Reviving An Old Debate.....

**Frenchy** · 10-03-2007, 03:56 AM

Well what I wish to Put forward is x264 codec over mpeg-1 codec.
Not Only is it a much better format (the best IMHO). It can Offer Near DVD quality Picture for an MPEG-1 File Size.
Heres some Sample Pics: End Of Fashion Oh Yeah
The First Pic MPEG-1 video screen

The Second Pic x264 video Stream

These 2 videos are in the Same Video Bitrate 1150kbps

If You Can't see the difference there. Then I can Send you a Sample Videos of Each In both Formats

**chooks** · 10-03-2007, 04:02 AM

I doubt VP will change formats but you can try.

Personally I would rather not cut the black off of videos (unless they are intentional full-screen vids). That is assuming all x264 videos will cut the black off.

I think VP has the mpg encoding down to a very high quality art, so go with what you're good at.

**Serch** · 10-03-2007, 11:49 AM

x264 is much better, it's ages ahead compared to mpeg-1 that was found back in 1988/1989 but x264 requires much more resources from your computer, the fact that they can be with the same bitrate is not only better copression of information but the fact that x264 can recreat (that's what it uses the power for in most cases) such a good picture from the same bitrate.

It doesn't make much of sense to create and release something in x264 if it's not taken from HD channel beacuse almost only HD channels can guarante the proper quality.

Stills you've taken (it's not perfect but it isn't bad either) don't really show it all if the video is interlaced and moving the quality of it will decrease.

We'll probably start releasing some videos in XViD in couple of months but it's still a work in progress

**Frenchy** · 10-04-2007, 01:33 AM

Originally Posted by Serch

It doesn't make much of sense to create and release something in x264 if it's not taken from HD channel beacuse almost only HD channels can guarante the proper quality.

Well I wouldn't trust the HD channels in Australia,Techinical Difficulties Galore. I'd hate to see how much more often these problems would occur if they upgraded to 1080p (I can dream)

**VampYre** · 10-04-2007, 05:38 AM

It also comes down to supporting the codecs. We get enough questions, and emails about m2v files as is. We would have to start another forum area just for codec issues.

The whole "why won't this video play on my computer/laptop/apple/mac/linux machine" question. Not to mention when they have the wrong codec loaded and it plays incorrectly, or causes their machine which is from 1998 to crash..."your video crashed MY COMPUTER!!" ect. lol!

**Frenchy** · 10-04-2007, 06:41 PM

you could just say, VLC is the answer

**hplee** · 10-05-2007, 01:05 AM

yeah vlc is quite good as it can run on many os such as windows, mac and many linux platforms.. more info on http://www.videolan.org/vlc/.. hope this will help those with compatibility problems with m2v or mpg..

**Frenchy** · 11-05-2007, 02:42 AM

Well right Now I'm First Pass Encoding a x264 sample for VP.
Should look good Will PM Admins. If they would like to see my proof of concept.

**Stephen76** · 01-26-2008, 01:41 AM

Maybe we can add the x264 vids as an option, along with the normal version?
Kinda like the m2v ones?

I'd like the higher quality vids for SOME clips, but not all.

**crash** · 01-26-2008, 03:11 AM

Originally Posted by Stephen76

Maybe we can add the x264 vids as an option, along with the normal version?
Kinda like the m2v ones?

I'd like the higher quality vids for SOME clips, but not all.

that would be a good idea. hope the admins will allow x264 vids.

**Piano** · 01-26-2008, 10:36 AM

I would like to add just my two cents on this one.

I think that VideoPimp is choosing .mpg because it is universal codec that supports on all (is it all?) operating system without installing any codecs. So, this will be easier for those who are not familiar in the computing world.

Like what VampYre said, if we release videos that is other than the universal codec, we need our users to install a codec on their machine. So some users will not understand why they have to install any codecs while most of their own videos could play without any problem (such as DVDs, streaming and etc.). The worst part is when they installed the wrong codec or accidently duplicates a lot of codecs on their machine will cause the playback goes "upside down".

The users already having problems with the .m2v files like what VampYre said.

I am actually talking about users who are not familiar in computing.

I strongly suggest that we should have another forum about migrating from .mpg to other format. Because I wanted that to happen too.

**JoshBosh** · 02-03-2008, 05:27 PM

just go the bastard route of HDWMV. Only works on Windows and the xbox 360.... works rather nice on the xbox360 if i am honest, and its the ONLY reason i shelled out for a 360.

**Frenchy** · 02-03-2008, 09:58 PM

Xbox 360 can also h.264 files which pretty much are x264's and so can PS3 and Windows and Mac.

**Piano** · 02-03-2008, 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by Frenchy

Xbox 360 can also h.264 files which pretty much are x264's and so can PS3 and Windows and Mac.

Hmmmm..sounds great. What about Linux? We are talking about universal here, so could not left out Linux.

For H.264 on Windows, still requires a codec.

**Frenchy** · 02-03-2008, 11:53 PM

Originally Posted by Piano

Hmmmm..sounds great. What about Linux? We are talking about universal here, so could not left out Linux.

For H.264 on Windows, still requires a codec.

Yes, VLC media player (recommended for x264) supports Win, Mac and most builds of Linux without having to install codecs.