Bad MP4 Compression - How Do I Add A Encoder Driver?

[herein2015]

After extensive testing I have concluded that the "Ulead MPEG-4 vio Driver" does a very poor job at MP4 compression. I have tried every combination possible within VS X8 to get better quality out of it but its just not possible. I think the main problem is that the video data rate of my source media could be as high as 40,000-60,000kbps but X8 will not let you set a higher rate than 20,000kbps. The result is video with a lot of artifacts, pixellated portions of frames and it gets worse if there is a lot of changes between frames. Also the more color correction filters you add within the project, the worse the final MP4 render.

I've done all the usual, clean install, tried a second computer with nothing but X8 and the OS installed....nothing works. The only way I have found to get nearly source media quality is to go to Custom > Format: WMV > Ulead -WMV. From there I export to WMV, then use Handbrake to convert to MP4. It seems like if I export using pretty much any format, the footage is great as long as it does not use the "Ulead MPEG-4 vio Driver".

So my question is, is there a way to install a different MP4 encoder driver that X8 can use? My other NLE software does not have this problem, and all of the other NLE software I tried lets you pick from a wide variety of drivers and MP4 options when exporting.

I've attached a screen shot of the drop down where I would like to have a different encoder driver to pick from.

[lata]

Hi

What are the video properties of your original video files?

I assume the image you provided is of the project properties……..?

Try increasing the frame size above 1920 x 1080, that should then allow for a higher data rate.

[herein2015]

Hi

What are the video properties of your original video files?

I assume the image you provided is of the project properties……..?

Try increasing the frame size above 1920 x 1080, that should then allow for a higher data rate.

The screen shot was taken by going to Share > Custom > MPEG-4 Files > Gear Icon > Encoder Driver.

The source video properties are 1080P@29.970029 FPS using H.264 MPEG-4 AVC (Part 10) (avc1). Even rendering to the same as the source media does not make a difference. The only thing that seems to make a difference is using a rendering option that does not use the "Ulead MPEG-4 vio Driver" which is why I want to use a different driver for MP4.

Within X8 WMV seems to have plenty of options for driver, codec, data rates, etc. It seems like X8 is really lacking in the MP4 department. My other NLE has 3 different vendors codec options and over 100 MP4 combinations to choose from along with every setting imaginable.

Also the fact that Handbrake has no problems converting the WMV to MP4 and retaining the original quality further leads me to believe it has to be the X8 driver.

[Ken Berry]

If your original video is AVCHD mpeg-4, then why are you trying to produce a video which is not AVCHD but another flavour of mpeg-4 which uses that VIO codec? Unless there is some specific reason, then to produce an AVCHD file in X8 with the same properties as the original is easy. In Preferences, make sure you tick the box beside "Show message when inserting first video clip into timeline". Then when you start a new project and insert your first AVCHD clip you will get a message asking if you want the Project Properties to match those of the clip. Say OK. Then do your editing, and when satisfied go to Share > Same As Project Properties to produce a new mpeg-4 AVCHD clip with identical properties to the original.

If you want to vary the properties, go to Share > Custom and choose MPEG Transport Stream as the output. Make sure that on the Compression tab you choose AVCHD instead of the mpeg-2 also available. Then vary the other properties you want and render.

[herein2015]

Ken,

I tried that, I think I've literally tried everything. I tried Sharing without changing a single setting, letting the program auto configure the project on import of the first clip, etc, etc. Anything that uses the vio driver ends up with intermittent pixelation if the source media has a high data rate. None of my other NLE's have this problem. I can import any format I want then export to any format they offer and not a single problem, no pixelation or stuttering.

I did a pristine install of 8.1, pristine install of X8, installed X8 SP1, created a project and let it set the project properties, rendered using the option "same as project settings"; intermittent pixelation. I picked Ulead-WMV and it rendered perfectly. I picked MOV with no compression another perfect render.

I have studied charts like these: http://wolfcrow.com/blog/understanding- ... and-h-265/ and re-rendered projects for hours just trying to get better quality. The only thing I can possibly conclude is that it has to be that driver or a bitrate of 20,000kbs which is the highest setting the driver allows, is just too low to keep up with the data in the footage.

All of the footage that I film is aerial footage with really high data rates because so much is changing in every frame. I do not have any problems with traditional ground footage where not much is changing from frame to frame. I think X8's driver simply cannot keep up. For now exporting to WMV then converting to MP4 using Handbrake will work, but it adds a good 20min to an hr to my workflow. All Corel needs to do is offer more driver options for AVCHD and MP4 that can keep up with the footage and I'm sure my problems would go away.

Also, I need to transcode the footage into a standard MP4 format, my customers use the footage mainly on the web, AVCHD is not a web streaming friendly format.

[Ken Berry]

The only thing I can possibly conclude is that it has to be that driver or a bitrate of 20,000kbs which is the highest setting the driver allows, is just too low to keep up with the data in the footage.

