@tami-0

Hi and welcome to the user to user forums.

First I would say that a smaller resolution does not reduce compression if that is what you mean by

Only that I want it at a smaller pixel size to reduce the compression

The way to reduce compression is to keep the bit rate higher than the original source files and not reducing the resolution. Or do you mean something different? Ideally you should export to the same frame rate as the source files.

If I wanted a best looking result from an HD (1920 x1080) source video with the least compression I would use the following settings for an MPEG-2 export.

That would give a file with the following attributes and a near on perfect copy to the source file.

General
Complete name                            : J:\MPEG-2 to MP4 tryout. .mpg
Format                                   : MPEG-PS
File size                                : 264 MiB
Duration                                 : 30 s 168 ms
Overall bit rate mode                    : Constant
Overall bit rate                         : 73.4 Mb/s

Video
ID                                       : 224 (0xE0)
Format                                   : MPEG Video
Format version                           : Version 2
Format profile                           : High@High
Format settings, BVOP                    : No
Format settings, Matrix                  : Default
Format settings, GOP                     : N=1
Duration                                 : 30 s 160 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 72.0 Mb/s
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate                               : 50.000 FPS
Standard                                 : PAL
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.694
Time code of first frame                 : 00:00:00:00
Time code source                         : Group of pictures header
GOP, Open/Closed                         : Closed
Stream size                              : 257 MiB (97%)
Color primaries                          : BT.709
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709

Audio
ID                                       : 192 (0xC0)
Format                                   : MPEG Audio
Format version                           : Version 1
Format profile                           : Layer 2
Duration                                 : 30 s 168 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 384 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 41.667 FPS (1152 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 1.38 MiB (0%)

Menu
Format                                   : DVD-Video

----------------------------------------------------------------

Is there a reason you exported as an interlaced file rather than progressive?

As for the MP-4 export, again I suspect you are compressing the file too much.

These settings result in an MP4 output.

You don't have to use all I frames and can leave that setting to IBBP but the export is not as clean looking in my opinion.But then I'm very fussy. One problem you can have using all I frames in the GOP structure is it can cause some playback issues on very low specified machines.

The resulting file info.

General
Complete name                            : J:/ small resolution.mp4
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media
Codec ID                                 : isom (isom/avc1)
File size                                : 92.3 MiB
Duration                                 : 30 s 160 ms
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 25.7 Mb/s
Encoded date                             : UTC 2022-10-11 21:12:16
Tagged date                              : UTC 2022-10-11 21:12:16

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L5.2
Format settings                          : CABAC / 3 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames        : 3 frames
Format settings, GOP                     : N=1
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 30 s 160 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 25.5 Mb/s
Maximum bit rate                         : 35.0 Mb/s
Width                                    : 1 280 pixels
Height                                   : 720 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 50.000 FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.553
Stream size                              : 91.6 MiB (99%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2022-10-11 21:12:16
Tagged date                              : UTC 2022-10-11 21:12:16
Color range                              : Limited
Color primaries                          : BT.709
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709
Codec configuration box                  : avcC

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AAC LC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID                                 : mp4a-40-2
Duration                                 : 30 s 101 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 192 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 716 KiB (1%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2022-10-11 21:12:16
Tagged date                              : UTC 2022-10-11 21:12:16

Ray.

@emmrecs

Ha! You beat me to it Jeff.

Ray.

@tami-0

Hi

. . . . Only that I want it at a smaller pixel size to reduce the compression . . . .

Do you mean you are wanting to reduce the file size rather than compression?

What is the intended destination for the exported video or playback device - eg uploading to Youtube, FullHD or 4K TV, adding to a website, etc?

. . . . When I export to MPEG-4 . The file output is xxxxx.mts . How do I get it to output as xxxxx.mp4  . . . .

In the MP4 export dialog, you must have selected one of the AVCHD export presets, these are the options that will give you a .mts file.

To see all the possible options check the Display all option in the export dialog as shown below

Note: it is not recommended that any of the Advanced settings of the export presets are changed, they are already optimised for the given resolution, frame rate and file size.

