Archiving purpose codec at DVinfo.net

Luis Rolo · February 22nd, 2008, 07:46 AM

Hi everybody.
I'm trying to figure out a good codec for archiving all my footage.
Since i always store my tapes, what i want is a "what if everything goes wrong" file. Like i do with my photos. I always shoot Raw + Jpeg. If the raw file gets corrupted or lost, i always have a lower quality jpeg.
What would be the ideal format for video? Mpeg2? H264? Another format?
Remember this is only to ensure i have something if my tapes get bad.

Thanks.

L.R.

Daniel Browning · February 22nd, 2008, 12:18 PM

It sounds like size is your primary concern. With a variable bitrate and average rates around 4-6 Mbps for 720p, h.264 encoded by the x264 library is top of the class right now. The quality easily outstrips MPEG-2 at 18-24 Mbps, and even other h.264 encoders with almost twice the bitrate. The trade off is that there is a steep learning curve, the encoder settings have to be tuned just right, and it will be very slow and incompatible with Quicktime.

Emre Safak · February 22nd, 2008, 12:23 PM

I too would use H.264, since it is an ISO standard.

Luis Rolo · February 22nd, 2008, 01:48 PM

Thanks guys.
I was thinking about making the conversion with Compressor or with Final Cut's media manager, so x264 would not be an option. What should be the bit-rate for the normal h-264?

Edit: Just found a x264 installer for quicktime, so it will be compatible with compressor at least. Any suggestion on the settings?

Luis Rolo · February 22nd, 2008, 04:51 PM

After some tests, it seems that h-264 is really the way to go. Now i just need to find a nice way of indexing and browsing all the files.

February 22nd, 2008, 07:46 AM	#1
Luis Rolo Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Guarda, Portugal Posts: 119	Archiving purpose codec Hi everybody. I'm trying to figure out a good codec for archiving all my footage. Since i always store my tapes, what i want is a "what if everything goes wrong" file. Like i do with my photos. I always shoot Raw + Jpeg. If the raw file gets corrupted or lost, i always have a lower quality jpeg. What would be the ideal format for video? Mpeg2? H264? Another format? Remember this is only to ensure i have something if my tapes get bad. Thanks. L.R.

February 22nd, 2008, 12:18 PM	#2
Daniel Browning Major Player Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 949	It sounds like size is your primary concern. With a variable bitrate and average rates around 4-6 Mbps for 720p, h.264 encoded by the x264 library is top of the class right now. The quality easily outstrips MPEG-2 at 18-24 Mbps, and even other h.264 encoders with almost twice the bitrate. The trade off is that there is a steep learning curve, the encoder settings have to be tuned just right, and it will be very slow and incompatible with Quicktime.

February 22nd, 2008, 12:23 PM	#3
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	I too would use H.264, since it is an ISO standard.

February 22nd, 2008, 01:48 PM	#4
Luis Rolo Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Guarda, Portugal Posts: 119	Thanks guys. I was thinking about making the conversion with Compressor or with Final Cut's media manager, so x264 would not be an option. What should be the bit-rate for the normal h-264? Edit: Just found a x264 installer for quicktime, so it will be compatible with compressor at least. Any suggestion on the settings?

February 22nd, 2008, 04:51 PM	#5
Luis Rolo Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Guarda, Portugal Posts: 119	After some tests, it seems that h-264 is really the way to go. Now i just need to find a nice way of indexing and browsing all the files.