I was checking the information of some MPEG 2 video files and noticed that the bitrate information in MediaInfo is different to Windows. If you take a look at the screenshot that I've attached to this post, you will see that Windows says the total bitrate of the video is 3384kbps, but in MediaInfo it says that it is 3000kbps (maximum).
Am I getting the wrong end of the stick here? If so then please could someone shed some light on this for me?
Thanks very much
Hi Jack,
I can't see a reference to Max bitrate in the media info analysis, but I can see it says a bitrate of 3832kbs.
There seem to be a number of different threads from you that seem to be showing that you are concerned about numbers, rather than the actual end product appearance. There have been various replies with good advice, but why none of those enables you to move on I am not quite sure! Surely what matters in any project is what your finished project looks like, whether it is SD, HD or 4K.
Roger
Hi
When using MediaInfo switch it to the Tree view this will give you more detailed information - see image below for the corresponding rates.
I would advise you to start with one of the preset settings and then, if you see issues in the video eg blockiness, increase the Average and Maximum bitrate settings by small increments eg if a bitrate of 6000/8000 shows blockiness then increment to 7000/9000 and test again, repeating as necessary until you are satisfied with the result.
What you have not told us is what the target device/audience is for the exported files, ie HD TV, Youtube/Vimeo, mobile devices etc.
HTH
John EB
Hi Jack,
I can't see a reference to Max bitrate in the media info analysis, but I can see it says a bitrate of 3832kbs.
There seem to be a number of different threads from you that seem to be showing that you are concerned about numbers, rather than the actual end product appearance. There have been various replies with good advice, but why none of those enables you to move on I am not quite sure! Surely what matters in any project is what your finished project looks like, whether it is SD, HD or 4K.
Roger
Hi Roger,
My apologies, I should of first switched it to the ‘Tree View’ and then taken the screenshot.
Hi
. . . . Surely what matters in any project is what your finished project looks like, whether it is SD, HD or 4K . . . .
Very good advice from Peter.
. . . . you are concerned about numbers, rather than the actual end product appearance. . . .
I too was concerned about this, however Roger put it much better then I would have done 😶.
BTW please make sure are responding to the right person, you have quoted Peters comment and, I think, answered to mine - it is an easy thing to do and you are not the first person who as done it - I am in the list somwhere 😳.
Cheers
John EB
Hi
. . . . Surely what matters in any project is what your finished project looks like, whether it is SD, HD or 4K . . . .
Very good advice from Peter.
. . . . you are concerned about numbers, rather than the actual end product appearance. . . .
I too was concerned about this, however Peter put it much better then I would have done 😶.
BTW please make sure are responding to the right person, you have quoted Peters comment and, I think, answered to mine - it is an easy thing to do and you are not the first person who as done it - I am in the list somwhere 😳.
Cheers
John EB
Hi,
No, that reply was meant for Peter. This is my reply to you. Thank you for uploading that photo for me. So the overall bit rate is the same as the total bit rate, right?
Whoops......how did I get into this thread or are we commenting about a comment I made in another thread??
Anyhow, I agree with Roger and John in that "the proof is in the pudding" especially as you are dealing with a total available MPEG2 bitrate of 3000kbps, which is pretty low for good quality output using a software encoder, even with SD.
John's screenshot example is interesting in that it shows in that it shows an overall/average or total BR around 11.2Mbps but a maximum BR of 16Mbps. I am sure this has been covered before but this means that the overall / average bitrate for all the VBR frames works out to 11.2Mbps ie some low detail low action sequences combined with some high detail high action sequences average out to 11.2Mbps over the whole file. Some of these more complex sequences hit a maximum BR of 16Mbps, limited by the Max BR set in the encoder, but this is offset by simpler scenes that may only need and use say 7Mbps as determined by the VBR encoder or a setting of a minimum BR. The further apart from the target (or average) BR you set the Min and Max the less likely it is you will achieve the target Average BR and subsequent file size.
As John has suggested the presets in the Intel and MC encoders are a good guide to max, min and average bit rate settings but you still need to choose a preset that is going to roughly match your original footage's total or average BR.
Actually what I would do to keep your rendered file as close to the spec of your original footage is this:-
Download the Main Concept MPEG2 codec which is free (after clicking on the red Record button below the Preview monitor and choosing record DV/HDV).
Set MEP/VPX to use this codec instead of the Default in Program settings and restart VPX.
When you choose an export template and go to Advanced encoder settings the window that opens will be a light grey interface with Tabs instead of the dark grey Intel settings window.
At the bottom of the window will be a button that says "From File". Click this and then navigate in the explorer window to an original clip from your camera. Click save and the encoder settings will now mirror the camera original attributes for all settings including GOP length, etc. - easy!
Peter