mpeg2

evomedia_ · Post by **evomedia_** » Mon Nov 17, 2003 17:54

Mpeg 2 is pointless to vj with as although quality and playback are great when playing at original speed, it is not suited to be scratched, altered or layered. Due to computer power needed to decode the video. Cinepak or MVcodec are the best for playout, not because of quality but because they take the least processor power to decode.

You'll always have problems playing back mpeg2. Another codec tip is keyframe every frame when encoding, as it redraws every frame, this slowdown intitail playout but allows more scratching.

DV by the way isn't designed to vj with either, its only the inbuilt dv decoders in cameras that make it seem super quick, however soft like resolume would not be able to decode fast enough to play and mix efficiently and smoothly.

however alway happy to be proved wrong

videoteque_ · Post by **videoteque_** » Mon Dec 01, 2003 12:50

"Mpeg 2 is pointless to vj"

Then please, show as what VJ is about and HOW should we, the rest of the world, do it properly...

)

I think Resolume does a lot of things, some better and some worse. For me, high quality play-back, without being forced to go uncompressed or high-rate M-JPEG is good. Since MPEG-2 is a nice format to achieve this, it would be great to be able to read MPEG-2 files correctly. It is obvious that if you intend to scratch, it's pointless. But to be able to play long background clips, MAY WORK, for some people, eg: me!

MPEG-2 is a worldwide standard video format.

IMHO

nz_ · Post by **nz_** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 21:18

Videoteque: use a DVD player

They are cheaper then resolume =D But I have also put some effort into mpg2 encoding. It uses an IPB format of coding the frames. Now isn't it possible to encode an mpg2 stream in just I-frames. This should be the same as keyframe every frame in any other code. Just got in to it, so correct me if I am wrong. This any attempt this? Cause I do agree with Videoteque the quality is bliss

nz_ · Post by **nz_** » Wed Dec 10, 2003 21:19

ok excuse my french, it's the wine

nz

ether_ · Post by **ether_** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 01:59

thanks NZ - a DVD player is definitely the best way to get a long (non-scratching) piecce of hi-res video in the mix- it also leaves a channel free in Resolume for more mixing. However, often when i'm touring i want to take as little gear as possible, as the band i work with always gets hit with excess baggage charges at the airport.
For them, I often use a long movie playing in the background layer in resolume then mix over top of it. I'm starting to use the PICmjpeg codec. It is very fast to compress/decompress and is much better quality than indeo - as good as mpeg IMO (if not better).

videoteque: be cautious using the term "standard video format". While i understand what you mean by it, video formats a so varied and change so often that it is hard to give any format that label.

videoteque_ · Post by **videoteque_** » Fri Dec 12, 2003 03:32

I don't know why should I travel with a DVD player if I have a computer with enough power to read an MPEG2 file.

And I understand that talking about standards in video formats is very difficult, but VHS, BetacamSP, DigiBeta, etc. Are all STANDARDS. And MPEG2, present in DVDs and Satellite TVs all around the world IS A STANDARD also. How much will it last, I don't know thought!!!

t3RRORbit_ · Post by **t3RRORbit_** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 21:07

hello!!

i just installed pegasus mjpeg codec 2.0 to my system and tried to code a clip with it,

i used qualtity 19/20 nothing more made a video with
640x480 at 15 frame

same with old stupid indeo 5.11

the indeo file looks very fine, 15 second clip 8 MB

the same clip with mjpeg looks horizantal-lined not that good and has 13 mb

am i doing something wrong?? could you please help me.

i thought mjpeg is going to make small files!
i also thought quality would be much better then indeo!

what i like at mjpeg is the encoding engine, its very fast!!!

ether_ · Post by **ether_** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 22:22

hi t3RRORbit

i use 18/20 for quality and file sizes are similar to indeo - also check the advanceed options for the codec - i think there is an option that automatically renders fields when over a certain size or data rate, turn that off and it should prevent the horizontal lines.
Will post again when i've checked on my PC

t3RRORbit_ · Post by **t3RRORbit_** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 22:47

thank you very much, just tried it, and your right, it works fine, file size now, even smaller then indeo!!!

thats really great!

i used 18/20 for quality and at advances i deactivated
2 fields if more than xxx lines

now it looks very good, very simular to indeo!!!

i would be very pleased if somebody else would post something about the best settings for this codec, but for now i decided to use mjpeg for the future and even go to recode all my footages

lotech_ · Post by **lotech_** » Tue Dec 16, 2003 23:03

We're with ether on this one - MJPEG is the way - if you're actually concerned with quality then forget HD space -
42sec 640x480 Mjpeg (18/20 setting) clip is 59.9mb..the same file in original DV format stocks in at 145mb..
We've just added a S-ATA 10k rpm Raptor Hard Drive which is now letting us get 2 layers (w/ effects) of DV with no slowdown - so we get to buy the cake and eat it too..