P.S.:

[PATCH] restore WINXP_SUPPORT build option, workaround for CONDITION_VARIABLE on XP

From the x265 development mailing list.

Just so.

Not at all related to all the crying and shouting of the last weeks.



And now I would like to expect any kind of excuses when the patch gets commited...

[Marchand]

"C:/Users/Marchand/Downloads/ffmpeg.exe" -i "C:/Users/Marchand/Videos/Videos/00200.m2ts" -threads:v 4 -sws_flags bicubic -vf "scale=0:0,unsharp=3:3:0.05" -codec:v libx265 -b:v 1500k -af "aresample=44100" -codec:a libvo_aacenc -b:a 128k -ac 2 -y "C:/Users/Marchand/Videos/Videos/00200sss8.mp4"

I'm still learning to work with FFMPEG, forgive me for any errors.

ffmpeg version N-61444-gf3d3e3f Copyright (c) 2000-2014 the FFmpeg developers
built on Mar 13 2014 22:21:46 with gcc 4.8.2 (GCC)
configuration: --disable-static --enable-shared --enable-gpl --enable-version3
--disable-w32threads --enable-avisynth --enable-bzlib --enable-fontconfig --ena
ble-frei0r --enable-gnutls --enable-iconv --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --e
nable-libcaca --enable-libfreetype --enable-libgsm --enable-libilbc --enable-lib
modplug --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrw
b --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopus --enable-librtmp --enable-libschroedinge
r --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --en
able-libvidstab --enable-libvo-aacenc --enable-libvo-amrwbenc --enable-libvorbis
--enable-libvpx --enable-libwavpack --enable-libx264 --enable-libx265 --enable-
libxavs --enable-libxvid --enable-zlib
libavutil 52. 66.101 / 52. 66.101
libavcodec 55. 52.102 / 55. 52.102
libavformat 55. 34.101 / 55. 34.101
libavdevice 55. 11.100 / 55. 11.100
libavfilter 4. 3.100 / 4. 3.100
libswscale 2. 5.101 / 2. 5.101
libswresample 0. 18.100 / 0. 18.100
libpostproc 52. 3.100 / 52. 3.100
Input #0, mpegts, from 'C:/Users/Marchand/Videos/Videos/00200.m2ts':
Duration: 00:00:07.46, start: 11.650667, bitrate: 41412 kb/s
Program 1
Stream #0:0[0x1011]: Video: h264 (High) (HDMV / 0x564D4448), yuv420p, 1920x1
080 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], 23.98 fps, 23.98 tbr, 90k tbn, 47.95 tbc
Stream #0:1[0x1100]: Audio: dts (DTS-HD MA) ([134][0][0][0] / 0x0086), 48000
Hz, 5.1(side), fltp, 1536 kb/s
x265 [info]: using cpu capabilities: MMX2 SSE2Fast SSSE3 SSE4.1 Cache64
x265 [info]: Main profile, Level-4 (Main tier)
x265 [info]: WPP streams / pool / frames : 17 / 4 / 4
x265 [info]: CU size : 64
x265 [info]: Max RQT depth inter / intra : 1 / 1
x265 [info]: ME / range / subpel / merge : hex / 57 / 2 / 2
x265 [info]: Keyframe min / max / scenecut : 23 / 250 / 40
x265 [info]: Lookahead / bframes / badapt : 20 / 4 / 2
x265 [info]: b-pyramid / weightp / refs : 1 / 1 / 3
x265 [info]: Rate Control / AQ-Strength / CUTree : ABR-1500 kbps / 1.0 / 1
x265 [info]: tools: rect amp rd=3 lft sao-lcu sign-hide
Output #0, mp4, to 'C:/Users/Marchand/Videos/Videos/00200sss8.mp4':
Metadata:
encoder : Lavf55.34.101
Stream #0:0: Video: hevc (libx265) ([35][0][0][0] / 0x0023), yuv420p, 1920x1
080 [SAR 1:1 DAR 16:9], q=2-31, 1500 kb/s, 24k tbn, 23.98 tbc
Stream #0:1: Audio: aac (libvo_aacenc) ([64][0][0][0] / 0x0040), 44100 Hz, s
tereo, s16, 128 kb/s
Stream mapping:
Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (h264 -> libx265)
Stream #0:1 -> #0:1 (dca -> libvo_aacenc)
Press [q] to stop, [?] for help

video:1166kB audio:118kB subtitle:0 data:0 global headers:0kB muxing overhead 0.
533790%
x265 [info]: frame I: 2 Avg QP:18.35 kb/s: 728.78
x265 [info]: frame P: 59 Avg QP:24.19 kb/s: 2735.29
x265 [info]: frame B: 118 Avg QP:26.24 kb/s: 559.84
x265 [info]: global : 179 Avg QP:25.48 kb/s: 1278.78
x265 [info]: 13 of 59 (22.03%) P frames weighted
x265 [info]: consecutive B-frames: 8.2% 6.6% 70.5% 13.1% 1.6%

C:\Users\Marchand\Videos\Videos>