But this where I am getting confused. AVCHD uses the h.264 codec not that Vio one, and it most certainly allows higher bitrates than 20 mbps. I have a GoPro Hero 3 camera which as you probably know films in AVCHD. I have it set to film using a bitrate of 29 mbps and 50 fps. I follow the workflow I outlined above and have never - not once - had pixelated output in the rendered video. The bitrate of the final video is 29 mbps. And as you know the GoPro can take some fast moving action shots.

[herein2015]

I thought it would be easiest to show you. I did go back and try AVCH and it did the same thing in the same spots.

I've attached a picture of the source media for both of the following clips.

For Clip 1 with the pixelation I selected:
Share > MPEG-4 AVC (1280 x 720, 30p, 10Mbps)

Here is the result: https://www.dropbox.com/s/mrzq19hlo8b7g ... e.mp4?dl=0

Make sure to select download and play it locally.

For Clip 2 (Exact same clip) I selected:
Share > Custom > WMV > Profile > Ulead - WMV (1280x720,30p)

I then used Handbrake to convert it to MP4 with the following settings:
Video Codec: H.264
Framerate: Same as Source / Constant Framerate
H.264 Profile: HIGH
H.264 Level: Auto
Quality: Constant Quality 20

And here is the result: https://www.dropbox.com/s/wfg3z7c1de2si ... e.mp4?dl=0

Huge improvement.

[herein2015]

I've gone even further and looked at the properties of both the Direct to Share and the WMV to MP4 Handbrake conversion. The only differences that I see is the bitrate. I know the framerate is slightly off for the Direct to Share media but moving it down to 29FPS would not make a difference. The big difference is that the bitrate is over 20,000kbs for the clear video footage which is over the vio driver's maximum bitrate.

I could remove some of the pixelation by going to Share > Custom > MPEG-4 Files > Gear Icon > Compression > Video Data Rate > 20,000 kbps. The problem is the video needs ~25,000 kbps but X8 will not go any higher.

All I want is to be able to bring in my media, make my edits, click Share, select MPEG-4 > 1280x720p @ 29.97FPS and be done. That's the final format I need to deliver to my customers for maximum compatibility and that most closely matches what comes out of the camera so rendering quality loss should be minimal.

[Ken Berry]

OK, your revelation that this is customer driven is important. In other words, apart from quality, the thing that is most important is the extension .mp4... Well I think it is clear that your original query about adding another mp4 codec just can't be done. Moreover VS won't give you that extension with AVCHD properties directly unless your original AVCHD video has that extension. But I can think of two workarounds which you could try, both of which could give you high quality and one of which could be done using Video Studio.

First, you could Share your project as AVCHD .m2ts instead of WMV and then use Handbrake to convert it to use that .mp4 extension.

The other way, using VS, would require you to know someone who has GoPro or similar camera which natively produces AVCHD video but using the .mp4 extension. If you know such a person, ask them to give you a very short clip with a high bitrate and, if you really want 1280 x 720p, that frame size as well. Then, in VS, go to Preferences - Settings - Movie Profile Manager and click the Add button. Click the top "..." button and navigate to where your 'borrowed' mp4 file is stored and select it. Give your new template a name and OK out. Next time you have a project you go to Share and select Custom. Your new template should now be there.

Just be aware, though, that templates produced this way cannot be further edited. If you try, they revert to DVD properties and you will have to recreate the original template.

[asik1]

Herein I'm with you on that. I don't use MP4 but just WMV which is far better at lower datarate.

[lata]

Hi

You provided samples of the faulty video files, you will be best to provide a sample of the original video file, then we can test that to see if we can replicate the pixel problem.

From video Studio do a screen shot or the video files properties, from the timeline right click a clip and choose properties, create an image of that window.

Where did the video come from? were they recorded using a camcorder / video recorder or downloaded from the internet?

Finally what are you trying to make, burn a DVD / Bluray or video for the internet / PC playback.....

[herein2015]

The other way, using VS, would require you to know someone who has GoPro or similar camera which natively produces AVCHD video but using the .mp4 extension. If you know such a person, ask them to give you a very short clip with a high bitrate and, if you really want 1280 x 720p, that frame size as well. Then, in VS, go to Preferences - Settings - Movie Profile Manager and click the Add button. Click the top "..." button and navigate to where your 'borrowed' mp4 file is stored and select it. Give your new template a name and OK out. Next time you have a project you go to Share and select Custom. Your new template should now be there.

Just be aware, though, that templates produced this way cannot be further edited. If you try, they revert to DVD properties and you will have to recreate the original template.

Ken, I tried that and the resulting data rate was still limited to 18,446kbps. Even though the description says the bitrate will be 25,000kbps, the footage still pixelates and the bitrate is still limited.

I cannot export to m2ts because X8 does not offer 1280x720 (720P) @ 29.97 FPS and their one AVC (1280 x 720) option is still limited to 18,000 kbs and it renders at 59.94 FPS which is too high.