HTH

John EB
Forum Moderator

Thanks for the response. What settings should I use to reduce the compression rate to less than 1.2 either in mpeg-2 or mp4 ? I am using this for a Filmhub project upload

@tami-0

Hi

. . . . Only that I want it at a smaller pixel size to reduce the compression . . . .

Do you mean you are wanting to reduce the file size rather than compression?

What is the intended destination for the exported video or playback device - eg uploading to Youtube, FullHD or 4K TV, adding to a website, etc?

. . . . When I export to MPEG-4 . The file output is xxxxx.mts . How do I get it to output as xxxxx.mp4  . . . .

In the MP4 export dialog, you must have selected one of the AVCHD export presets, these are the options that will give you a .mts file.

To see all the possible options check the Display all option in the export dialog as shown below

Note: it is not recommended that any of the Advanced settings of the export presets are changed, they are already optimised for the given resolution, frame rate and file size.

HTH

John EB
Forum Moderator

 I need to reduce the compression rate to less than 1.2 either in mpeg-2 or mp4 ? I am using this for a Filmhub project upload

@tami-0

Hi and welcome to the user to user forums.

First I would say that a smaller resolution does not reduce compression if that is what you mean by

Only that I want it at a smaller pixel size to reduce the compression

The way to reduce compression is to keep the bit rate higher than the original source files and not reducing the resolution. Or do you mean something different? Ideally you should export to the same frame rate as the source files.

If I wanted a best looking result from an HD (1920 x1080) source video with the least compression I would use the following settings for an MPEG-2 export.

That would give a file with the following attributes and a near on perfect copy to the source file.

General
Complete name                            : J:\MPEG-2 to MP4 tryout. .mpg
Format                                   : MPEG-PS
File size                                : 264 MiB
Duration                                 : 30 s 168 ms
Overall bit rate mode                    : Constant
Overall bit rate                         : 73.4 Mb/s

Video
ID                                       : 224 (0xE0)
Format                                   : MPEG Video
Format version                           : Version 2
Format profile                           : High@High
Format settings, BVOP                    : No
Format settings, Matrix                  : Default
Format settings, GOP                     : N=1
Duration                                 : 30 s 160 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 72.0 Mb/s
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate                               : 50.000 FPS
Standard                                 : PAL
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.694
Time code of first frame                 : 00:00:00:00
Time code source                         : Group of pictures header
GOP, Open/Closed                         : Closed
Stream size                              : 257 MiB (97%)
Color primaries                          : BT.709
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709

Audio
ID                                       : 192 (0xC0)
Format                                   : MPEG Audio
Format version                           : Version 1
Format profile                           : Layer 2
Duration                                 : 30 s 168 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 384 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 41.667 FPS (1152 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 1.38 MiB (0%)

Menu
Format                                   : DVD-Video

----------------------------------------------------------------

Is there a reason you exported as an interlaced file rather than progressive?

 

As for the MP-4 export, again I suspect you are compressing the file too much.

These settings result in an MP4 output.

You don't have to use all I frames and can leave that setting to IBBP but the export is not as clean looking in my opinion.But then I'm very fussy. One problem you can have using all I frames in the GOP structure is it can cause some playback issues on very low specified machines.

The resulting file info.

General
Complete name                            : J:/ small resolution.mp4
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media
Codec ID                                 : isom (isom/avc1)
File size                                : 92.3 MiB
Duration                                 : 30 s 160 ms
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 25.7 Mb/s
Encoded date                             : UTC 2022-10-11 21:12:16
Tagged date                              : UTC 2022-10-11 21:12:16

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L5.2
Format settings                          : CABAC / 3 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames        : 3 frames
Format settings, GOP                     : N=1
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 30 s 160 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 25.5 Mb/s
Maximum bit rate                         : 35.0 Mb/s
Width                                    : 1 280 pixels
Height                                   : 720 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 50.000 FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.553
Stream size                              : 91.6 MiB (99%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2022-10-11 21:12:16
Tagged date                              : UTC 2022-10-11 21:12:16
Color range                              : Limited
Color primaries                          : BT.709
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709
Codec configuration box                  : avcC

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AAC LC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID                                 : mp4a-40-2
Duration                                 : 30 s 101 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 192 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 716 KiB (1%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2022-10-11 21:12:16
Tagged date                              : UTC 2022-10-11 21:12:16

 

Ray.

