People have asked me where they could find the Quantum Beta patch (if you looked hard enough its in the low GOP thread 3 where many other reports and notes are to be found) The Driftwood Quantum patch is my attempt to 'finalise' the best settings for 1/ filmmakers & best settings and 2/ documentary/lower memory settings users. It is a mixture of INTRA, short GOP & hi-bitrate quality which is currently in BETA test (as below), we are currenty upto version 5. I am reliant on people giving feedback to adjust to the most all-round suited requirements. There will be improvements as testing continues and new ptools release - incorp. 25p hi bitrate - which is expected soon from VK.
Please give feedback via pm NOT HERE.
Version History:
v1. Quantum v1 (released Nov 28th) * A beta patch trying out a few things. AQ4 on 1080p24, 720p60 limits raised slightly for improved i frame size plus AQ3. * 1080p24L lowered to 64M - After one second the frame sizes will drop to around' SpanMyBitchUp' size requested by balazer; to try out spanning with good quality on the L setting whilst keeping the H setting top quality. * More encoder adjustments for seemingly better QP. * 1080i theory change (1080i encoders formula = 1080p + 720p encoder values (like stock). Does it improve things? Let me know.
v2. Quantum v2 (Dec 2nd) * Incorporating 2K on mjpeg. Further mjpeg improvements to come. Anamorphic lens users get your requests in for most popular sizes - I need to know if you want the anamorphic container 1998x1080 (ratio 1.85) or 2048x856 (ratio 2.39). Ive left it as container for now. * What's New: Minor tweaks to 1080p24 for AQ4. MJPEG test: Reference 2K (2048 x 1152) + 2K container (2048 x 1080) * Still in: 1080p24 H for high quality pics * 1080p24 L for good quality INTRA with spanning/long recordings * 720p50 INTRA 720p60 GOP3 * 1080i50/60 25P/30P INTRA in a wrap
v3. Quantum v3 (Dec 8th) This is aimed mainly at high quality sd cards. * MJPEG 2560 x 1080 HD mode anamorphic Note: First recording will fail. 2nd recording onwards: You have to move around for the first second in order for the GH2 to write its jpeg file, then should settle. But best for movement. Will probaby fail at prolonged pauses ;-) This will give 100% (1,1,1,1,1etc... ) on jpeg snoop during the jpeg test !!! If you can't be bothered with the hassle of attempting to get hi quality full x2 anamorphic then lower the frame size to;- 2048x864 for stability. * MJPEG VGA Mode: 2160 x 810 anamorphic mode. Should be good on static shots. Best quality patch so far for VGA mode :-) * 1080p24 Still AQ4, tuned to 154M with no loss of quality. L mode will span on all cards :-) * 1080i tuned bitrate/limits, FH mode is nearly equal quality, span + longer recordings. ;-) * 720p improved to AQ4/ tuned. Should be good on hi quality sd cards...
v4. *Quantum v4 (Dec 12th) * Changed HD MJPEG to a step down in size for durability reasons: Big improvements further still on quality for both modes HD & VGA and high datarates not seen before. Anamorphic sizes are;- 720p30 width=2048, 720p30 height=864 480p30 width=2160, 480p30 height=810 * If you change either size settting to 1920x1080 for non anamorphic users you're good to go with great looking footage. Appears very good actually but let me know :-) * Very slight improvements on 1080p24, 1080i, & 720p.
v5. Quantum v5 (Dec 15th, as tested by Philip Bloom) * Thee 720p60p / 1080i60 test!!!! AQ4 * Both settings are now on much higher bitrate together with GOP3 (inc analysis of encoder settings to achieve better stability) higher frame limit and better temporal quality. They are at their peaks and are looking very good on cadence. * 1080p24H INTRA The highest average frames over all other patches around! Totally spatial!* * Sandisk 64Gb 95mbps users before saving firmware can take the 1080p frame limit upto to 6208888 without problems if you would. This will bring you over the 800k mark for i frames (constant) :-) * INTRA 1080p24L has been taken upto 100M for longer recordings with better quality - please test for spanning. * MJPEG Stabilised (as before with slightly lower bitrate and table analysis) and is stil better than has been seen before in other patches.
v6. Quantum v6 (Jan 3rd 2012) Don't bother with this patch - jump to v7. New changes new theory. Tuned buffers now set by 'Bottom' Bitrate settings. 1080p24H Quantum v2 stye with slight bitrate/ buffer tuned. 1080p24L Great allrounder and amazing QP. AQuamtion v2 tuned. 1080i60AQ4/720p60AQ1 for movement, GOP3 and GOP 15 on a new bitrate/buffer ratio. 1080i50/720p50 as before apart from AQ1 for movement.
