Eric_Daoust wrote:

 

I have tried reading every possible forum on the subject of H264 Blu-Ray compatible files... without any success. I desperately need your help!

 

Hi Eric,

Can you download and try the sample pmk3.264 in encore. The sample can be downloaded from here: http://hem.bredband.net/b131706/

This sample is blu-ray compliant and works perfectly with Sony DVD Architect Pro 5. but I need to know if it also work with encore.

Eric_Daoust wrote:

 

Can't wait to hear if he is using x264...

I'm using the Mainconcept Reference 2.2 encoder. Sony DVD Architect Pro 5 doesn't like the x264 encoder.

Yes. My main problem was with amorphic video as encore would not recognise the correct sar. It turns out that Encore has not kept up todate with the H.264 specs for aspect_ratio_idc. I was able to patch x264 to fix this. I am still having problems with getting the interlace field order right but that doesn't seem to stop me building blu-rays. I would advise you to run x264 directly and not through a gui at the moment. These are my settings:

x264.exe  --level 4.1 --bluray-compat --tune film --bitrate 20000 --threads 16 --keyint 25 --open-gop --weightp 0 --slices 4 --vbv-bufsize 30000 --vbv-maxrate 25000 --tff --input-res 1440x1080 --videoformat pal --fps 25/1 --force-cfr --output-csp i420 --input-csp i420  --sar 4:3 --log-level info --output "output.264" "input.avs"

The unfixed x264 will work with progressive video but you will need to edit the options. I am using YV12 input. I am not saying these settings are optimum but they work with my HDV video. Always check the logs for warnings.

Look at this:

http://mailman.videolan.org/pipermail/x264-devel/2011-January/008186.h tml

Encore uses a table which has not been updated to the latest h264 spec. All you have to do is find the table in x264 binary and patch with a hex editor. You need to change 04 03 0E to 00 00 ff. x264 will then use the extended form of aspect_ratio_idc. Make sure you find the correct place in the binary by checking for the whole table. This will make x264 confirm to the old h264 standard. To summarize x264 will create an aspect_ratio_idc of 14 for HDV video which encore will not recognize.

The Mainconcept encoders gets the pic_struct wrong in the SEI. It uses 1 and 2 for top and bottom fields respectivly wheras it should be 3 and 4 as used by x264. Unfortunatly Encore perpetuates Mainconcepts bug and interprets pic_struct wrongly. To change to this in x286 would require the source to be edited but I don't think it is worth doing as the resulting stream will not conform to H264 standards. Encore will accept x286 video as don't transcode so encore will build a disc with H264 complient video which certainly not true using Mainconcepts encoder.

Please note that the values 1 and 2 should be used for paff interlacing and 3 and 4 for mbaff. Unfortunatly Mainconcept uses 1 and 2 for both. Encore thinks x286 video is progressive for tff video and tff for bff video.

Encore is very out of date and has numerous bugs which have been around for years.

Hope this helps

Regards Trevor

You only need the patch if you are using amorphic video ie non square pixels such as 1440x1080i25.

The interlace problem is seperate. There are 2 ways to encode interlace in the h264 specification PAFF and MBAFF. In PAFF pict_struct can have a value of 1 or 2. With MBAFF pict_struct can have a value of 3 or 4. Mainconcept encoders have got this wrong and use 1 & 2 for both PAFF and MBAFF. In other words Mainconcept does not conform to the standard for MBAFF encoded video. In general MBAFF works best and x264 only supports MBAFF.

Progressive video should be no problem as long as the basic rules are followed see

http://www.x264bluray.com/home

One importent point progessive video is not supported with HD at 25 or 30 fps. To get round this there is a special option in x264 called fake_interlaced which will turn progressive into fake interlaced complient with Blu-ray.

Hope this helps.