comparison DOCS/xml/en/encoding-guide.xml @ 17755:7d2a7df681e6

various improvements of the section "Choosing the video codec"

17754:a84008150411

<sect2 id="menc-feat-dvd-mpeg4-codec">
<title>Choosing the video codec</title>

<para>
  Choosing the video codec to use depends on several factors, some of
  which widely depend on personal taste and technical constraints.
</para>
<itemizedlist>
  <listitem><para>
  <emphasis role="bold">Compression efficiency</emphasis>:
  It is quite easy to understand that newer-generation codecs are made
  to yield better picture quality than previous generations.
  Therefore, you cannot go wrong
  <footnote id='fn-menc-feat-dvd-mpeg4-codec-cpu'>
  <para>Be careful, however: Decoding DVD-resolution MPEG-4 AVC videos
  requires a fast machine (i.e. a Pentium 4 over 1.5Ghz or a Pentium M
  over 1Ghz).
  </para></footnote>
  when choosing MPEG-4 AVC codecs like
  <systemitem class="library">x264</systemitem> instead of MPEG-4 ASP codecs
  such as <systemitem class="library">libavcodec</systemitem> MPEG-4 or
  <systemitem class="library">XviD</systemitem>.
  (To get a better grasp of what the fundamental differences between
  MPEG-4 ASP and MPEG-4 AVC are, you would be well advised to read the entry
  "<ulink url="http://guru.multimedia.cx/?p=10">15 reasons why MPEG4 sucks</ulink>"
  from Michael Niedermayer's blog.)
  Likewise, you should get better quality using MPEG-4 ASP instead
  of MPEG-2 codecs.
  </para>
  <para>
  However, newer codecs which are in heavy development can suffer from
  bugs which have not yet been noticed and which can ruin an encode.
  This is simply the tradeoff for using bleeding-edge technology.

  However, they may have some very advanced options that, if enabled,
  will make the encode really slow for marginal gains.
  </para>
  <para>
  If you are after blazing speed you should stick around the default
  settings of the video codec (which does not mean you should not experiment
  with some of the options which are mentioned in other sections
  of this guide).
  </para>
  <para>
  You may also consider choosing a codec which can do multi-threaded
  processing.
  <systemitem class="library">libavcodec</systemitem> MPEG-4 does
  allow that, resulting in small speed gains at the price of lower
  picture quality.
  <systemitem class="library">XviD</systemitem> has some experimental
  patches available to boost encoding speed, by about 40-60% in typical
  cases, with low picture degradation.
  <systemitem class="library">x264</systemitem> also allows multi-threaded
  encoding, which currently speeds-up encoding by 15-30% while lowering
  PSNR by about 0.05dB.
  </para></listitem>

  <listitem><para>
  <emphasis role="bold">Personal taste</emphasis>:
  This is where it gets almost irrational: For the same reason that some

  some folks will prefer <systemitem class="library">XviD</systemitem>
  or <systemitem class="library">libavcodec</systemitem> MPEG-4 over
  <systemitem class="library">x264</systemitem>.
  </para>
  <para>
  Make your own judgment, and do not always listen to what some people will
  tell you to do or think: The best codec is the one you master the best,
  and the one that looks best to your eyes on your display
  <footnote id='fn-menc-feat-dvd-mpeg4-codec-playback'>
  <para>The same encode may not look the same on someone else's monitor or
  when played back by a different decoder, so future-proof your encodes by
  playing them back on different setups.</para></footnote>!
  </para></listitem>

17755:7d2a7df681e6

<sect2 id="menc-feat-dvd-mpeg4-codec">
<title>Choosing the video codec</title>

<para>
  Which video codec is best to choose depends on several factors,
  like size, quality, streamability, usability and popularity, some of
  which widely depend on personal taste and technical constraints.
</para>
<itemizedlist>
  <listitem><para>
  <emphasis role="bold">Compression efficiency</emphasis>:
  It is quite easy to understand that most newer-generation codecs are
  made to increase quality and compression.
  Therefore, the authors of this guide and many other people suggest that
  you cannot go wrong
  <footnote id='fn-menc-feat-dvd-mpeg4-codec-cpu'>
  <para>Be careful, however: Decoding DVD-resolution MPEG-4 AVC videos
  requires a fast machine (i.e. a Pentium 4 over 1.5Ghz or a Pentium M
  over 1Ghz).
  </para></footnote>
  when choosing MPEG-4 AVC codecs like
  <systemitem class="library">x264</systemitem> instead of MPEG-4 ASP codecs
  such as <systemitem class="library">libavcodec</systemitem> MPEG-4 or
  <systemitem class="library">XviD</systemitem>.
  (Advanced codec developers may be interested in reading Michael
  Niedermayer's opinion on
  "<ulink url="http://guru.multimedia.cx/?p=10">why MPEG4-ASP sucks</ulink>".)
  Likewise, you should get better quality using MPEG-4 ASP than you
  would with MPEG-2 codecs.
  </para>
  <para>
  However, newer codecs which are in heavy development can suffer from
  bugs which have not yet been noticed and which can ruin an encode.
  This is simply the tradeoff for using bleeding-edge technology.

  However, they may have some very advanced options that, if enabled,
  will make the encode really slow for marginal gains.
  </para>
  <para>
  If you are after blazing speed you should stick around the default
  settings of the video codec (although you should still try the other
  options which are mentioned in other sections of this guide).
  </para>
  <para>
  You may also consider choosing a codec which can do multi-threaded
  processing, though this is only useful for users of machines with
  several CPUs.
  <systemitem class="library">libavcodec</systemitem> MPEG-4 does
  allow that, but speed gains are limited, and there is a slight
  negative effect on picture quality.
  <systemitem class="library">XviD</systemitem>'s multi-threaded encoding,
  activated by the <options>threads</option> option, can be used to
  boost encoding speed &mdash; by about 40-60% in typical cases &mdash;
  with little if any picture degradation.
  <systemitem class="library">x264</systemitem> also allows multi-threaded
  encoding, which currently speeds up encoding by 15-30% (depending on
  the encoding settings) while lowering PSNR by about 0.05dB.
  </para></listitem>

  <listitem><para>
  <emphasis role="bold">Personal taste</emphasis>:
  This is where it gets almost irrational: For the same reason that some

  some folks will prefer <systemitem class="library">XviD</systemitem>
  or <systemitem class="library">libavcodec</systemitem> MPEG-4 over
  <systemitem class="library">x264</systemitem>.
  </para>
  <para>
  You should make your own judgement; do not take advice from people who
  swear by one codec.
  Take a few sample clips from raw sources and compare different
  encoding options and codecs to find one that suits you best.
  The best codec is the one you master, and the one that looks
  best to your eyes on your display
  <footnote id='fn-menc-feat-dvd-mpeg4-codec-playback'>
  <para>The same encode may not look the same on someone else's monitor or
  when played back by a different decoder, so future-proof your encodes by
  playing them back on different setups.</para></footnote>!
  </para></listitem>