v7. Quantum v7 (Jan 7th 2012) (this is v6 updated - don't bother wiith v6) Tuned buffers 70% of bitrate all round. Plus, 1080pL setting is slightly down on bitrate/buffer ratio - test for spanning please. 720p now on AQ2 for balance. Everything else virtualy the same. This patch looks great in real world preliminary tests. Use the L setting for 80% mode. Tested on Voigtander 0.95 manual lens.
v8. Quantum v8 BETA [The Q Theory/Rate Control]. (Jan 14th 2012) A new theory for trying out different Q on the range of REC MODES. Limits will look strange as Q has been analysed, bitrate settings may look strange to you (but they will record considerably lower than bitrates entered), and frame limits have been adjusted according to Q. The whole theory here is about rate control in h.264 AVC codec and seeing where bitrate is allocated to the amount of detail. Its still early days on this, so I expect failures. Take a look and report to me. I need real world tryouts - not neccesarily static death charts (you can take the 1080p frame limit back down to around 6080808 if you want death charts recorded) - and before you ask, YES, I expect streamparser graphs to now move up and down on all settings and adjust bitrate according to the details in the picture. Let me know how you get on. This is NO replacement for other versions of Quantum, just a new theory to test. 50p/50i will be addressed in beta v9 over the next day or so. Thank you.
v9. Quantum v9 BETA - The Rate Controller! (15th Jan 2012)
This is the result of trying to harness rate control back with high bitrates and INTRA. Now you will see your recordings Q vary more according to detail being filmed. This probably has a good chance of spanning too. Settings: 1080p24H=154000000 (154M) 1080p24L=112000000 (112M) 1080i/720p FSH/SH=80000000 1080i/720p FH/H=60000000 Auto Quantizer for 1080 modes=4 Auto Quantizer for 720 modes=3 720p50 GOP Size=3 (GOP3) 720p60 GOP Size=3 (GOP3) 1080i50 and 1080p24 GOP Size=1 (INTRA) 1080i60 GOP Size=1 (INTRA) Encoder setting 1 1080i/p=1 1080p24 Frame Limit=6128320 60fps Frame Limit=1413779 50fps Frame Limit=1687144
This enjoys very good Q and needs testing on detailed real world subject matter. Let me know how you get on. Got a sneeky feeling we're getting close all rounder with this one. Some of the pictures I have shot with this patch have been stunning.
v9b. Quantum v9b BETA *** slight update ***
Only change from earlier released v9 is 1080p24 is back to 6080808 frame limit for stability on death charts as one or two users reported a fail (I didnt). Plus, Max ISO LIMIT Removal on, 30min Removal On, Languages On, PAL<>NTSC On.
v9c. Driftwood Quantum v9c ** Newest (10/02/2012) AVC-HD INTRA100/50 - sort of interim Quantum 9b meets Quanttum 100 (see below patches). A new experimental patch before the new ptools release. This has been tested on the original AVC Intra 100 matrix which will be available in the next version of ptools. For now its enjoying the base camera matrices. INTRA 1080p = 128M averages around 100M INTRA 1080i = peaks quality is around 100M INTRA 720p50 = peaks around 100M 720p60 now on GOP2, peaks around 100M.
In particular want to know if this spans.
Let me know how you get on in real world recordings.
Test away!
Nick
NOTE: THIS COMMENT ON THIS THREAD WILL BE DELETED & REPLACED BY RELEASE CANDIDATES WHEN QUANTUM IS FINALLY RELEASED.
Please give feedback via pm (private message) NOT HERE. This is a non-chat thread.
Driftwood 'Quantum' - beta test setj.zip
811B
Driftwood 'Quantum' BETA 2 INTRA 1080p24 AQ4 - Spanning on L setting - plus MJPEG - 2K ref + 2K anamorphic settings - setg.zip
900B
Driftwood 'Quantum' BETA 3 - seth.zip
914B
Driftwood 'Quantum' BETA 4 - seta.zip
813B
Driftwood 'Quantum' BETA 5 - setd.zip
796B
Driftwood Quantum BETA v6 - seti.zip
916B
Driftwood Quantum v7 BETA - seti (7th Jan 2012).zip
I just noticed that StreamParser is showing the B frame icon in time mode. That's a bug, it shouldn't be there. I'll fix it and post a new version. Obviously, there are no B frames with the previous patch.
