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HQ3GOP (3GOP setting optimized for PAL users)
  • 38 Replies sorted by
  • Impressive!

  • some Streamparser JM-SP decoder charts re HBR/25p ...

    25p_CT_static.jpg
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    25p_CT_motion.jpg
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    25p_CT_foliage_motion.jpg
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    25p_lowkey.jpg
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    25p_lowkey_soft.jpg
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  • Update: HQ3GOP V8

    24L bitrate lowered to 112M. Now reliably spanning in 24L mode.

    HQ3GOP V8 has been tested with regard to spanning on a modified version of my codec torture movie with SanDisk 95MB/s SDXC 64GB cards.

    • 24H: Doesn't span. Camera stops recording as soon as the file size is 4.29GB. In camera playback works.

    • 24L: I've stopped recording after 32 minutes. 7 files spanned. In camera playback doesn't work with a 32min spanned file. Of course the files look fine on the computer. (However, several single files tested played back in camera.)

    • HBR/25p: Camera stopped recording after 25 minutes. 3 files spanned. The file has been finished correctly and in camera playback of the spanned 25min file works. The same goes for FSH/50i. However, as noted above, 25p has spanned on a demanding real world scene (I've stopped recording after 45 minutes, in camera playback worked).

    • 720p50: I've stopped recording after 32 minutes. 4 files spanned. In camera playback of the 32min file works.

    Attached charts from the spanning test in 24L and 720p50 mode. In addition a chart of a detailed "landscape" scene with motion shot in 720p50 mode.

    24L_CTM_Spanning.jpg
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    720p50_CTM_Spanning.jpg
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    720p50_ODL_motion.jpg
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    HQ3GOP_V8.zip
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  • it's getting even better ...

    Update: HQ3GOP V9

    Latest adjustment:

    • modified Matrix for 1080i modes (HBR/FSH). B-Frames go even larger and quantization is more balanced.

    • FH increased to 60M. Spans in 1080i50 mode.

    For the time being myself I consider V9 as the "final" version. However, if you encounter errors please let me know…

    So here's a summery of what HQ3GOP is about:


    The purpose of HQ3GOP was/is to make the highest possible image quality and at the same time the smoothest motion in 25p/50i in an all around setting (suitable for both bright high definition scenes as well as low key scenes) while also providing excellent 24p at the same time in a 3GOP setting.

    I've been working intensively on the soon to be released Spizz T6 setting (especially with regard to PAL modes). The upcoming Spizz T6 is really, really great! However 25p in Spizz T6 is designed to span reliably in 25p mode (it does!). In HQ3GOP 25p doesn't span on extremely stressing scenes such as my Code Torture Movie. But HQ3GOP is not aimed at spanning in HBR/25p mode… it's aimed at max. IQ and achieving the max. frame size with very good quantization while still being stable (of course) in 25p. In my opinion the setting does provide exactly this. edit: HQ3GOP V10 now also spans in 25p mode!

    • high resolving & pretty sharp matrix still showing very smooth motion

    • HBR/25p and FSH/50i show no (or only very little) compression artifacts on fine edges when shooting high definition scenes with motion

    • fine "grain"-like noise without macroblocking also in 25p

    • AVCHD 1080 modes are 3GOP, AVCHD 720p modes are 6GOP

    • up to 140M in 24H/24p mode

    • up to 110M in 24L/24p mode (spans)

    • up to 66M in HBR/1080p25 and FSH/1080i50 modes

    • up to 60M in FH/1080i50 mode (spans)

    • up to 60M in SH/720p50 mode (spans)

    • in camera playback works in all modes

    • contains the Pasadena Pulse Audio Patch V2 B2 by Per Lichtman


    All modes have been successfully tested shooting my Codec Torture Movie with a very sharp lens on...

    • SanDisk 95MB/s SDXC 64GB cards

    • SanDisk 95MB/s SDHC 32GB cards

    • SanDisk 30MB/s SDHC 16GB cards

    Two copies of each of the respective cards have been tested. This is why I think it's highly unlikely that you encounter card speed errors when you use one of these cards (however, I still would recommend to use 95MB/s cards). You also won't encounter mosquito noise even when the codec hits the frame limit. You also won't see the codec run in fallback mode.


    Reliable spanning probably requires SDXC cards (SanDisk 95MB/s SDXC 64GB).

    According to @bkmcwd spanning can only be considered reliable when the camera spans over 30 minutes shooting a highly stressing scene (containing high frequency details, high contrast and motion). I think this is a very reasonable assumption and I've tested spanning accordingly.

    So here's a copy of my spanning report from above supplemented by the lately adjusted FH mode and the new 25p/50i matrix. Spanning has been tested on a modified version of my Codec Torture Movie on SanDisk 95MB/s SDXC 64GB cards.

    • 24H: doesn't span. Camera stops recording as soon as the file size is 4.29GB. The file finishes correctly.