For the mpeg-2 settings you suggested, I still get the same error message

@tami-0

Hi

. . . . Only that I want it at a smaller pixel size to reduce the compression . . . .

Do you mean you are wanting to reduce the file size rather than compression?

What is the intended destination for the exported video or playback device - eg uploading to Youtube, FullHD or 4K TV, adding to a website, etc?

. . . . When I export to MPEG-4 . The file output is xxxxx.mts . How do I get it to output as xxxxx.mp4  . . . .

In the MP4 export dialog, you must have selected one of the AVCHD export presets, these are the options that will give you a .mts file.

To see all the possible options check the Display all option in the export dialog as shown below

Note: it is not recommended that any of the Advanced settings of the export presets are changed, they are already optimised for the given resolution, frame rate and file size.

HTH

John EB
Forum Moderator

 I need to reduce the compression rate to less than 1.2 either in mpeg-2 or mp4 ? I am using this for a Filmhub project upload

I cannot achieve this with 1920 X 1080 without changing the preset. The only other way is to use a lower pixel size

@tami-0 Hi, Sorry but It's a little confusing what you are trying to do, lowering the pixel size & compression rate to less than 1.2 doesn't really make sense,

Can you put it in simple words, If English isn't your 1st language write it in your own language.

@tami-0 Hi, Sorry but It's a little confusing what you are trying to do, lowering the pixel size & compression rate to less than 1.2 doesn't really make sense,

Can you put it in simple words, If English isn't your 1st language write it in your own language.

😂😂 LOL. Technical-ese isn't my 1st language. What I want to achieve is to lower the compression rate to 1.2 or less. I was only thinking maybe this could be achieved by changing the size. Apparently not a good idea

@tami-0 Like i said 'compression rate to 1.2' doesn't make sense,

Do you want to make the video smaller than 1280 x 720.?

Do you want to make the size of the file smaller?

PS I'm not from Technical-ese, I'm from Keep it Simple Town 👍

@tami-0 Like i said 'compression rate to 1.2' doesn't make sense,

Do you want to make the video smaller than 1280 x 720.?

Do you want to make the size of the file smaller?

PS I'm not from Technical-ese, I'm from Keep it Simple Town 👍

Cool! I am also from a different district of the same town! Now this is the issue. I created an MPEG-2 file for my project (size 1920 X1080 ). My QC sent me following feedback:

"If my calculations are correct - that bitrate is too high: (1920x1080x29.97)/28000 = 2219.49/1000 = a compression rate of 2.219 which is higher than our 1.24 limit for mpeg2 "

So, as you have requested, my question in simple words is...how do I fix that issue? Simple enough, I hope.

My own foolish idea was either to reduce size to 1280 X 720, or to increase Bitrate. Problem is that both attempts generate the error message I started this thread with. Other suggestions also still do. Thanks for your help.

@tami-0 you were writing that as i was writing,

QC? I'm in England, QC = Queen's Counsel 😂

PS, I'm exporting a 23min project as MPEG-2 just to see, wow that's so slow 😮

-----

Just Googling your comment - 2219.49/1000 = a compression rate of 2.219 which is higher than our 1.24 limit for mpeg2 "

Google says this -

MPEG algorithms compress the data to form small bits that can be easily transmitted and then decompressed accurately and quickly to allow high-fidelity reconstruction. MPEG standards aim for a compression ratio of about 52:1, requiring the reduction of, for example, 7.7MB to less than 150KB.

🤔

@tami-0 you were writing that as i was writing,

QC? I'm in England, QC = Queen's Counsel 😂

 

PS, I'm exporting a 23min project as MPEG-2 just to see, wow that's so slow 😮

 

Oh well, Quality Control and Queen's Counsel ...more or less the same function ...I guess 👐👐👐👐

That 23min vid exported produced a file of 3.07GB,

the same project exported as MPEG-4 produced a file of 765mb (1000mb = 1 GB) so that MPEG-4 (MP4) is 4 times smaller,

I used an MPEG template that was 1280 x 720 but if your orig project was 1920 x 1080 stick to that size,

Use MPEG-4 instead.

