[15:42:17] You definitely do NOT want to drop qcomp for non-iPod playback [15:42:56] (Well...the default qcomp of 0.6 might still be a little high for AppleTV if you want to make the best use of bitrate...without such a device, I've been unable to play) [15:43:23] For iPod (period), I'd set qcomp=0 and make the bitrate 1500 for video - you won't have an issue there [15:43:44] The reason you've had to drop down into the 1400s is because of QC [15:43:47] okay, so can you respin the string for the iPod preset ? [15:43:59] If you set qcomp to 0, your range will max at 3000 (with an average of 1500) which is still iPod safe [15:44:07] iPod *actually* maxes out at approx. 3150 [15:44:15] (but that's ceiling, not average) [15:44:21] wow, interesting [15:44:37] Dyna: Go with this for iPod default: frameref=1:bframes=0:nofast_pskip:subq=6:partitions=p8x8,p8x4,p4x8,i4x4:qcomp=0:me=umh:nodct_decimate with a rate of 1500 [15:44:53] qcomp shouldn't matter if you restrict the vbv [15:45:32] and if you're not restricting the vbv, you are in danger of files not playing back on the iPod [15:49:20] setting qcomp=0 is a slightly hackish way to try not to exceed the bit rate [15:49:37] and not endorsed by any hardware [15:50:17] the profile and level restrictions are the only way to guarantee playback on a device that claims to play back a particular profile and level [15:52:10] rhester: do you have a reproducible problem case for the iPod? if so, i'll give jbrjake a nudge with profile/level stuff for H.264 or i'll give you guys a patch myself and we can test to see if it works fine with the default qcomp [16:03:37] Restricting the vbv is _not reliable_ in my testing regardless of bufsize [16:04:35] you used the correct bufsize and maxrate for the level i assume [16:05:04] super: Sure - take the opening segment from _any_ HBO DVD (the black and white "snow") and encode at 1500kbps ABR and see what your max bitrate becomes. The iPod won't grok higher than about 3000kbps, the actual encode comes out at over 8000kbps with normal bufsize and no lower than 6000kbps with the smallest possible bufsize [16:05:14] super: That was with a vbv_maxrate of 1500 [16:05:56] dyna: You are *only* safe at 1500 ABR with a qcomp of 0, BTW [16:06:12] Without qcomp=0, an ABR of even only 1200 will blow up the HBO intro on an iPod [16:06:58] No, just saying in reference to superdump's point...if you decide to stay with the default qcomp, it's gonna get sticky [16:08:13] first off, it sounds like the ipod isn't actually capable of level 3 at all [16:08:20] but that behaviour does seem strange [16:08:27] Also, re: AppleTV, direct is of dubious usefulness [16:08:45] do you mind if i copy and paste that and present it to the x264 peoples? [16:08:47] super: I agree, but all iTunes rips are set to level 3 (largely because anything lower can't be done @ 640x480) [16:08:56] super: I don't mind at all - I spent literally months on this [16:09:13] Steps to reproduce: [16:10:27] Use all defaults, ABR rip, leave qcomp at default of 0.6/0.7 (depending on build) and encode the HBO DVD intro (black-and-white snow logo) at 1500kbps ABR with vbv_maxrate of 1500 and vbv_bufsize at minimum possible - you'll find the _max_ bitrate in excess of 6000kbps. Set qcomp to 0 and it goes down to 3000 (within playable range of iPod).