Video testing thread, mkv high profile, high bitrates, dts..

[nz]

So the Patch is on the way?

yes, next release

[xguntherc]

I've encoded a few movies like Avatar, and others in 800x480 for Android, upped the Volume. Set the Bitrate to around 1500 and they run amazing on my Nexus One and my HD2.

They also play great on the Archos 101. I streamed Avatar to my 52" tv and was showing some friends. it has perfect quality and sound was loud, clear, and in sync.

[macrochris]

Some of my mkv cause the video player FC after upgrade to 2.2 on my 101. I then demux the embedded subtitle out. Only include video and audio part. Then the muxing file can play at my 101 normal. I sure 2.2 has some problem with subtitle embedded mkv. Even mkv with externally srt file cannot be displayed at 2.2. Please note all the mkv can play normally and smoothly at 2.1 with subtitle no matter embedded or externally. Any bug fix?

[erlik]

I must say that video performance is the most disapointing aspect of my Archos 43it. If like me you are into Anime don't bother with a gen8 for now: most 720p files are simply unplayable.
As far as I can tell from my tests HD files with more than 8 reference frames will prove unplayable on the Gen8. The problem is that in the H264 encoding guidelines 8 reference frames is the bare minimum amount recommended for animation, so most of the anime files you will find on the internet will have more than 8 ref frames and be unplayable.
This is not a problem for live action (movies) because the number of recommended ref. frames is lower, but for anime this is a huge problem as only about 30% of my 720p files will play.
Now in the defense of Archos, not many tablets or PMPs actually support 720p with the maximum of 16 ref. frames (the only one I know of is the smartQ V7 when you allocate enough video memory), but it is definitely something I hope to see in a firmware upgrade.

[zalman]

In response I tested a bunch of anime, including some files that use odd combinations or just high profiles/high levels recently, here are the results:


[CrunchySubs] Kuragehime - 10 [360p].mkv - VP6 640x368 998kb/s 23fps - MP3 44100Hz Stereo - plays fine (it appears to be essentially flv video inside an MKV)

[gleam]_Kurenai_OVA_-_02_[OAD][c385e167].mkv - H.264 848x480 1137kb/s 23fps - AAC 48000Hz Stereo - 1: Subtitle 1 - plays fine

[Seto_Otaku]_Valkyria_Chronicles_OVA_-_09_[Final][DVD][720x480_H264-Vorbis][1782C508].mkv - H.264 720x480 782kb/s 23fps - Vorbis 48000Hz Stereo - 1: English - works fine (some subtitle errors, but still readable)

[Harth]_Heroman_EX-2_[BD_1280x720_FLAC][7DDD5274].mkv - H.264 1280x720 3047kb/s 23fps - s_unknownformat 48000Hz Stereo - 1: Subtitle 1 - no audio, video plays fine

[HorribleSubs]_Panty_and_Stocking_with_Garterbelt_-_13_[720p].mkv - H.264 1280x720 1626kb/s 23fps - AAC 44100Hz Stereo - plays fine

[SMS]_Starry_Sky_-_01_[2F8DD50A].mkv - H.264 640x480 1966kb/s 23fps - AAC 48000Hz Stereo - 1: Styled Subs (ASS) - Caused the archos video process to force close the first time, played fine after that

[gg]_Soredemo_Machi_wa_Mawatteiru_-_12_[43A22DE5].mkv - H.264 1280x720 2237kb/s 23fps - AAC 48000Hz Stereo - 1: ass - It tries to play but video is full of macroblocks and green squares and stuttering and is thus unwatchable. Audio and subtitles continue on fine. I assume this is the "too many reference frames" problem you mentioned.


Also one non-anime HD clip that didn't use AC3 audio (didn't get the plugin yet):

The.Cape.S01E00.Sneak.Peek.720p.WEB-DL.AAC2.0.H.264-MC.mkv - H.264 960x720 4241kb/s 29fps - AAC 48000Hz Stereo - plays fine

[stephen44]

nice testing ! what firmware version are you on ?

