Can you find and download the free MediaInfo utility, point it to one of your source files and then post here the details of what it shows?

What other export formats have you tried and with what results? If you see any error messages can you post then here?

Jeff

I'll do the Mediainfo thing in a few minutes. The results of other exports are usually very low resolution pixilated videos. It's as if it threw out three quarters of the quality while rendering. Windows media Export retains the sharp resolution, but renders in slow motion for some reason. I'd prefer to render in MP4, but it's awful. I'm running version 17.0.2.159 of MEP.

Can you find and download the free MediaInfo utility, point it to one of your source files and then post here the details of what it shows?

What other export formats have you tried and with what results? If you see any error messages can you post then here?

Jeff

I couldn't paste the entire report because it was too big. But here's the top portion:

00000000 File Type (20 bytes)
00000000  Header (8 bytes)
00000000   Size:                                 20 (0x00000014)
00000004   Name:                                 ftyp
00000008  MajorBrand:                            mp41
0000000C  MajorBrandVersion:                     538120216 (0x20131018)
00000010  CompatibleBrand:                       mp41
00000014 ----------------------------
00000014 ---   MPEG-4, accepted   ---
00000014 ----------------------------
00000014 Data (372107090 bytes)
00000014  Header (8 bytes)
00000014   Size:                                 372107090 (0x162DE752)
00000018   Name:                                 mdat
0000001C  Data:                                  (372107082 bytes)
162DE766 File header (97904 bytes)
162DE766  Header (8 bytes)
162DE766   Size:                                 97904 (0x00017E70)
162DE76A   Name:                                 moov
162DE76E  Movie header (108 bytes)
162DE76E   Header (8 bytes)
162DE76E    Size:                                108 (0x0000006C)
162DE772    Name:                                mvhd
162DE776   Version:                              0 (0x00)
162DE777   Flags:                                0 (0x000000)
162DE77A   Creation time:                        3592202392 (0xD61CA898) - UTC 2017-10-30 09:59:52
162DE77E   Modification time:                    3592202392 (0xD61CA898) - UTC 2017-10-30 09:59:52
162DE782   Time scale:                           90000 (0x00015F90) - 90000 Hz
162DE786   Duration:                             5927922 (0x005A73F2) - 65865 ms
162DE78A   Preferred rate:                       65536 (0x00010000) - 1.000
162DE78E   Preferred volume:                     256 (0x0100) - 1.000
162DE790   Reserved:                             (10 bytes)
162DE79A   Matrix structure (36 bytes)
162DE79A    a (width scale):                     1.000
162DE79E    b (width rotate):                    0.000
162DE7A2    u (width angle):                     0.000
162DE7A6    c (height rotate):                   0.000
162DE7AA    d (height scale):                    1.000
162DE7AE    v (height angle):                    0.000
162DE7B2    x (position left):                   0.000
162DE7B6    y (position top):                    0.000
162DE7BA    w (divider):                         1.000

Hi again and thanks for updating the information.

17.0.2.159 shows you are running the most up to date version.

However, I must apologise for not being clearer about the posting of the MediaInfo data. Once the utility is open, please choose View>Text.  This will produce a screen image like the one below:

That is what we need to see. (Unfortunately, much of what you posted is irrelevant to this discussion, I think.)

You say other exports are usually very low resolution pixilated videos but don't say what "other exports" you have tried. You mention mp4 but mp4 is actually a "container" format; the actual file content/format CAN be a range of different types, all correctly described as "mp4". Hence the need to know the exact export options you are using; a screencapture of the Export screen would help here.

I have to add I've never used 2.7k or higher footage but I know that successful export of 4k or higher is possible from MEP.

Jeff

Let me try this again.

I'll post export details later.

Hi, thanks for the updated info.

A side by side study of the data I posted compared with yours shows very few differences! However I do notice these files are from a GoPro camera, which uses a proprietary codec, I think. (Hopefully John EB will see this thread and join the discussion since he has much more knowledge about this area.) I think you may need to convert these files to use a more "standard" codec, or perhaps GoPro have a dedicated convertor that would allow you to handle these files in MEP?

I'm also not sure how well MEP handles the variable bit rate which your video file has.

Jeff

GoPro uses the h.264 codec and the MP4 file type.

OK, here are some screenshots of my export process. Take note of the heading "No hardware encoding" while it's rendering.

Here's an incredibly short clip exported in MP4 demonstrating the poor results.

This is an example of wmv export. Although an error message popped up saying the aspect ratio may need to be adjusted.

I'd suggest you upload an original sample of your 2.7 K footage so that we could better understand the issue.

BTW, I'm puzzled by the slightly odd res of your output examples. 1920 x 1078? not 1080?.

I fully concur with Terry, a short excerpt from the original file would be invaluable.

