H264 Demo at DVinfo.net

Peter Wiley · May 2nd, 2005, 09:20 AM

For what it's worth I have posted an example of a short clip compressed with the H264 codec via quicktime conversion through FCPHD with the QT7. You will need QT7 to play it.

This was shot 16:9 24p on Canon XL2. 11.2MB. Data rate was limited to 1200 kB and original size is 720x405.

The neat thing is how fast the picture scales and the quality over all. Download link is:

www.arbourmedia.com/media/H264test.mov

John C. Chu · May 4th, 2005, 05:49 AM

I was amazed how your H.264 sample was both Hi-quality and relatively small file size. I can't wait till Windows users have access to Quicktime 7 to play this stuff. [That's probably why no one has commented so far.]

I was inspired enough to test a few clips myself from video shot with my PDX-10 right out of iMovie to Quicktime Movie H.264.

Very impressive!(though I could use a faster Mac to encode DV to H.264).
I have never before been able to encode a file as clear and be size-manageable in terms of file size. Everyone says Sorenson encoder etc. but for an enthusiast like myself, H.264 is a winner and all you need is Quicktime 7 pro.

Nigel Moore · May 4th, 2005, 06:03 AM

Actually, Cleaner XL's output using the Apple mp4 encoder of last year is better (quality and size) than Sorenson 3 IMO.

Philippe Simon · May 4th, 2005, 09:24 AM

Windows users can play H.264 using VLC.

Christopher C. Murphy · May 4th, 2005, 09:33 AM

This is awesome! It's great to see real world video online using the new Quicktime 7 Pro.

I've got to wait until Final Cut Studio is released later this month, but until then it's nice to see stuff.

Great quality clip that streamed to me in about 3 seconds.

John C. Chu · May 4th, 2005, 11:05 AM

Well here goes-- a 1.4 meg Quicktime H.264 file encoded from iMovie directly.
It is a short 21 second clip, 360x202 pixels, 24fps high quality...
http://homepage.mac.com/johnchu/julia.mov

My niece being held by my sister.

Mark Sloan · May 4th, 2005, 11:06 AM

This guy did a compare of DiVX and H.264:
http://homepage.mac.com/gsf/divxvsh264.png

from http://xlr8yourmac.com/
'The top file is a DivX file created by Forty-Two VX Plus, set to 700 Megs target size (final output at 678) 512 pixels wide (for doubling to watch on a 1024 screen, like an iBook 12") with 2 pass encoding

The bottom file is a H.264 file created by handbrake set to 700 Megs target size (final output at 671) 512 pixels wide with 2 pass encoding.

one word : wow
I mean - its not even a contest. The clarity and quality of H.264 is just beyond what even i expected, now that i get to work with it every day.

i do a lot of travel as a video engineer, so i like to take my movies with me on my Powerbook 12"... the sad part is that i'm going to have to go back and re-compress all my movies now... at least my G5 at home will be happily cranking on stuff for me during the day.
-don '

Mikey Williams · May 5th, 2005, 05:39 PM

I just exported my first peice with h.264 and wow i was so amazed. But it didn't come out 16:9, so i am trying using the size that u used, 720x405, hopefully that works... Funny thing is, i didn't pay to upgrade to QT7 Pro, i just downloaded the upgrade that pops up on my computer automatically and it still showed up in the FCP4 export settings and worked fine! I love it!

Mark Sloan · May 5th, 2005, 06:23 PM

Yeah. I thought the Pro License ONLY affected what the QT player itself could do. $30 is such a rip off in that light! Especially after paying $129 for Tiger!!!

Peter Wiley · May 7th, 2005, 07:23 AM

I also noticed that downloading QT7 gives you access to the H264 codec in FCP even if you haven't upgraded to the Pro version of QT.

I found, however, that after I upgraded to QT7 Pro the compression times from FCP were much shorter, or seemed to be.

Matthew Kent · May 29th, 2005, 02:37 AM

Forgive me for my ignorance, as I'm just entering the web compressing game, but what audio codec is best for use in conjunction with H.264?