Hi

You provided samples of the faulty video files, you will be best to provide a sample of the original video file, then we can test that to see if we can replicate the pixel problem.

From video Studio do a screen shot or the video files properties, from the timeline right click a clip and choose properties, create an image of that window.

Where did the video come from? were they recorded using a camcorder / video recorder or downloaded from the internet?

Finally what are you trying to make, burn a DVD / Bluray or video for the internet / PC playback.....

The original video file is 235MB, I don't think DropBox will let me upload a file that size without upgrading my account, and if I use any of my NLE software to take a clip out of it, it will change the properties of the video.

The original file's properties are in the image below:

FileProperties.png (7.72 KiB) Viewed 18889 times

The video comes from a custom aerial camera similar to the GoPro. It creates video up to 4K using the following Codec: H264 -MPEG04 AVC (part 10)(avc1) with an MP4 file extension and a framerate up to 120FPS but I stick with 29.970029 unless I plan on adding slow motion effects. For slow motion footage I bump up the source framerate to 59FPS.

The final video has to be the most compatible format possible. And that format is: H264 MPEG-4 AVC (part 10)(avc1) with a MP4 file extension and either a BASELINE, MAIN, or HIGH H.264 compression profile.

I think I will just have to stick with exporting to WMV then converting to MP4 unless Corel ever improves their MP4 support. Do either of you actually work for Corel? Is there any way to make a feature request?

[herein2015]

Here is a screenshot of the settings I use in my other NLE. These settings will create a perfect 720P MP4 render every time. The source media can be anything from 640x480 up to 4K, any framerate, and any codec. It would be great if Corel let me do this.

[lata]

Hi herein2015

Nobody here works for Corel, we are all volunteers trying to help other users of Video Studio.

Generally we advise that you convert / render your video to the same settings as the original.
Increasing the Data Rate will not improve quality, “silk purse and sow’s ear” comes to mind.

As for AVCHD at 1280 x 720 x 50/60p, that is the international bluray standard, the program being a video editor is set to provide templates limited to compliant settings, having said that it would be nice to have more control.
Other Video Converters may give many options outside the constraints of the video standards.
At least that’s my interpretation of why there are set templates.

My Smart Proxy render issues…..

Recently I had some issues with rendering my video files.
I purchased a new Pana TZ70 point and shoot camera this records High Speed at 100 and 200 fps, on board software renders it to playback at 25fps, I guess similar to your 120fps recordings, playback at 30fps. Very good high quality slow motion……

Using VS….When I rendered the video it changed the colours, maybe pixilated as well.
Just as though I had applied a Kaleidoscope effect.
By default Smart Proxy had been used, once I removed / deleted the proxy files the render worked ok……I have not had time to repeat the tests?????

So are you using Smart Proxy, if yes delete the proxy files for your clips.
Are you able to render using Same as First Clip option?

The video samples downloaded from Dropbox……..
The “EmptyLot-Direct-Share” (I assume rendered using VideoStudio) is poor to say the least, it also pulsates a little, regular as though the frame rate has altered, frames being dropped.
The data rate is using 10000kbps when 20,000kbps is available, as your original uses 24,000kbps that is a big reduction.
Is there any reason why you are rendering to 1280 instead of retaining the original 1920 frame size?

Without having a video sample to test…
1 / I would use Show Messages option…….. to match the project properties to the video files properties, view project properties ( Alt + Enter)
2 / Deselect Smart Proxy
3 / Start a New Project
4 / Add an original sample clip to the top timeline, you appear to have used two clips with Crossfade applied, that’s ok.
5 / Share - Render to Same as Project Properties
6 / Repeat but use Same as First Clip
7 / check quality and files properties are correct.

8 / Repeat the render above but deselect Smart Render before hitting start.

[herein2015]

lata as much time as you and Ken spend on here how do you ever have time to go out and get some footage?

I always have to use Smart Proxy or the preview window will be unusable. I tried deleting the Smart Proxy files and disabling Smart Render; no change. I also went into the project and removed all filters, and disabled all hardware acceleration features, same result.

I'm beginning to wonder if even the data rate matters because I went into my other NLE and rendered the same clip using a data rate of 9000 kbps and did not really notice a quality difference. As for why I am rendering to 1280x720 vs the original, its because footage shot in 1080P then downscaled to 720P responds better to sharpening, color correction etc, so the final product looks better than if it were shot in the final resolution; not to mention the file size is smaller. I always shoot one resolution higher than the final product if possible (i.e 4K for a final render of 1080P) so that I have better source raw footage to work with. You can always downscale, going up; not so much.

Honestly, if I get this pixelation problem figured out I would like to standardize all of my source footage on 4K@24FPS and down scale to 1280x720@24FPS for the final render that way I get more color data as well as more source resolution to work with.

This weekend I am going to try to film a super short aerial clip close to the ground with plenty of delta between frames; that's sure to create pixelation in X8 MP4, and I'll upload that as a sample.