- Stephen

[zalman]

Firmware 2.0.71, the latest

[stephen44]

cool !

[erlik]

It tries to play but video is full of macroblocks and green squares and stuttering and is thus unwatchable.

Yep, that is the problem I am speaking about. I got than on most of my 720p anime files (unless I re-encode with a max of 6 ref frames of course, then it works fine). Some 720p files and almost all SD files play fine (I only had problem with one SD series, Crystal Blaze, but it was encoded in 700X400 H@L5 with 16 ref frames and the problem were very minor, just some synchronization issues).

Some groups still release 480p files or XVID files, but it looks like some are switching to 720P & 1080p only (720p being the "low quality" release), so it mostly worry for the future.

Of course since the Archos only has a "480p" physical screen the restriction is only annoying if you want to play the files on your HDTV (or if you want to watch part of the series on your HDTV and part on the go). I am now thinking of either purchasing a cheap chinese PMP with a sochip 9800 (such as the Ainol V8000HDS) just for the 720p playback of "difficult" files or waiting for the next generation if Android PMPs.

It looks like right now you have either PMPs with an "all rounder" chip that give a good android experience but an average video performance (like the Archos and its OMAP ARM Cortex A8 chip) or Chinese PMPs / tablets with great video performance but an older ARM11 core and and absolutely crap android experience (or no Android experience at all). I think we'll have to wait until 2011 to have a reasonably priced device that combines both (or purchase 2 PMPs).

[zalman]

I'll agree with you that processors seem to sacrifice general purpose (and 3D) power for hardware decoding power and vice versa at the moment, but I never considered the cheap Chinese PMPs because you simply cannot count on subtitle support. At least with Archos you know it's mostly solid, and the Android part is fairly good, and you get some actual support here on the boards.

I also did some more tests and looking into the "green macroblocks" thing it seems to be a combination of the level AND the reference frames, see the trailer and clip testing at the bottom:



[Lambda-Delta]_Loups=Garous_[720p][H264_AAC][DB081F1C].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.1, 4 Ref Frames, AAC, 48KHz, Stereo, ASS Subtitles

Plays fine as we should expect by now.


[umee]_Princess_Jellyfish_-_11_[C8F4873A].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.0, 8 Ref Frames, AAC, 48KHz, Stereo, ASS Subtitles

Plays fine even with the high amount of reference frames. Meanwhile...


[Nutbladder]_Arakawa_Under_the_Bridge_x2_-_12_[6FE8D4BB].mkv
[Nutbladder]_Arakawa_Under_the_Bridge_x2_-_13v2_[C5A884A9].mkv
1024x576, 24fps, AVC, Level 4.1, 14(!!!) Ref Frames, AAC, 48KHz, Stereo, ASS Subtitles (2 tracks)

Does not play well (green macroblocking all over) despite being less than 720p, perhaps due to some combination of being Level 4.1 and having that insane a number of reference frames.



Also found something else with downloaded Youtube videos (downloaded with DownloadHelper or jdownloader): Videos in FLV format will play fine but do not thumbnail and cannot resume their place and trying to seek through them is broken (forward and back only work in single steps). Meanwhile MP4 videos work fine and thumbnail and save their place and seek just like any other video. Strange, this is the same problem even my old Archos 605 Wifi had, I suppose Archos never fixed their code.



Finally I tested the giant Trailers and Clips packages I left at the bottom of Page 4 of the Archos 32 thread (the links earlier on that page are all included in the package)

It can play every clip but the ones with AC3 audio - Eureka and Tosh - due to not having the codec, and Amagami is unwatchable due to the green macroblocks everywhere (curiously other clips had 8 reference frames, maybe being High Profile and Level 4.1 also caused it?), Heroman and Occult Academy stutter but they stutter even on PC, probably due to using AVIDemux to clip them.

All the trailers play fine, even Sora no Woto with 2 subtitle tracks defaults to the English track (Chinese track doesn't work, predictably). No fancy positioning or colors of movement, of course, just plain white text. Hellsing stutters a bit, but it does so on PC too.