---------------------------
edit: nvm... I figured it out :P

John C. Chu · June 2nd, 2005, 11:57 AM

I was looking at the raw footage straight out of my PDX-10 the other night on a direct view 30" 16:9 Samsung CRT HDTV[properly calibrated] and was thinking to myself how great DV can look.

Too bad so much gets lost when a DVD is created from this footage after it is all compressed.

The question is this:

Short of getting a miniDV deck to use as a regular television playback commponent--- will H.264 allow really HIGH quality encoding/maxiumum bit rate/so I can view highest possible quality versions of the finished video on a new HD-DVD playeer or perhaps even on regular 4.7 gig DVD?
[I read the ioDATA is coming out with a h.264 capable DVD player also]

That is, with the huge storage space on these new HD discs...can one make their own ultra "superbit" versions of videos that is almost indistinguishable from the original raw DV footage?

And superior to regular old MPEG-2 DVDs?

Zach Mull · June 7th, 2005, 03:29 PM

You won't be able to play it on a TV. DVDs only support MPEG-2, so you'll have to wait for one of the new players. You can, as I understand it, author HD-DVDs on DVDSP4 that you can play back on Macs, but that won't help you get it to your TV.

Boyd Ostroff · June 7th, 2005, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John C. Chu

Too bad so much gets lost when a DVD is created from this footage after it is all compressed.

Question is, how are you encoding your DVD's? I just recently got a Mac with a Superdrive, but haven't used it yet. For the past few years I've been using a standalone Sony RDR-GX7 DVD recorder. Most of the time it is very hard to tell the DVD from the original tape, and I'm using a Samsung 22" 16:9 LCD to edit and Panasonic 37" Plasma screen too.

The exception is when it's bad (noisy) footage to start with, then the compression plays tricks with you. But I only burn DVD's at the highest quality mode, 1 hour per disk.

From everything I've read, many of the software encoders are pretty poor. Do a search, people have recommended specific software on both the Mac and PC to do a better job of MPEG-2 encoding. Or look for a DVD recorder with firewire input, they're getting pretty reasonable these days.

May 2nd, 2005, 09:20 AM	#1
Peter Wiley Major Player Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lewisburg PA Posts: 752	H264 Demo For what it's worth I have posted an example of a short clip compressed with the H264 codec via quicktime conversion through FCPHD with the QT7. You will need QT7 to play it. This was shot 16:9 24p on Canon XL2. 11.2MB. Data rate was limited to 1200 kB and original size is 720x405. The neat thing is how fast the picture scales and the quality over all. Download link is: www.arbourmedia.com/media/H264test.mov Last edited by Peter Wiley; May 2nd, 2005 at 09:23 AM. Reason: typos

May 4th, 2005, 05:49 AM	#2
John C. Chu Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Rego Park , NYC Posts: 665	I was amazed how your H.264 sample was both Hi-quality and relatively small file size. I can't wait till Windows users have access to Quicktime 7 to play this stuff. [That's probably why no one has commented so far.] I was inspired enough to test a few clips myself from video shot with my PDX-10 right out of iMovie to Quicktime Movie H.264. Very impressive!(though I could use a faster Mac to encode DV to H.264). I have never before been able to encode a file as clear and be size-manageable in terms of file size. Everyone says Sorenson encoder etc. but for an enthusiast like myself, H.264 is a winner and all you need is Quicktime 7 pro. Last edited by John C. Chu; May 4th, 2005 at 05:49 AM. Reason: spelliing

May 4th, 2005, 06:03 AM	#3
Nigel Moore Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Switzerland Posts: 358	Actually, Cleaner XL's output using the Apple mp4 encoder of last year is better (quality and size) than Sorenson 3 IMO. __________________ _________________ Time flies like an arrow Fruit flies like a banana

May 4th, 2005, 09:33 AM	#5
Christopher C. Murphy Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,707	This is awesome! It's great to see real world video online using the new Quicktime 7 Pro. I've got to wait until Final Cut Studio is released later this month, but until then it's nice to see stuff. Great quality clip that streamed to me in about 3 seconds. __________________ Christopher C. Murphy Director, Producer, Writer