That limitation your QC mentioned might have something to do with MPEG-2,

Hopefully MPEG-4 is different, it is a more acceptable format nowadays,

 

Oh well, Quality Control and Queen's Counsel ...more or less the same function ...I guess 👐👐👐👐

@tami-0 😂😂

That 23min vid exported produced a file of 3.07GB,

the same project exported as MPEG-4 produced a file of 765mb (1000mb = 1 GB) so that MPEG-4 (MP4) is 4 times smaller,

I used an MPEG template that was 1280 x 720 but if your orig project was 1920 x 1080 stick to that size,

Use MPEG-4 instead.

That limitation your QC mentioned might have something to do with MPEG-2,

Hopefully MPEG-4 is different, it is a more acceptable format nowadays,

Thanks. I am not worried about size of the rendered file. I want the superior mpeg2 quality. However, all my settings which deviate from the presets are failing and giving error for mpeg2.

Otherwise can I safely use any of the Catooh presets without problem? I get a warning though that it could result in a judder...

@tami-0 OK, what is the length of your project?

@tami-0 OK, what is the length of your project?

About 1 hour long

@tami-0 Ok, I've got quite a fast PC, some of this goes over my head tho but we only learn by trying so I'm going to go through what has been written above by the others & let you know, They're a lot more Technical-ese than me but It's 1am here & they're all old so will be tucked up in bed, (I'll pay for that comment tomorrow 🙊😂)

@tami-0 Just going through the stuff & your QC comment,

What is the frame rate of your orig 1920 x 1080 1hr project - 29.97?

@tami-0 Just going through the stuff & your QC comment,

What is the frame rate of your orig 1920 x 1080 1hr project - 29.97?

Yes 29.97

The specs are all in the equation ...  (1920x1080x29.97)/28000 = 2219.49/1000 = a compression rate of 2.219

@tami-0

Hi.

Did you look up the upload requirements for Filmhub?

They seem very stringent and should be followed as closely as possible. Your attempts so far have been wrong for being over compressed and in one instance interlaced which is not allowed. I think being under the compression ratio by an amount is acceptable. They want a minimum quality. There are other requirements as well. No interpolated frames.

You can check that box by right clicking any video object (clip) on the timeline and selecting 'Properties'.

There must be at least one blank (black) frame at the start and end of the film.

MS will balk at this but continue anyway.

Do not export to another frame rate other than that of the source files used.

If your source files used are 29.970, then these MP4 settings may be acceptable if you get the rest of the upload requirements correct.

That will produce a file with the following attributes. (ignore the length of the clip)

General
Complete name                            : J:\Jane 2022.mp4
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media
Codec ID                                 : isom (isom/avc1)
File size                                : 17.6 MiB
Duration                                 : 6 s 340 ms
Overall bit rate mode                    : Variable
Overall bit rate                         : 23.3 Mb/s
Encoded date                             : UTC 2022-10-12 00:42:13
Tagged date                              : UTC 2022-10-12 00:42:13

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4.1
Format settings                          : CABAC / 4 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames        : 4 frames
Format settings, GOP                     : M=3, N=15
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 6 s 340 ms
Bit rate                                 : 23.2 Mb/s
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Constant
Frame rate                               : 29.970 (30000/1001) FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.373
Stream size                              : 17.5 MiB (99%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2022-10-12 00:42:13
Tagged date                              : UTC 2022-10-12 00:42:13
Codec configuration box                  : avcC

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AAC LC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID                                 : mp4a-40-2
Duration                                 : 6 s 293 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Variable
Bit rate                                 : 162 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 125 KiB (1%)
Language                                 : English
Encoded date                             : UTC 2022-10-12 00:42:13
Tagged date                              : UTC 2022-10-12 00:42:13

----------------------------- ----------------------------------

The bit rate is higher than they want, slightly. I think it should be acceptable.

Do try to comply with the rest of the upload requirements that are listed below.

Ray.