[Zenstrive]

just wanna add:

[BSS]_Mobile_Suit_Gundam_Unicorn_-_01_[7B928459].mkv plays fine

[T-N]Kamen_Rider_W_01SD[A6B0F85F].avi plays fine. All the episodes on this series would play fine too.

Anyway, I was surprised that MKV can be played right out of the box, if they have resolution up to 720p. No need for that AVI converter then 1080p won't play and the player gives you note so. Now if I can find free MKV resizer......

[Hajile_Ibushi]

Does not play well (green macroblocking all over) despite being less than 720p, perhaps due to some combination of being Level 4.1 and having that insane a number of reference frames.

ATI hardware acceleration also has the same problem (I have a 5850 and a 3200HD). I asked at Bakabt if they can do encodes that atleast stick to "normal" standards (Yes, i also refer to their encodes as "Insane"), the answer was a no.

Aside from those examples, the A101 plays the rest of my anime okay. The only issue i have is [Exiled Destiny] Godannar, some of the dialogue is still missing.

[Zenstrive]

[FFPeeps] version of Ika Musume can't play smoothly on Archos 70. Bummer.

[pcrider]

Charbax wrote:

Let's post Froyo firmware video tests, to see how it improves video playback of high profile HD video files further.

More testing, more problems. While this is by no means exhaustive, here is what I found with some video formats I had on hand that worked and some that didn't (Archos 70-IT-8GB, Froyo):

Testing Results:
Played - Format/Codec - Video Size
NO - WMV (WMV9/VC1) - 320x240x30fps
NO - WMV (WMV9/VC1) - 640x480x30fps
YES - WMV (WMV9/VC1) - 720x480x29fps
YES - WMV (WMV9/VC1) - 320x240x29fps
YES - WMV (WMV9/VC1) - 1280x720x23fps
YES - AVI/M-JPEG - 640x480x15fps
YES - AVI/M-JPEG - 320x240x59fps
YES - AVI/M-JPEG - 640x480x30fps
YES - AVI/Divx-MPEG-4 - 720x480x29fps
YES - divx/MPEG-4 - 592x352x30fps
YES - AVI/H.264 - 1280x720x24
YES - MOV/MPEG-4 - 480x360x24fps
YES - MPG/MPEG-1 - 320x240x25fps
YES - MPG/MPEG-1 - 352x288x25fps
YES - MPG/MPEG-2 - 720x480x29fps
YES - VOB/MPEG-2 - 720x480x29fps
YES - MP4/MPEG-4 - 320x240x29fps
YES - MP4/MPEG-4 - 352x288x29fps
NO* - MP4/MPEG-4 - 1280x720x59fps
NO - MP4/MPEG-4 - 1920x1080x29fps

* Video played at wrong frame rate, audio was distorted.
The owner's manual says that it should play all these, except the 720p60 and 1080p30:

MPEG-4 HD (up to 720p, 30 fps@6Mbps)
MPEG-4 (ASP@L5 AVI, up to DVD resolution, 30 fps@8Mbps
H.264 HD (HP@L3.1 up to 720p, 30 fps@5Mbps)
WMV9/VC1 (AP up to 720p 30 fps@10Mbps)
MJPG (Motion JPEG) in VGA resolution

These were all small files, so the splitting wouldn't be a problem. So what exactly does "up to" mean? Why don't the lower resolution WMV files play? What other formats within the "up to" range might not be supported?

Is there a more detailed list that identifies the supported H & V sizes along with the frame rates for each format?
How about these formats, including the interlaced ones?
720x480x24p, 30i
704x480x24p, 30i, 30p and 60p
544x480x24p 30i and 30p
528x480x24p 30i and 30p

Thanks.
[edit] It would also be good to know what the maximum bit rate is for MJPEG and if it can be used in other video sizes since this format is quite common with DV camcorders.