Like with all patches, the bitrate will be fairly constant if the subject matter doesn't change. I tried this patch and the bitrate changes if the subject changes. Try taking a clip where you start with the lens cap on and then take it off mid-clip. You'll see a big change in bitrate. I would describe the bitrate you show as "clipped" rather than constant, as macroblock quality is not being maintained.
Dis you not read my comments in the other thread? This patch has problems. It is not CBR, and it is manifestly not 0 compression. When you set QP to 0 it doesn't make the codec use no compression, rather it forces it to attempt every value from 0 to whatever it ends up using - which is typically 20. Setting QP to 0 just makes the codec work harder for no improvement in image quality. The other thing the codec does is use a quantization scaling matrix that destroys fine detail (esssentially giving you SD comparable resolution) if your settings are too aggressive, which in the case of this patch also happens.
I know you are trying to post this in an appropriate place. This is not it because this thread is for the most popular settings. This patch is not popular - it's new. A more appropriate place would be the "Official Low GOP Topic - Series 3"
*** NEW *** Driftwood 'SeAQuake' 1080p24/1080i at AQ3 & 720p at AQ2. 1080p24 and 720p50 all INTRA; 1080i50/60 INTRA PsF, 720p60 (GOP3). Includes all new Encoder settings to improve macroblocking and QP. Note: This very hi quality patch WILL NOT span. But enjoy, it's tasty!
This has been tried & tested on a 30MB/s Type 10 SanDisk. If you've got a shit card, it may fail, so don't come crying.
UPDATE (16/11/2011): *** NEW *** 'SPANmyBITCHup' INTRA Patch. This is the baby version of 'seAQuake' which will span and record at the lowest decent possible settings for all modes. Everything is GOP1 I frame bar 720p60 which is still GOP3. 1080p is AQ2, 1080i/720 is AQ1. This patch will probably not audio jump on playback in camera or on sd card thru a TV.
This patch should work on just about any card, still record decent pictures, whilst giving you very long record times. Tested on all modes plus EX TELE and 1080p 80% modes. Now PLEASE stop asking for spanning INTRA!
UPDATE (17/11/2011): *** NEW *** 'AQuamotion version 2. Full spanning at higher quality 1080p24 and AQ2 all round.
UPDATE (18/11/2011): *** NEW TerrAQuake *** This is seAQuake verB for poorer type 10 cards. Very slight drop in frame size to work on non top spec type 10 cards.
Note: What are these INTRA patches? Answer: SpanMyBitchUp patch is good quality for spanning with long record times. AQuamotion v2 is medium-high quality with decent spanning recording times + 80% slowdown / EX TELE. TerrAQuake is seAQuake but less quality frame sizes for poorer type 10 cards. SeAQuake is Very High Quality for hi-end SD cards.
Driftwood 'SeAQuake' - its INTRA all round apart from 720p60 (GOP3). All settings now with enchanced Encoder QP - setc.zip
797B
Driftwood 'Aquamotion' ver2 AQ2 all round and spanning - great for EX TELE and 80percent recording - better 1080p24 quality with spanning than SPANmyBITCHup - setb.zip
765B
Driftwood - 'SPANmyBITCHup' INTRA Spanning and Any SD card in the Type 6-10 range - setf.zip
642B
Driftwood TerrAQuake for poorer Type 10 cards hi quality INTRA - seti.zip
I improved my patches for PTool v3.63d. Although all these do not stop under ISO12800 in extreamly high stress test, either, whether you can use or not should use, after confirming by yourself.
NOTE: *In these patches, most setting except 24p(24H) is from Chris's 66M. 24L and 50i may not be used with good result. You can combine with your favorite patch except 1080p and 50i. *With all my patches, play back in camera AVAILABLE except "GOP3ZILLA MAX". *With all my patches, USING "1M" BIG SIZE I-FRAME raises the average image quality of the whole screen except "AQ4 Spanning Test Patch 1GOP Ver." and "AQ4 Spanning Test Patch 3GOP Ver.".
UPDATE(2011.Dec.19th): "GOLGOP3-13" patch is added. *NOT Span also with SanDisk 95MB/s 64GB SDXC Card. *Please try latest version "V3".
UPDATE(2011.Dec.29th): New "AQ2 1M Max Frame Size v.2" patch is added. *Spanning in 24p with SanDisk 95MB/s 64GB SDXC Card. *The latest version of this patch is "megaMAQ2"
New "3GOP Economical Over 1M Max Frame Size" patch is added. *Spanning in 24p with SanDisk 95MB/s 64GB SDXC Card. *With this patch, lower middle qp can be saved on the average in the whole screen using "OVER 1M" big frame size. *Please try latest version "natural".
