Difference between H.264 and x264? at DVinfo.net

Edwin Street · July 23rd, 2012, 02:59 AM

What is the difference between these two codecs? I'm always using H.264 when encoding something for youtube. Whether I'm using Final Cut Pro, Quicktime or MPEG Streamclip it's always H.264 for keeping file size low and best quality. I've read about this x264 and it even has it's own wiki page but I can't seem to understand what it does or what it would be used for.

Colin Rowe · July 23rd, 2012, 07:11 AM

x264 Encoder is an encoding engine that produces video in the H.264/AVC standard. Google it, there are pages out there

Seth Bloombaum · July 23rd, 2012, 10:05 AM

h.264 is not a single codec. It is a codec spec that is written by a committee that is now a standard. There are numerous implementations of h.264, Sony's, MainConcept's, Apple/QT's come to mind as distribution codecs. Within this standard there are many liberties one might take in designing a codec that still conforms to the spec, but satisfies particular purposes.

For example, alpha-channel transparency is part of the codec spec, but I have been unable to find a codec/encoder that supports it.

x264 is an h.264 codec *and* an encoder. It is open-source, and is one of the best h.264 codecs. The package includes a command-line encoder, which is quite acceptable in certain circles, but very opaque to the casual user.

x264 may be installed/configured in such a way as to give codec access to your favorite encoder, eg. there is a method for making x264 available in Apple Compressor. The latest Sorenson Squeeze includes x264. There is a very nice open-source freeware called Handbrake that provides a graphical user interface (GUI), and is one of the easiest and best ways to create video for web distribution.

July 23rd, 2012, 02:59 AM	#1
Edwin Street Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 25	Difference between H.264 and x264? What is the difference between these two codecs? I'm always using H.264 when encoding something for youtube. Whether I'm using Final Cut Pro, Quicktime or MPEG Streamclip it's always H.264 for keeping file size low and best quality. I've read about this x264 and it even has it's own wiki page but I can't seem to understand what it does or what it would be used for.

July 23rd, 2012, 07:11 AM	#2
Colin Rowe Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cornwall UK Posts: 793	Re: Difference between H.264 and x264? x264 Encoder is an encoding engine that produces video in the H.264/AVC standard. Google it, there are pages out there __________________ Colin

July 23rd, 2012, 10:05 AM	#3
Seth Bloombaum Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,420	Re: Difference between H.264 and x264? h.264 is not a single codec. It is a codec spec that is written by a committee that is now a standard. There are numerous implementations of h.264, Sony's, MainConcept's, Apple/QT's come to mind as distribution codecs. Within this standard there are many liberties one might take in designing a codec that still conforms to the spec, but satisfies particular purposes. For example, alpha-channel transparency is part of the codec spec, but I have been unable to find a codec/encoder that supports it. x264 is an h.264 codec and an encoder. It is open-source, and is one of the best h.264 codecs. The package includes a command-line encoder, which is quite acceptable in certain circles, but very opaque to the casual user. x264 may be installed/configured in such a way as to give codec access to your favorite encoder, eg. there is a method for making x264 available in Apple Compressor. The latest Sorenson Squeeze includes x264. There is a very nice open-source freeware called Handbrake that provides a graphical user interface (GUI), and is one of the easiest and best ways to create video for web distribution. __________________ 30 years of pro media production. Vegas user since 1.0. Webcaster since 1997. Freelancer since 2000. College instructor since 2001.