May 5th, 2005, 05:39 PM	#8
Mikey Williams Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Squamish, BC, Canada Posts: 28	I just exported my first peice with h.264 and wow i was so amazed. But it didn't come out 16:9, so i am trying using the size that u used, 720x405, hopefully that works... Funny thing is, i didn't pay to upgrade to QT7 Pro, i just downloaded the upgrade that pops up on my computer automatically and it still showed up in the FCP4 export settings and worked fine! I love it! __________________ Mikey Williams Down To Earth Productions

May 4th, 2005, 09:24 AM	#4
Philippe Simon New Boot Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Houtkerke/Fransvlaanderen/France Posts: 13	Windows users can play H.264 using VLC.

May 4th, 2005, 11:05 AM	#6
John C. Chu Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Rego Park , NYC Posts: 665	Well here goes-- a 1.4 meg Quicktime H.264 file encoded from iMovie directly. It is a short 21 second clip, 360x202 pixels, 24fps high quality... http://homepage.mac.com/johnchu/julia.mov My niece being held by my sister.

May 4th, 2005, 11:06 AM	#7
Mark Sloan Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 346	This guy did a compare of DiVX and H.264: http://homepage.mac.com/gsf/divxvsh264.png from http://xlr8yourmac.com/ 'The top file is a DivX file created by Forty-Two VX Plus, set to 700 Megs target size (final output at 678) 512 pixels wide (for doubling to watch on a 1024 screen, like an iBook 12") with 2 pass encoding The bottom file is a H.264 file created by handbrake set to 700 Megs target size (final output at 671) 512 pixels wide with 2 pass encoding. one word : wow I mean - its not even a contest. The clarity and quality of H.264 is just beyond what even i expected, now that i get to work with it every day. i do a lot of travel as a video engineer, so i like to take my movies with me on my Powerbook 12"... the sad part is that i'm going to have to go back and re-compress all my movies now... at least my G5 at home will be happily cranking on stuff for me during the day. -don '

May 5th, 2005, 06:23 PM	#9
Mark Sloan Major Player Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 346	Yeah. I thought the Pro License ONLY affected what the QT player itself could do. $30 is such a rip off in that light! Especially after paying $129 for Tiger!!!

May 7th, 2005, 07:23 AM	#10
Peter Wiley Major Player Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lewisburg PA Posts: 752	I also noticed that downloading QT7 gives you access to the H264 codec in FCP even if you haven't upgraded to the Pro version of QT. I found, however, that after I upgraded to QT7 Pro the compression times from FCP were much shorter, or seemed to be.

May 29th, 2005, 02:37 AM	#11
Matthew Kent Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Location: Berkeley, Ca Posts: 75	Forgive me for my ignorance, as I'm just entering the web compressing game, but what audio codec is best for use in conjunction with H.264? --------------------------- edit: nvm... I figured it out :P Last edited by Matthew Kent; May 29th, 2005 at 04:46 AM.

June 2nd, 2005, 11:57 AM	#12
John C. Chu Major Player Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Rego Park , NYC Posts: 665	I was looking at the raw footage straight out of my PDX-10 the other night on a direct view 30" 16:9 Samsung CRT HDTV[properly calibrated] and was thinking to myself how great DV can look. Too bad so much gets lost when a DVD is created from this footage after it is all compressed. The question is this: Short of getting a miniDV deck to use as a regular television playback commponent--- will H.264 allow really HIGH quality encoding/maxiumum bit rate/so I can view highest possible quality versions of the finished video on a new HD-DVD playeer or perhaps even on regular 4.7 gig DVD? [I read the ioDATA is coming out with a h.264 capable DVD player also] That is, with the huge storage space on these new HD discs...can one make their own ultra "superbit" versions of videos that is almost indistinguishable from the original raw DV footage? And superior to regular old MPEG-2 DVDs?

June 7th, 2005, 03:29 PM	#13
Zach Mull Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 273	You won't be able to play it on a TV. DVDs only support MPEG-2, so you'll have to wait for one of the new players. You can, as I understand it, author HD-DVDs on DVDSP4 that you can play back on Macs, but that won't help you get it to your TV.