New Updated Video Encoder for G1

[KungFuNunChuck]

Thanks to dLirious and teckel on TmoNews for putting together the best video encoding instructions for the current G1 video player. This fixes the stretching on some media when viewed on the player.

Original thread is on http://forums.tmonews.com.s52300.gri...p?topic=3261.0


This doesn't just give instructions on how to make a video, but how to do it with high quality, so the movie is the correct aspect ratio, and movies filmed in Panavision and other higher aspect ratios are always shown in normal 16x9 widescreen. Also, this is for DVD rips from widescreen sources (everything I have is widescreen). If you're doing TV shows or something else at 4:3 this won't work (I can give those instructions as well if there's demand for it).

http://www.erightsoft.net/SUPER.html#Dnload

Click "Start Downloading SUPER" towards the bottom of the page, then "download and use" towards the top, and finally "Download SUPER © setup file" towards the bottom. (the site requires this for ad views or something, but it is free so it's worth the hassle).

SUPER © 16:9 Widescreen Setup:
Codecs: MP4 - H.264 - AAC LC
Video: 480:270 - 3:2 - 23.976 - 480kbps(yes, you set the video to 480x270)
Audio: 441002 - 96kbps - Default
Options: Hi Quality:OFF - Top Quality:OFF - Pad:Top:24 Bottom:26 Left:0 Right:0 - Crop:Top:0 Bottom:0 Left:Calc Right:Calc
While everything else stays the same from movie to movie, the Calc options above need to be calculated depending on the resolution of the video source. I'll quickly give the calculation and then give an example. The calculation is ( Width - ( Height * 16 / 9 ) ) / 2. Width and Height are of the source video and the result would be what you would select for the left and right crop.

Here's a couple examples from my DVD rips:

* 886x480 source video: ( 886 - ( 480 * 16 / 9 ) ) / 2 = 16 (set the left and right crop to 16)
* 1128x480 source video: ( 1128 - ( 480 * 16 / 9 ) ) / 2 = 137 (set the left crop to 136 and the right crop to 138)
* 852x480 source video: ( 852 - ( 480 * 16 / 9 ) ) / 2 = -0.7 (this movie is already 16x9 so you can turn Crop OFF)


That's it! Perfect aspect ratio, no stretching, and very high quality. Oh, and I would suggest that when you playback a movie TURN ON AIRPLANE MODE! (Home, Menu, Settings, Wireless controls, Airplane mode). The phone searching for GSM, Edge, 3G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, and apps trying to use connections will cause your video to slow down, pause, or even fail. As a bonus, it will also greatly extend video viewing time.

Here's a simple Excel form that I've created to calculate the crop values. Feel free to download and use: Simple Movie Ratio Calculator


Other information:
For high quality, I went with 480kbps video and 96kbps audio. When doing samples, I tested many bit rates and found 480/96kbps to be the perfect balance between quality and file size. A 90 minute movie will be about 380MB using these settings, this allows me to have about 8-9 movies on a 4GB card, plenty for me. You can sacrifice quality for a smaller file size by using 336kbps video and 64kbps audio which will result in the same 90 minute movie being about 265MB.

23.976 frames per second is what all DVD's of movies are filmed at as movies are all shot at 24 frames per second. Using 25 frames per second or 29.97 or 30 will just LOWER the quality because the converter will have to create averaged frames or duplicate previous frames to generate more frames than the source video has. If the source movies you're converting from are not 23.976 already, whoever ripped it did so incorrectly. In the future, make sure you always rip movies from DVD at 23.976.

You should always use the 3:2 aspect ratio in SUPER © as that's what the G1 format is. If you don't select 3:2, if you preview the movie on your computer it will look different than on your G1 because it will stretch it on your computer. Basically, keeping it always at 3:2 no matter what the source will allow you to preview videos on your computer and they will look the same on your G1 as well.


Saving File:

Right click in the box directly under the purple “OUTPUT� section to reveal the menu for Super ©. Here you will select the default area to save your file by selecting “Output File Saving Management.� And you will also find the function to add your media files here as well “Add Multimedia Files� or Ctrl+A.

Once you have added the file just click on the “Encode (Active Files)� button and voila!!! You will have your newly converted video files for your G1. Hope this was useful and if you have any questions please feel free to PM me or post your questions. I do have the direct link for the Super © program so if you are having trouble finding it just PM me and I’ll gladly send it to you. ENJOY!!!!

EDIT: Once you have loaded the video you intend to encode you can double click on the file to find out its' original settings such as frame rate and such so you can choose it from the list. This might help with the quality of the video.

NOTE: You can download the Video Player 1.0 in the android market to play these files.

Here's a screen shot for the lazy folks (jk):


SUPER © 4:3 Non-Widescreen Setup:
Codecs: MP4 - H.264 - AAC LC
Video: 432:320 - 3:2 - 29.97 or 23.976 - 480kbps (yes, you manually set the video to 432x320)
Audio: 441002 - 96kbps - Default
Options: Hi Quality:OFF - Top Quality:OFF - Pad:Top:0 Bottom:0 Left:24Right:24 - Crop:Crop:OFF
The Green settings are the ones you change for 4:3 video. There's no calculation because the source is a fixed 4:3 aspect ratio. Also, you would choose 29.97 or 23.976 depending on what the source was. Movies are always 23.976 and TV is always 29.97. You could also look at the source video FPS and just match it. If everything was ripped correctly, it would only ever be 29.97 or 23.976. But, I'm sure people rip things incorrectly so you may see 30fps, 25fps, 24fps, or others. I guess it may just be best to always look at the FPS of the source video you're converting and just match it as it would be better to not degrade something further that was already degraded because the wrong frame rate was used. But, going forward make sure you only ever rip movies and video at either 29.97 or 23.976 as that's what all TV, DVD's, and Blu-ray's are recorded at.

[Maximosis]

Thanks I downloaded it it worked for like videos then told me my computer didnt have enough resources to run it... I HAVE a SUPER THURBO COMPUTER i wonder why?

[KungFuNunChuck]

Thanks I downloaded it it worked for like videos then told me my computer didnt have enough resources to run it... I HAVE a SUPER THURBO COMPUTER i wonder why?

I had that issue also when I first installed it on my laptop. I remember it showing what the recommended resources are to run smoothly and then lists what your computer is currently running. If an area of that is below standard, that pop up appears and rendering my be a little off.

[yeaitalktuff]

This does work takes a long time to encode but its great. I did the moovie 300

[unknown.soul]

Thanks I downloaded it it worked for like videos then told me my computer didnt have enough resources to run it...

Same here, it said my processor is 180mHz lol

[Stanovoy]

@Mods: Can we put this in the knowledge base?

[thebizzboy]

really quick..download program clonedvd mobile and use the iphone settings
find program here
www.9down.com

[orange]

this is cool.

[KungFuNunChuck]

really quick..download program clonedvd mobile and use the iphone settings
find program here
www.9down.com

The issue with most iphone settings is stretching. With widescreen movies the current video player on G1 does an "auto fit" which makes the video off aspect. Watching badly calibrated videos is like kissing your 3rd cousin...sure you can do it, but it still ain't right!

On that note, good night.

[Fare]

If you're doing TV shows or something else at 4:3 this won't work (I can give those instructions as well if there's demand for it).

Does this include instructions on how to crop it correctly? I am doing a 4:3 atm, but I am not sure if it's going to be stretched or not. I'll make good use of the instructables if ya post them