    • 24L: Spans at 110M bitrate. I've stopped recording after 32 minutes. 7 files spanned. In camera playback doesn't work with a 32min spanned file. Of course the files look fine on the computer. (However, several single files tested played back in camera just fine.)

    • HBR/25p: doesn't span. Camera stops recording as soon as the file size is 4.29GB. The file finishes correctly. edit: HQ3GOP V10 now also spans in 25p mode!

    • FH/1080i50: Spans at 62M bitrate (trick mode). I've stopped recording after 32 minutes. 5 files spanned. In camera playback of the 32min file works.

    • 720p50: Spans at 60M bitrate. I've stopped recording after 32 minutes. 4 files spanned. In camera playback of the 32min file works.


    Unlike @bkmcwd's 3GOP settings in HQ3GOP Auto Modes have not been tested (since personally I don't use any… except of Auto Focus occasionally). Auto Modes may work reliable … but I simply don't know. Out of curiosity I've tested HBR/25p today on my Codec Torture Movie with "I-Contrast" and "I-Dynamik" set to the respective max setting on a SanDisk 30MB/s SDHC 16GB card exposed correctly and also heavily overexposed. The camera didn't crash. However, again, the setting has not been tested sufficiently with all Auto modes enabled (shutter or aperture priority or so...).

    My special thanks of course go to @bkmcwd and @driftwood!!!


    Attached charts of the latest 25p on my Codec Torture Movie, 25p Low Key and 50i (FH setting) spanning test.

    25p_CodecTorture.jpg
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    25P_LowKey.jpg
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    50i_Spanning_Test.jpg
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    HQ3GOP_V9.zip
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  • yet another Update: HQ3GOP V10

    Latest adjustment:

    • HBR/25p now spans at 64M (without compromising IQ)

    Spanning has been tested on a modified version of my Codec Torture Movie on a SanDisk 95MB/s SDXC 64GB card. I've stopped recording after 32 minutes. 5 files spanned. In camera playback of the 32min file works.

    Attached charts of the latest 25p ...

    1.) spanning test

    2.) highly detailed texture, narrow DOF, fast pans

    3.) lowkey scene with pans


    edit: spannning has also been successfully tested in 25p mode on a SanDisk 95MB/s SDHC 32GB card (I've stopped recording after 32 minutes). Out of curiosity I've also tested spanning in 25p on a SanDisk 30MB/s SDHC 16GB card. I've stopped recording after 12 minutes. 2 files spanned. I wouldn't use a 30MB/s card for spanning anyway... however, it's good to know that 25p spannend once even on this card.

    HQ3GOP10_CTM_Lopop_span.jpg
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    HQ3GOP10_tex_pan.jpg
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    HQ3GOP10_LK_pan.jpg
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    HQ3GOP_V10.zip
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  • Update: HQ3GOP V11

    Latest adjustment:

    • FSH/SH Bitrate slightly lowered to 66.7M to improve spanning in 25p on highly demanding scenes

    Attached charts of the latest 25p ...

    1.) Codec Torture Movie with motion

    2.) highly detailed outdoor daylight scene (windless, so actually no motion; therefore large I-Frames and pretty small B-Frames on this scene)


    25p still runs stable on SanDisk 30MB/s 16GB cards. However, for reliable spanning in 25p SanDisk 95MB/s SDXC 64GB cards should be used (SanDisk 95MB/s SDHC 32GB card should also work fine... not yet tested with V11)

    HQ3GOP_V11_CTM_Loop.jpg
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    HQ3GOP_V11_ODL.jpg
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    HQ3GOP_V11.zip
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  • Update: HQ3GOP V12

    For some reason the bitrate set for SH/H (low modes) apparently also affects the performance of the FSH/SH modes. The low modes (SH/H) obviously also affect the spanning capabilities of the respective high modes (FSH/SH)! Who would have thought ...

    Latest adjustments:

    • FSH/SH Bitrate set back to 68Mbps

    • SH/H Bitrate lowered to 51Mbps

    HQ3GOP now also spans on SanDisk 30MB/s SDHC 16GB cards (tested by shooting my codec torture movie until the cards was full... a bit over 30 minutes, 4 files spanned).


    Attached a chart of the latest 25p from the said spanning test...

    HQ3GOP_V12_CTM_Loop.jpg
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    HQ3GOP_V12.zip
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  • No P-frames in V12, that is, in the sample file.

  • yes, correct: no P-Frames. In 3GOP only the second frame is a P-frame. So when spanning only the first clip contains a P-frame.

  • Hello Towi. I'm a Pal user and i found your patch just now. Good alternative to Driftwood's Spizz. It 's very interesting and stable. Thanks.

  • is HQ3GOP more stable than Spizz T6? (24H / HBR25)

  • Not sure about Spizz T6 but HQ3GOP has been very stable for me and spans reliably on Sandisk Extreme 64GB 95mbs card.

  • Hi all and Hi @towi - I was wondering which one of the HQ3GOP versions are concidered the top settings for PAL recording? (I mostly shood documentaries). Thanks!