First Annual MSU MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Video Codec Comparison

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Part 1. Introduction

Contents

Thanks

We would like to thank Moonlight Cordless LTD, Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS and Ateme for kindly providing us their codecs for this test.

Overview

Codecs

CODEC

MANUFACTURER

VERSION

1. Mpegable AVC Codec

dicas digital image coding GmbH

0.10

2. Moonlight H.264 Video Codec

Moonlight Cordless LTD

0.1.2546

3. MainConcept H.264 Codec

MainConcept AG

1.04.02.00

4. MPEG-4 / AVC Codec

Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS

Date 25.11.2004

5. Ateme MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 Codec

Ateme

1.0.3.2

6. Videosoft H.264 Codec main

Videosoft, Inc

2.1.0.2

7. DivX Pro™ 5.1.1 Codec

DivXNetworks, Inc

5.1.1

Video sequences

Sequence

Number of frames

Number of frames per second

Resolution and color space

1. bankomatdi

376

30

704x352(RGB)

2. battle

1599

24

704x288(RGB)

3. bbc3di

374

25

704x576(RGB)

4. foreman

300

15

352x288(RGB)

5. susidi

374

25

704x576(RGB)

Goal and testing rules

Goal of H.264 codecs comparison

The main goal of this work was the comparative assessment of codecs quality in terms of consumer video compression. The video sequences used to perform this assessment were processed with a simple prevalent deinterlacing filter. The codecs were used with their default options.

Testing rules

Sequences

Bankomatdi

Sequence title

bankomatdi

Resolution

704x352

Number of frames

376

Color space

RGB

Frames per second

30

Source

MPEG-2 (DVD), Smart Deinterlace


Picture 1. Frame 168 from bankomatdi sequence

This sequence is a fragment of the “Terminator-2” movie, which represents the scene near the cash dispenser. The sequence is characterized by slow motion, very little change of background (in the second part of the sequence camera slowly goes to the right) and comparatively high resolution.

Battle

Sequence title

battle

Resolution

704x288

Number of frames

1599

Color space

RGB

Frames per second

24

Source

MPEG-2 (DVD), FlaskMPEG deinterlace


Picture 2. Frame 839 from battle sequence

This sequence is also a fragment of the “Terminator-2” movie, which represents the very beginning of the film. In the terms of compression this sequence is the most difficult one among all other sequences that took part in the testing. It is caused by three main reasons: constant changing of brightness because of the explosions and laser flashes, very quick motion and frequent changes of the scene that make codecs often compress frames as I-frames.

Bbc3di

Sequence title

bbc3di

Resolution

704x576

Number of frames

374

Color space

RGB

Frames per second

25

Source

Original (standard sequence), Smart Deinterlace


Picture 3. Frame 185 from bbc3di sequence

Picture 4. Frame 258 from bbc3di sequence

This sequence is characterized by pronounced rotary motion. It contains a rotating striped drum with different pictures and photos on it. Quality of the compressed sequence can be estimated by the details on these images.

Foreman

Sequence title

foreman

Resolution

352x288

Number of frames

300

Color space

RGB

Frames per second

15

Source

Original (standard sequence), progressive


Picture 5. Frame 77 from foreman sequence

Picture 6. Frame 258 from foreman sequence

This is another standard sequence. It represents a face with very rich mimic. On the one hand motion here is not very intensive, but on the other it is disordered, not forward. Intricate character of motion creates problems for the motion compensation process. In addition camera is shaking which makes the image unsteady. In the end of the sequence camera suddenly turns to the building site and there follows an almost motionless scene. So this sequence also shows codec’s behavior on a static scene after intensive motion.

Susidi

Sequence title

susidi

Resolution

704x576

Number of frames

374

Color space

RGB

Frames per second

25

Source

MPEG-2 (40Mbit), Smart Deinterlace


Picture 7. Frame 193 from susidi sequence

This sequence is characterized by high-level noise and slow motion. In its first part the scene is almost static (the girl only blinks), then there is some motion (she abruptly moves her head) and then the scene becomes almost static again. Noise is suppressed on every second frame due to the B-frames option in MPEG-2 codec.

Codecs

Mpegable AVC Codec


Picture 8. Mpegable AVC

Remarks:

VirtualDub jobs support contains an error on different bit rates. When trying to create several jobs only the last one is performed. Possible source is that codec might not save its settings during job creation.

Moonlight H.264 Video Codec



Picture 9. Moonlight

Remarks:

Codec was tested without problems.

MainConcept H.264 Codec



Picture 10. MainConcept

Remarks:

Fraunhofer IIS Codec


Picture 11. Fraunhofer

Picture 12. Fraunhofer command-line

Remarks:

Ateme MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 Codec


Picture 13. Ateme command-line

Remarks:

Codec was tested without problems.

Videosoft H.264 Codec



Picture 14. VSS

Remarks:

Codec was tested without problems.

DivX Pro™ 5.1.1 Codec



Picture 15. DivX Pro™ 5.1.1

Remarks:

Codec was tested without problems.

10 Mar 2011
See Also
Video Colorization Benchmark
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Call for HEVC codecs 2019
Fourteen modern video codec comparison
HEVC Video Codecs Comparison 2018 (Thirteen MSU Video Codec Comparison)
13th MSU video codecs comparison
HEVC Video Codecs Comparison 2017 (Twelfth MSU Video Codec Comparison)
12th MSU video codecs comparison
MSU Video Codec Comparisons (6 test of lossless, MPEG-4 and MPEG-4 AVC)
Call for HEVC codecs 2018
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