UPDATE(2011.Dec.30th): New "GOLGOP3-13 V2" 1M Max Frame Size patch is added. *Spanning in 24p with SanDisk 95MB/s 64GB SDXC Card. *With this patch, lower qp can be saved on the average in the whole screen using "1M" big frame size. *Please try latest version "V3".
UPDATE(2012.Jan.6th): New "megaMAQ2" 1M Max Frame Size patch is added. *Spanning in 24p with SanDisk 95MB/s 64GB SDXC Card. *With this patch, lower qp can be saved on the average in the whole screen using "1M" big frame size.
UPDATE(2012.Jan.9th): New "AQ4 Spanning Test Patch 1GOP Ver." and "AQ4 Spanning Test Patch 3GOP Ver." are added. *Spanning in 24p with SanDisk 95MB/s 64GB SDXC Card.
UPDATE(2012.Jan.19th): New "GOLGOP3-13 V3" 1M Max Frame Size patch is added. *Spanning in 24p with SanDisk 95MB/s 64GB SDXC Card. *30p (24p80%) can be used now with GOLGOP3-13. Although improvements were slightly in 24H, I improved so that 80% could be used with 24L. Except 1080/24p, it is completely the same as an earlier version, and they are the contents of Chris's 66M. Of course, you can combine with a favorite patch except 24p. *This is the patch which realizes high definition by utilizing BIG FRAME SIZE and maintaining qp low on the average on the whole screen, without using extremely low qp.
UPDATE(2012.Jan.27th): New "GOP3ZILLA" Over 1M Max Frame Size patch is added. *This is the patch focused on image quality which referred to advice of Chris Brandin and Nick Driftwood, and was made. *24L mode is for 24p80%(30p). *Except 1080/24p, it is completely the same as my usual, and they are the contents of Chris's 66M. Of course, you can combine with your favorite patch except 24p and 50i. *In camera playback is available. *Spanning in 24H and 24L with SanDisk 95MB/s 64GB SDXC Card. *Please try latest version "v1.02" or "MAX version".
UPDATE(2012.Feb.3rd): New "GOP3ZILLA v1.01" Over 1M Max Frame Size patch is added. *This is the patch focused on image quality which referred to advice of Chris Brandin and Nick Driftwood, and was made. *24L mode is for 24p80%(30p). *Except 1080/24p, it is completely the same as my usual, and they are the contents of Chris's 66M. Of course, you can combine with your favorite patch except 24p and 50i. *In camera playback is available. *Spanning in 24H and 24L with SanDisk 95MB/s 64GB SDXC Card. *Please try latest version "v1.02".
UPDATE(2012.Feb.3rd): New "GOP3ZILLA MAX" 1.17M Max Frame Size patch is added. *This is the patch focused on image quality which referred to advice of Chris Brandin and Nick Driftwood, and was made. *24L mode is for 24p80%(30p). *Except 1080/24p, it is completely the same as my usual, and they are the contents of Chris's 66M. Of course, you can combine with your favorite patch except 24p and 50i. *In camera playback may not be available in some case but file has no problem. Please use v1.01 of the normal version for you to be able to playback the recording data on a camera if IMPORTANT. *Spanning in 24H and 24L with SanDisk 95MB/s 64GB SDXC Card.
UPDATE(2012.Feb.3rd): New 3GOP Economical Over 1M Max Frame Size patch "natural" is added. I improved the previous Economical patch and gave the name of "natural." Originally, I made this because I wanted a patch that keeps the frame size of 1M wielded much as the camera up and down in the forest I have always tested. I took just the right balance of quality and data size as a patch that I use everyday. Of course, this patch is also made so that big frame size as occasion demands may be utilized and the lowest possible qp may be realized. *24L mode is for 24p80%(30p). *Except 1080/24p, it is completely the same as my usual, and they are the contents of Chris's 66M. Of course, you can combine with your favorite patch except 24p and 50i. *In camera playback is available. *Spanning in 24H and 24L with SanDisk 95MB/s 64GB SDXC Card.