[zalman]

Ok I got my hands on all the 720p anime I could find and it looks like our suspicions regarding the green macroblocks problem are confirmed:


Plays Fine

Macross.Frontier.The.Movie.The.False.Songstress.2010.BluRay.720p.DTS.x264-CHDREMiX.mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.1, CABAC, 8 Ref Frames

[Doki] Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha The Movie 1st (LQ 1280x720 h264 BD AAC) [0717A3EB].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.1, CABAC, 4 Ref Frames

[HorribleSubs]_Rio_Rainbow_Gate_-_01v2_[720p].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.0, CABAC, 8 Ref Frames

[Whine-Subs]_Freezing_-_01_[960x720_x264_AAC][C23D808A].mkv
960x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.1, CABAC, 3 Ref Frames

[gg]_Star_Driver_-_13_[91A7A4CC].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.0, CABAC, 3 Ref Frames

[HorribleSubs] Level E - 01 [720p].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.0, CABAC, 8 Ref Frames

[HorribleSubs] Dragon Crisis! - 01 [720p].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.0, CABAC, 8 Ref Frames

[HorribleSubs] Kore wa Zombie desu ka - 01 [720p].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.0, CABAC, 8 Ref Frames

[HorribleSubs]_Bleach_-_304v2_[720p].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.0, CABAC, 8 Ref Frames

[Anonymous] Naruto Shippuuden - 194 [720p].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.0, CABAC, 8 Ref Frames

[HorribleSubs] Wandering Son - 01 [720p].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.0, CABAC, 8 Ref Frames

-umee-_Wandering_Son_-_01_-4CE1588E-.mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.0, CABAC, 8 Ref Frames

[Nutbladder]_Puella_Magi_Madoka_Magica_-_02_[28B73DD4].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.1, CABAC, 3 Ref Frames

[CrunchySubs] Beelzebub - 02 [720p].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.0, CABAC, 8 Ref Frames

[CrunchySubs]_Mitsudomoe_2_-_02_[720p].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.0, CABAC, 8 Ref Frames

[Derp]_Gosick_-_02_(1280x720_x264_AAC)[B8D5E446].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.0, CABAC, 3 Ref Frames

[Doki] Kore wa Zombie Desu ka - 01 (1280x720 h264 AAC) [02FDC1F4].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 3.1, CABAC, 5 Ref Frames

[WhyNot]_Freezing_-_02_[Uncensored][BC705CBC].mkv
960x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.0, CABAC, 4 Ref Frames



Unplayable due to Green Macroblock Land

[Freeze-subs] Dragon Ball Kai 88 [720p][881D340C].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 5.0, CABAC, 16 Ref Frames

[gg]_Puella_Magi_Madoka_Magica_-_01_[0557C1C6].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.0, CABAC, 9 Ref Frames

[gg]_Yumekui_Merry_-_01_[FD877DDC].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.1, CABAC, 9 Ref Frames

[Commie] Trigun the Movie - Badlands Rumble [BBD 720p AAC] [D25DC8CD].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 5.0, CABAC, 16 Ref Frames

[Commie] Trigun the Movie - Badlands Rumble [BBD 576p AAC] [CB33E999].mkv
1024x576, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 5.0, CABAC, 16 Ref Frames

[gg]_Star_Driver_-_14_[C9EDB95A].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 5.1, CABAC, 16 Ref Frames

[Weapon+] Wolverine ÔÇô 01 [1F66298C].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.1, CABAC, 9 Ref Frames

[gg]_Kimi_ni_Todoke_2nd_Season_-_01_[D0452779].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.1, CABAC, 9 Ref Frames

[SubSmith] ToHeart2 adnext OVA 02 - Trash Basket Memory [BD 720p][0C0ED7FD].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.0, CABAC, 9 Ref Frames

[UTW-Mazui]_Toaru_Majutsu_no_Index_II_-_14_[720p][D73FF534].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.1, CABAC, 9 Ref Frames

[Weapon+] Wolverine - 02 [35AEDF24].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.1, CABAC, 9 Ref Frames

