H.264 or MP4?

[rajeshmk]

Which one and why folks? I'm leaning towards H.264 because of the small file size and the resolution(320*240 - Exactly the Ipod specs)

Your comments?

Raj

[kornchild2002]

I personally encode at standard mpeg-4 and mpeg-4 AVC (h.264). It all depends on your eyes and preferences though. I encode to mpeg-4 AVC with music videos that I rip from my DVD. I find that this setting give near-DVD quality on my iPod's screen at the 768kbps video bitrate and 2-pass system (128kbps for audio). The mepg-4 AVC encoder does a good job when the videos are bright and have a lot of light. I use the standard mpeg-4 encoder at the 1Mbps video bitrate 1-pass system (128kbps for audio) for encoding concert DVD's. The mpeg-4 AVC encoder has a hard time encoding videos where there are a lot of light contrasts. I found that it would make a pixely mess out of a moving crowd or flashing lights.

I will be messing with Nero's new version of Nero Recode tonight to see what the best setting is for movies. I imagine the mpeg-4 AVC encoder will be better for movies since movies are often bright and aren't as fast paced as music videos.

FYI - standard mpeg-4 can be encoded to the 320x240 resolution. In fact, standard mpeg-4 video can be encoded to a higher resolution so that the videos look good on a TV. You can encode a standard mpeg-4 video a 2.5Mbps and a 720x320 resolution and get near DVD quality when your iPod is hooked up to a HDTV.

[Martok]

Both formats can be iPod spec. resolution, and at the same bit rate and resolution the file sizes will be almost the same.

I compared a few converted videos both ways, and it seemed to me that mpeg4 made the background a little blocky and shifty, while with H.264 it was smoother and more consistant-looking.

If you are looking for super-good quality, mpeg4 can go to a higher bit rate and therefore be better quality.

[chippe01]

But H.264 takes about 3x more time to encode. Since I am converting a lot of my TV show DVD's to watch on iPod, I use the quicker method.

[PetoMazar]

The new iPod video lingo has been creating a lot of confusion. Here's something I'd like to clarify.

H.264 is an IEEE code for MPEG4 AVC (advanced video coding)

when Apple says MPEG4 they mean MEPG4 ASP (advanced simple profile, IEEE H.263)

I wonder why Apple needs to create unnecessary confusion. They could've just said MPEG4 AVC and ASP.

Getting back to the topic. I've been ripping DVD's using DVD Decryptor and encoding with Nero Recode.

Here are my preferred settings. Videos look great on SDTV (I can't afford HDTV's yet)

Bitrate control -
Standard Profile
Video 900Kbps (for TV shows etc, 1200Kbps for high motion movies)
Audio 128kbps (48Khz., always match source settings)

Video -
Deinterlace ON
Autocrop ON/OFF (use custom to test)
Video resize to 640x352 for widescreen.

Advanced settings -
Two Pass (always)
Extra Quality (recommended)
Quicktime compatibility (important)

I always fix horizontal resolution to 640 (unless source is <640). Then calculate the verticle resolution by considering source aspect (4:3, 16:9, etc). See if this is divisible by 16, else get it to the closest factor of 16. Then check if (Hor. res X Vert res.) / (16x16) is less than 900. This step is really important.

- Keith

[rajeshmk]

nice post Petomazar!