comparison DOCS/man/en/mplayer.1 @ 20054:8760c8681eac

Remove the x264 option parser, and pass the options on to libx264 as a string instead. This provides automatic support for all current and future x264 options. A few options had to be reorganized: partitions, deblockalpha/beta, me, direct_pred.

20053:63979c96cca5

very short videos (see ratetol).
Constant bitrate can be achieved by combining this with vbv_maxrate,
at significant reduction in quality.
.
.TP
.B qp_constant=<0\-51>
This selects the quantizer to use for P-frames.
I- and B-frames are offset from this value by ip_factor and pb_factor, respectively.
20\-40 is a useful range (default: 26).
Lower values result in better fidelity, but higher bitrates.
0 is lossless.

Use deblocking filter (default: on).
As it takes very little time compared to its quality gain, it is not
recommended to disable it.
.
.TP
.B deblockalpha=<-6\-6>
AlphaC0 parameter of deblocking filter (default: 0).
This adjusts thresholds for the H.264 in-loop deblocking filter.
First, this parameter adjusts the maximum amount of change that the filter is
allowed to cause on any one pixel.
Secondly, this parameter affects the threshold for difference across the
edge being filtered.
A positive value reduces blocking artifacts more, but will also smear details.
.br
The default behavior of the filter almost always achieves optimal quality,
so it is best to either leave it alone, or make only small adjustments.
However, if your source material already has some blocking or noise which
you would like to remove, it may be a good idea to turn it up a little bit.
.
.TP
.B deblockbeta=<-6\-6>
Beta parameter of deblocking filter (default: 0).
Affects the detail threshold.
Very detailed blocks are not filtered, since the smoothing caused by the
filter would be more noticeable than the original blocking.
.
.TP
.B (no)cabac
Use CABAC (Context-Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding) (default: on).
Slightly slows down encoding and decoding, but should save 10-15% bitrate.
Unless you are looking for decoding speed, you should not disable it.
.

maximum quantizer (default: 51)
.
.TP
.B qp_step=<1\-50> (ABR or two pass)
maximum value by which the quantizer may be incremented/decremented between
frames (default: 2)
.
.TP
.B ratetol=<0.1\-100.0> (ABR or two pass)
allowed variance in average bitrate (no particular units) (default: 1.0)
.

It affects only the planning stage of ratecontrol, and is still subject
to overflow compensation and qp_min/qp_max.
.RE
.
.TP
.B direct_pred=<0\-3>
Determines the type of motion prediction used for direct macroblocks
in B-frames.
.PD 0
.RSs
.IPs 0
None: Direct macroblocks are not used.
.IPs 1
Spatial: Motion vectors are extrapolated from neighboring blocks.
(default)
.IPs 2
Temporal: Motion vectors are interpolated from the following P-frame.
.IPs 3
Auto: The codec selects between spatial and temporal for each frame.
.RE
.PD 1
.RS
Spatial and temporal are approximately the same speed and PSNR,
the choice between them depends on the video content.
Auto is slightly better, but slower.
direct_pred=0 is both slower and lower quality.
.RE
.
.TP
.B (no)weight_b
Use weighted prediction in B-frames.

With this option, the weights are determined by the temporal position
of the B-frame relative to the references.
Requires bframes > 1.
.
.TP
.B (no)i4x4
Use additional macroblock type i4x4 (default: enabled).
Without this option, P- and B-frames will use only
i16x16 and the inter types specified below.
.
.TP
.B (no)i8x8
Use additional macroblock type i8x8 (default: enabled).
This option has no effect unless 8x8dct is enabled.
.
.TP
.B (no)b8x8mv
Use additional macroblock types b16x8, b8x16, b8x8 (default: enabled).
Without this option, B-frames will use only types
i16x16, i8x8, i4x4, b16x16, skip, direct.
See 4x4mv for details.
.
.TP
.B (no)8x8mv
Use additional macroblock types p16x8, p8x16, p8x8 (default: enabled).
Without this option, P-frames will use only types
i16x16, i8x8, i4x4, p16x16, skip.
This option is provided for experimentation only.
It is not recommended to disable 8x8mv in a real encode.
.
.TP
.B (no)4x4mv
Use additional macroblock types p8x4, p4x8, p4x4 (default: disabled).
Without this option, P-frames will use only types
i16x16, i8x8, i4x4, p16x16, p16x8, p8x16, p8x8, skip.
Requires 8x8mv.
.br
The idea is to find the type and size that best describe a certain area
of the picture.
For example, a global pan is better represented by 16x16 blocks, while
small moving objects are better represented by smaller blocks.
.br
4x4mv is recommended only with subq >= 3.
.
.TP
.B (no)8x8dct
Adaptive spatial transform size: allows macroblocks to choose between
4x4 and 8x8 DCT.
Also allows the i8x8 macroblock type.
Without this option, only 4x4 DCT is used.
.
.TP
.B me=<1\-4>
Select fullpixel motion estimation algorithm.
.PD 0
.RSs
.IPs 1
diamond search, radius 1 (fast)
.IPs 2
hexagon search, radius 2 (default)
.IPs 3
uneven multi-hexagon search (slow)
.IPs 4
exhaustive search (very slow, and no better than 3)
.RE
.PD 1
.
.TP
.B me_range=<4\-64>

.B trellis=<0\-2>
rate-distortion optimal quantization
.PD 0
.RSs
.IPs 0
disabled
.IPs 1
enabled only for the final encode (default)
.IPs 2
enabled during all mode decisions (slow, requires subq>=6)
.RE
.PD 1
.