[gg]_Yumekui_Merry_-_02_[3DA5CBEF].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 5.1, CABAC, 16 Ref Frames

[Underwater-Commie] Dragon Crisis! ÔÇô 01 (720p) [v2][8830ADCF].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 4.0, CABAC, 9 Ref Frames

[WhyNot] Dragon Crisis - 01 [0B8C5640].mkv
1280x720, 24fps, AVC, High Profile, Level 5.0, CABAC, 16 Ref Frames



Needs AC3 Plugin so I can't test it right now

[Ayako]_Infinite_Stratos_-_IS_-_01_[H264][720p][D764A3EC].mkv
[Ayako]_To_Aru_Majutsu_no_Index_II_-_13_[H264_1280x720][4C90E7A0].mkv
[Ayako-Shikkaku]_Oniichan_no_Koto_Nanka_Zenzen_Suki_Janain_Dakara_ne_-_01_[H264][720p][67A60A24].mkv
[gSS]_Mobile_Suit_Gundam_00_-_A_wakening_of_the_Trailblazer_[720p]_[BE9BFD22].mkv
_Frostii__MiyamotoMusashi__AVC_AC3-5.1__11E7137A_.mkv



So the key seems to be once they cross that 8 Reference Frame barrier. Anyone found any notable exceptions?

Also there seems to be a fairly even split of anime that uses too many reference frames and anime that does not.

(Bonus Test: "[Zorori-Project] George to Gerald no Bouken [H264][B64DE803B].avi" is h.264/AVC in an AVI container and it works fine)

[sestoasis]

I have a video with this features, my a70 doesn't ask the cinema plugin but says that the file is corrupt but it works on my pc, why does a70 say that the file is corrupt? Thanks and excuse my english .


Format : MPEG-4
Format profile : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID : mp42
File size : 2.14 GiB
Duration : 1h 49mn
Overall bit rate : 2 810 Kbps

Video #1
ID : 1
Format : AVC
Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile : High@L3.1
Format settings, CABAC : Yes
Format settings, ReFrames : 5 frames
Codec ID : avc1
Codec ID/Info : Advanced Video Coding
Duration : 1h 49mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 2 645 Kbps
Width : 1 280 pixels
Height : 528 pixels
Display aspect ratio : 2.35:1
Frame rate mode : Variable
Frame rate : 23.976 fps
Minimum frame rate : 23.974 fps
Maximum frame rate : 23.981 fps
Resolution : 24 bits
Colorimetry : 4:2:0
Scan type : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.163
Stream size : 2.01 GiB (94%)
Writing library : x264 core 79

Audio #2
ID : 2
Format : AAC
Format/Info : Advanced Audio Codec
Format version : Version 4
Format profile : LC
Format settings, SBR : No
Codec ID : 40
Duration : 1h 49mn
Bit rate mode : Variable
Bit rate : 160 Kbps
Maximum bit rate : 222 Kbps
Channel(s) : 2 channels
Channel positions : L R
Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz
Resolution : 16 bits
Stream size : 125 MiB (6%)

[jac009]

Can anyone point me to the utility that people are using to list the information about their video files? I'd like to try and figure out what differences I have in some files that work and some that don't on my A70 250Gb. So far, all I can tell is that when files tip over 2Gb the Archos fails.

Also, I've written a movie browser specifically for the A70 250Gb that is focused on getting more data on the screen by using movie poster thumbnails. Private msg me if you are interested in getting an early preview.

[Mikerla]

Is this movie browser only for the 250?

[jac009]

No - it should work on all Gen8s - but it's not as useful if your movie collection is < 20 movies.

Found the program - mediainfo. Now I still can't figure out why one of my rips won't play other than size. Anyone else having a plus 2Gb issue?

[Zenstrive]

As of now, you can play 4 gig of MKV movie with no problem,

provided that:

a. it has 720 p max resolution
b. it has maximum of 8 reference frames

other than that, good luck!