Maybe a little breakthrough re spanning …

I've just succesfully tested spanning in HBR mode on a SanDisk 30MB/s with a modified GOP3ZILLA version (tested in PAL mode). Bitrate actually utilized in this test was 76M!

I remembered @balazer somewhere said he thinks the camera is writing a GOP table at a time.

If true, I thought we maybe have to "tell" the firmware the actual GOP length.

This is why I tried to modify the "GOPx2" tables (PTools->patches for testers->AVCHD Movie Mode->GOP related).

The default GOPx2 value for instance for 1080p24 is 24. This is twice the default GOP length (12x2). So if we use a 3GOP setting apparently we have to set twice the modified GOP length… so 6 (3x2) instead of the default 24.

1080i and 720p default values show four times the default GOP length (4x15=60 for 1080i60 and 4x12=48 for 1080i50). Running 1080i at 3GOP we have to set 4x3=12. Running 720p at 6GOP we have to set 4x6=24.

Now … I've just made a first test. But it seems to work as supposed to. At least in HBR mode (tested in PAL mode). At 24H I think the bitrate is just too high … the settings do not span (neither on a SanDisk 30MB/s nor on a 95MB/s, 32GB card).

I think the 2xGOP length settings do not affect how the settings work otherwise … so I assume it's quite safe to just test with adapted values.

Other than that I've modifed the PAL GOP tables in GOP3ZILLA. At 720p50 I feel it's a major improvement. HBR/25p also seems to be improved, though I think the 1080i50 table could need further adjustment (however even in it's present form it works good… just try it). I've also modified the 720p60 GOP tables… but they have not been tested yet by me…

The settings are not ready for primetime … need more testing!

Test away…

Streamparser grabs from a death chart (static) shot off a monitor:

Post above is with the vibrant profile.
Screens now done with the standard profile.
They look ... well different, how come?

Sorry for the dubbel one, cant delete it.................

@balazer

OK, I got it. :-)

Although other people's settings have taught me similarly, I do not understand about 60i, HBR, and SH yet in many cases. I also try the P frame.

Thanks!

@balazer

"None of the GOP3 settings using B-frames that I tried were stable in HBR 30p."

Since I am detailed about neither 60i nor HBR, please teach. That is, in 60i or HBR, the P frame is suitable for 3GOP rather than the B frame?

I don't know, but I viewed the source MTS file in VLC with scaling turned off, and there are no signs of interlacing. I also see no signs of interlacing stepping through the video frame by frame. The still you've posted is progressive.

Bonzai, I checked your 30p HBR MTS file, and it's looking exactly like 30p should. There are no signs of interlacing, except for some minor artifacts due to mismatches in the compression levels of the two fields. There is something wrong with your software processing to be producing the interlacing that your framegrabs show. Try it in VLC, and you won't see any of that interlacing.

"would you upload the 2 MTS files?" For sure..I've posted the hbr30p file to Viemo. I'll need to wait 'til Monday to post the 24p version.

OK..I rolled back to GH2 1.1 again and re-shot the 'flower pot' in a breeze. #1 is HBR 30p and #2 is 24p. I believe you'll see that #1 30p is clearly interlaced. If I understand the Panasonic overview properly there shouldn't be evidence of 60i cuz it's really 30p. That's clearly not the case...

@towi

When I tried various combination, I have noticed that there is stabilized combination. Moreover, in the case of my 3GOP, I think that it will be stabilized if the sum total of all numbers is a multiple of 3. This is only my empirical rules... :-)

@towi

"Could you give me a brief explanation of how these GOP tables work?"

Since I do not necessarily understand perfectly, either, it is difficult to explain briefly. I have imagined and tuned the work finely from the result of having changed value. If you look at default values, you can imagine the parameter applicable to each frame of I, P, and B. I change value of the B or P frame, without my changing value applicable to the I frame as much as possible. I am adjusting since the buffer which the frames require will decrease if each value is increased, then so that it may become a suitable buffer.

The BufferAnalyzer charts which attached are samples of change of the result in accordance with change of value of a table. However, I am not sure whether this is the right method.

Was it transmitted? :-)

@towi Haven't tested all the ntsc modes yet, but am impressed with your v1.2. Shot 24H @ 24p outside for first test plus some low light last night.. I'm going to put it on both my cameras and do some more testing. Don't span often, but when I do, I need that to be reliable and I not interested in buying 4 of the 95 Mb/s / 64GB cards just yet just to be able to span. I'm going to do some more shooting where the bit rate will be at or near your top and see if I can get it to span at both 24p and 60p on class 10 cards. Will report back later.... Here's Steamparsed 5 min 8 secs sustained steadicam clip at 24H, 200 iso, 24p, shutter 50, dynamic, variable density filter, 14-140 lens set at 14mm, f8, (everything in focus). My version of stress test. Charts are from around 2 1/2 mins or so.

@bkmcwd

"BTW, your new works are excellent! I have no room and touch, I feel. :-)"

uhm, IQ on static scenes looks really good. However I feel the setting could be improved with regard to motion.

Could you give me a brief explanation of how these GOP tables work? I feel the GOP tables are the key to fine tune the settings...

Start playing and testing with the quantizer tables.
IQ, 720, 1080 and HBR with quantizer 5, and quantizer table complete redone gives a smooth clean image.
Stable recordings in all modes, even in tele 2 high iso and SS.
It still works with GOP 1 for al modes.... see screen a view post back from HBR with gop 1!
http://personal-view.com/talks/uploads/FileUpload/ba/c5aa56b1bf08c30dc14f83a433a575.png
But playback is not smooth!