This has a slight penalty to compression.
Requires that libx264 was compiled with pthread support; if not, this
option will produce a warning and enables slices but not multithreading.
.
.TP
.B (no)globalheader
Causes SPS and PPS to appear only once, at the beginning of the bitstream
(default: disabled).
Some players, such as the Sony PSP, require the use of this option.
The default behavior causes SPS and PPS to repeat prior to each IDR frame.
.

20054:8760c8681eac

very short videos (see ratetol).
Constant bitrate can be achieved by combining this with vbv_maxrate,
at significant reduction in quality.
.
.TP
.B qp=<0\-51>
This selects the quantizer to use for P-frames.
I- and B-frames are offset from this value by ip_factor and pb_factor, respectively.
20\-40 is a useful range (default: 26).
Lower values result in better fidelity, but higher bitrates.
0 is lossless.

Use deblocking filter (default: on).
As it takes very little time compared to its quality gain, it is not
recommended to disable it.
.
.TP
.B deblock=<-6\-6>,<-6\-6>
The first parameter is AlphaC0 (default: 0).
This adjusts thresholds for the H.264 in-loop deblocking filter.
First, this parameter adjusts the maximum amount of change that the filter is
allowed to cause on any one pixel.
Secondly, this parameter affects the threshold for difference across the
edge being filtered.
A positive value reduces blocking artifacts more, but will also smear details.
.br
The second parameter is Beta (default: 0).
This affects the detail threshold.
Very detailed blocks are not filtered, since the smoothing caused by the
filter would be more noticeable than the original blocking.
.br
The default behavior of the filter almost always achieves optimal quality,
so it is best to either leave it alone, or make only small adjustments.
However, if your source material already has some blocking or noise which
you would like to remove, it may be a good idea to turn it up a little bit.
.
.TP
.B (no)cabac
Use CABAC (Context-Adaptive Binary Arithmetic Coding) (default: on).
Slightly slows down encoding and decoding, but should save 10-15% bitrate.
Unless you are looking for decoding speed, you should not disable it.
.

maximum quantizer (default: 51)
.
.TP
.B qp_step=<1\-50> (ABR or two pass)
maximum value by which the quantizer may be incremented/decremented between
frames (default: 4)
.
.TP
.B ratetol=<0.1\-100.0> (ABR or two pass)
allowed variance in average bitrate (no particular units) (default: 1.0)
.

It affects only the planning stage of ratecontrol, and is still subject
to overflow compensation and qp_min/qp_max.
.RE
.
.TP
.B direct_pred=<name>
Determines the type of motion prediction used for direct macroblocks
in B-frames.
.PD 0
.RSs
.IPs none
Direct macroblocks are not used.
.IPs spatial
Motion vectors are extrapolated from neighboring blocks.
(default)
.IPs temporal
Motion vectors are interpolated from the following P-frame.
.IPs auto
The codec selects between spatial and temporal for each frame.
.RE
.PD 1
.RS
Spatial and temporal are approximately the same speed and PSNR,
the choice between them depends on the video content.
Auto is slightly better, but slower.
Auto is most effective when combined with multipass.
direct_pred=none is both slower and lower quality.
.RE
.
.TP
.B (no)weight_b
Use weighted prediction in B-frames.

With this option, the weights are determined by the temporal position
of the B-frame relative to the references.
Requires bframes > 1.
.
.TP
.B partitions=<list>
Enable some optional macroblock types (default: p8x8,b8x8,i8x8,i4x4).
.PD 0
.RSs
.IPs p8x8
Enable types p16x8, p8x16, p8x8.
.IPs p4x4
Enable types p8x4, p4x8, p4x4.
p4x4 is recommended only with subq >= 5, and only at low resolutions.
.IPs b8x8
Enable types b16x8, b8x16, b8x8.
.IPs i8x8
Enable type i8x8.
i8x8 has no effect unless 8x8dct is enabled.
.IPs i4x4
Enable type i4x4.
.IPs all
Enable all of the above types.
.IPs none
Disable all of the above types.
.RE
.PD 1
.RS
Regardless of this option, macroblock types p16x16, b16x16, and i16x16
are always enabled.
.br
The idea is to find the type and size that best describe a certain area
of the picture.
For example, a global pan is better represented by 16x16 blocks, while
small moving objects are better represented by smaller blocks.
.RE
.
.TP
.B (no)8x8dct
Adaptive spatial transform size: allows macroblocks to choose between
4x4 and 8x8 DCT.
Also allows the i8x8 macroblock type.
Without this option, only 4x4 DCT is used.
.
.TP
.B me=<name>
Select fullpixel motion estimation algorithm.
.PD 0
.RSs
.IPs dia
diamond search, radius 1 (fast)
.IPs hex
hexagon search, radius 2 (default)
.IPs umh
uneven multi-hexagon search (slow)
.IPs esa
exhaustive search (very slow, and no better than umh)
.RE
.PD 1
.
.TP
.B me_range=<4\-64>

.B trellis=<0\-2>
rate-distortion optimal quantization
.PD 0
.RSs
.IPs 0
disabled (default)
.IPs 1
enabled only for the final encode
.IPs 2
enabled during all mode decisions (slow, requires subq>=6)
.RE
.PD 1
.

This has a slight penalty to compression.
Requires that libx264 was compiled with pthread support; if not, this
option will produce a warning and enables slices but not multithreading.
.
.TP
.B (no)global_header
Causes SPS and PPS to appear only once, at the beginning of the bitstream
(default: disabled).
Some players, such as the Sony PSP, require the use of this option.
The default behavior causes SPS and PPS to repeat prior to each IDR frame.
.