PMK3 wrote:

 

What  codec's did you use when you tried the AVI format. AVI isn't the best format to use on a MAC, but uncompressed AVI doesn't use any codec's. If you are also getting the same "buggy output" with uncompressed AVI , then perhap's the easiest solution is to use a PC.

x264 on a PC doesn't need to be installed, just download the x264.exe file and run it in a DOS-promt. Codec problem's are also easy to fix in Windows, just download and install the codec that you need.

I've tried using x264.exe on my girlfriend's old PC (Windows XP SP3 32bit) with my original MOV output and the program crashed everytime just after indexing the input file (when the encoding starts). I got the 8-bit depth 32bit version. PMK3... When you successfully encoded my file with x264.exe, which file were you using? Did you use any conversion beforehand or just used the 422 8-bit MOV input AS-IS? Because it doesn't seem to work for me. I even tried the same file in MeGUI and it made x264 crash exactly the same way.

@PMK3:

An export test from my Mac with the Animation codec and then encoded on the PC with x264.exe did not crash and gave me a normal-length .264 video, but with lots of noise over it (see below). So the crashing problem seems to be codec-related (the first problematic file was the usual MOV Uncompressed YUV 4:2:2 8-bit). I am trying at the moment with a Prores file...

In the meantime, when you have a minute, please indicate which of my files you have used to compress sucessfully with x264 on the PC and with what options? At the moment, I'm using these configurations, but should I remove, for example, muxer raw?

x264.exe --bitrate 25000 --preset veryslow --tune film --bluray-compat --fps 24000/1001 --force-cfr --bframes 3 --ref 4 --muxer raw --no-weightb --weightp 0 --b-pyramid none --vbv-maxrate 30000 --vbv-bufsize 30000 --level 4.1 --profile high --keyint 24 --min-keyint 1 --open-gop --slices 4 --colorprim "bt709" --transfer "bt709" --colormatrix "bt709" --sar 1:1 -o out_PRORES422HQ.264 --input-res 1920x1080 input_PRORES422HQ.mov

My friend I believe we are close to a solution! Apple Prores HQ 4:2:2 worked when encoded on PC! What codec do you think would be preferable to get the highest quality output while being compatible with x264 on Windows? Should I try the Avid codecs instead of Prores from Apple?

Avid DNxHD and Apple PRORES 4:4:4:4 seems to both be high-quality codecs. While making my tests, I've had great success with very high quality Apple PRORES 4:4:4:4. Although my source is only 4:2:0, the result is better in noisy areas than with ProresHQ 4:2:2 for example.

Then, the encoding with x264 is just something else. I almost can't even tell its h264 encoded. I can't wait to try the whole project which should take about a whole day to render on this old PC computer at "-- very slow".

I'll report back if everything goes as planned. I'm using a hard drive with partition exFAT which allows to go from a mac to pc with ease with files higher than 4gb (which was the limitation of MS-DOS).

Again thank you for your help PMK3!

I've read on this forum (http://forums.adobe.com/thread/722465) and in a Samsung Blu-Ray player manual that any BD-R exceeding 25mbps bitrate could not be read by most set top players. PMK3, in your opinion, would this be safer then?

x264.exe --bitrate 22000 --preset veryslow --tune film --bluray-compat --fps 24000/1001 --force-cfr --bframes 3 --ref 4 --muxer raw --no-weightb --weightp 0 --b-pyramid none --vbv-maxrate 25000 --vbv-bufsize 25000 --level 4.1 --profile high --keyint 24 --min-keyint 1 --open-gop --slices 4 --colorprim "bt709" --transfer "bt709" --colormatrix "bt709" --sar 1:1 -o out_PRORES4444.264 --input-res 1920x1080 input_PRORES4444.mov

Also, should I use constant framerate since my material is only 15 minutes long? Or maybe two-pass encoding? Could anyone please guide me with the command line? Thanks.