UPDATE(2012.Feb.9th): New "GOP3ZILLA v1.02" Over 1M Max Frame Size patch is added. *I improved a few in order to stabilize "GOP3ZILLA v1.01" more. *This is the patch focused on image quality which referred to advice of Chris Brandin and Nick Driftwood, and was made. *24L mode is for 24p80%(30p). *Except 1080/24p, it is completely the same as my usual, and they are the contents of Chris's 66M. Of course, you can combine with your favorite patch except 24p and 50i. *In camera playback is available. *Spanning in 24H and 24L with SanDisk 95MB/s 64GB SDXC Card.
bkmcwd 176M3GOP New_GOP3ZILLA-Q16.zip
647B
bkmcwd 176M3GOP New_GOP3ZILLA-Q15.zip
645B
bkmcwd 176M3GOP New_GOP3ZILLA-Q14.zip
644B
bkmcwd New_176M3GOP Q12.zip
628B
bkmcwd GOLGOP3-13.zip
723B
bkmcwd 3GOP AQ2 1M Max Frame Size Test Patch V.2.zip
706B
bkmcwd 3GOP Economical Over 1M Max Frame Size Patch.zip
*** NEW *** AQuarius version 2 for ptools 3.63d edition with 1080/60i on GOP1 INTRA (the impossible to work with 720p60 is left on its original 30 GOP). All the old features of 1080p24H and 720p50/1080i50 are as before - GOP1 INTRA.
Test away!
Driftwood Version 2 of 'Aquarius' for ptools3.63d - sete.zip
*** NEW **** Driftwood INTRA Patch: 'AQuarius' 1080p24 AQ3 with 720p50 AQ3.
50p lookin' good at AQ3 with a few other adjustments. 1080i/50 is a tad improved too under INTRA.
60p at INTRA is a complete NO NO. Therefore, 60p and 1080/60i is left untouched for your own setting. Ive also dropped 6M off the 'reAQuainted' patch which brings the cpb_delay timing in slightly better but with a very weeny drop in bitrate. Please test away :-)
UPDATE: AQuarius has been updated - See version 2 bottom of page below.
Driftwood 'AQuarius' INTRA - 1080p24 AQ3 and 720p50 AQ3 - sete.zip
Sohus' Quick Starter Pack (SQSP) Version 1.1: all popular settings collected in one .zip file with .txt index files These patches are for the PTool 3.62D release.
These are the best and most popular settings of the moment. Let's see if we can improve upon them together! I would like to ask everyone to test these with regards to: - Memory card compatibility - Spanning (on a death chart/high complex scene) - Completeness of each setting and description (are the 1080p settings stable or all settings -- is 720p usable etc.). Not clear for all settings. Needs to be more clear specified. - Stability
Happy testing everyone. Don't forget to thank @Vitaliy_Kiselev and the creators of these patches for their hard work. Without them, we would still be stuck with the crappy stock codec settings.
I will try to update this pack once there are new or improved patches.
Just reporting that mpgxsvcd settings for avchd even work fine on a class 4 card, (this one was a gift from the store when i bought the gh2), records with no problem and plays with no problem, the autofocus seems slower though. greetings
(if mpgxsvcd add this info to his post ill delete this post :)
@Brian202020 My SD card is Toshiba 16GB Class10 (the white card). It cant work @1080i FSH or FH with the patch. It can work @720P&mjpeg 100M mode. Well, just a report... :-) Thanks for sharing
Updated 2-23-2012 10:16 AM EST to include the final version 1.1 code. The settings are now completely stable for all memory cards. Each resolution and frame rate will span and playback properly as well.
Highest Quality No adverse affects. Works 100% with any memory card including class 4 and class 6 cards.
AVC-HD High settings. 42 mb/sec 1080p AQ = 4 and 36 mb/sec 720p AQ = 2. Gop default. No other AVC-HD changes.
AVC-HD Low settings. 32 mb/sec 1080p AQ = 4 and 24 mb/sec 720p AQ = 2. Gop default. No other AVC-HD changes.
MJPEG 720p = 1280x720 highest bit rates with no write errors.
MJPEG 480p = 1024x768 highest bit rates with no write errors.
All settings are 100% stable with all memory cards.
These setting will have no write errors for any card. In addition the 1080p Low, 720p High, and 720p Low settings will all span.
The 1080p High setting is for high bit rate. The 1080p Low setting is for Spanning.
The last file is the one to use for 100% stability with all memory cards. I can't delete the other files.
I was able to record for 2 hours and 13 minutes @ 32 mb/sec with the 1080p Low setting today. The battery only lasted a few more minutes than that. All file spanning worked perfectly for the 1080p Low and both 720p settings.
Here are my final setting that work with the new v1.1 firmware. These settings revert the 24p max bit rate back to 42 mb/sec and the 1080p @ 30 FPS goes to 36 mb/sec. I just could not see enough of a difference to justify the extra bandwidth.
The last file second row is the latest one. I have switched to set j for these new settings.
The only exception for these settings is that the dog slow Eye-Fi cards will need to use the 24 mb/sec 720p Low settings. It can fail with ETC occasionally. Everything else including in camera MJPEG playback will work just fine with any card.