Also, having looked at the two posted clips I see what you refer to as "awful" in the mp4. That is caused by the level of compression being applied to your file; black/dark areas are especially prone to this. However there is a very clear reason for this: The MediaInfo data shows that your original footage has a bit rate of 45.1mbps but your export screen clearly shows you are exporting at a rate between 6 and 8mbps; that is quite some reduction!

So, have you checked the other options for mp4 export? On that "MPEG-4 Export" screen have you tried ticking the box that says "Display all"? Doing so should reveal a host of possible output formats, at least one of which should give you the output quality you seek.

Your mention of the lack of availability of Hardware Acceleration is caused, I fear, because you have an AMD CPU! HWA is only possible with reasonably recent intel CPUs.

HTH

Jeff

Hi Bryan,

I noticed that your GoPro footage appears to be 29.970fps, whereas you are exporting it at 59.940fps. So not only are you doubling the frame rate, you are also exporting at about 15% of the original bitrate. perhaps I could suggest that you go into the advanced settings in the export to mp4 menu and change the BR to something like 16000kbs min 22000kbs max and match the frame rate to your original capture.

Roger

OK, now we're getting somewhere. As you can all tell, I'm new to this. I bet the bit rate thing is screwing it all up. As for fps, most of my footage was filmed at 60fps and I failed to change it back for the test sample. I also had no idea there were more options for MP4, I'll look into this also. I'm going to change the bit rate and see if that changes anything and play around with the other MP4 options. I'll repost soon.

Here's a short example of footage straight from the GoPro.

I tried changing bit rate and using other MP4 formats and still no luck.

Hi again.

Well I downloaded your GP footage and opened the file in VPX (will retest in MEP in a moment). I exported the file in 3 "mp4" formats: mt2s, NTSC Full HD and NTSC SD and didn't see any of the compression artefacts that are present in your footage.

Jeff

UPDATE: Tests repeated in MEP 2018; again no such obvious loss of quality. As a test, try exporting the footage you supplied, choosing the option on that MPEG-4 Export screen (with Display all ticked) "AVCHD transport stream 1920 x 1080 29.97i". You will find you are creating a file larger than your original (by a factor of about 5!) but I see no loss of quality using a similar procedure on my computer. As a matter of comparison, Full HD creates an export file about 3 times larger, SD about 25% smaller (than the original footage).

The artifacts are only present after editing and exporting from MEP. The original files are fine.

Now I'm confused. If I film in 2.7k, how is it that a format of 1920X1080 is larger than 2.7k? You're referring to the quality not the file size correct? I'm trying to export 2.7k footage to a 2.7k movie. What am I missing?

Hi again.

Well I downloaded your GP footage and opened the file in VPX (will retest in MEP in a moment). I exported the file in 3 "mp4" formats: mt2s, NTSC Full HD and NTSC SD and didn't see any of the compression artefacts that are present in your footage.

Jeff

UPDATE: Tests repeated in MEP 2018; again no such obvious loss of quality. As a test, try exporting the footage you supplied, choosing the option on that MPEG-4 Export screen (with Display all ticked) "AVCHD transport stream 1920 x 1080 29.97i". You will find you are creating a file larger than your original (by a factor of about 5!) but I see no loss of quality using a similar procedure on my computer. As a matter of comparison, Full HD creates an export file about 3 times larger, SD about 25% smaller (than the original footage).

I exported using the AVCHD and although it wasn't as bad as the other exports, it's still pixilated compared to Motion JPEG AVI. The shadowy area lose resolution. If you view the original GoPro footage side by side with the MEP exported movie, you can see a dramatic difference. I need to export with nearly equal quality and so far I can't.

I'm pretty sure there's a solution to this. Since I'm a newbie, there must be a setting or something I'm missing.

I don't have the HVEC codec, but maybe I should download it and try that. It's designed for higher resolution footage and maybe I'm otherwise exceeding MEP's codec ability for rendering 2.7k footage in a reasonable file size.

Hi

HEVC (H265) is designed for higher resolution footage because it has a more efficient compression algorithm that gives equivalent quality at a smaller file size. It is designed to reduce data rate (Bit rate) and consequently save storage space or streaming bandwidth.

It is not a question of the MEP AVCHD (H264) codec lacking any ability for quality at high resolutions and bitrates and it is often used for 4K and higher. You need to change the export settings in the export and advanced settings window by manually entering Resolution and Average and Maximum bitrate to at least match or exceed your Go Pro file's attributes. If your original footage is 60p then start with the AVCHD Transport stream 59.94p HQ template and modify as such.Also try the Ultra HD 59.94p MP4 template and modify the Resn. to 2.7K.

The exported file will be considerably smaller than the MJPEG files and if size is still a concern then you can use HEVC, but be aware that only very recent TV's and other devices can play H265 natively.

Peter

Hi

Something else - I notice you are creating Proxies on import - is it possible you have changed something in the Proxy and preview rendering settings (Alt+R) ie "Use files created during rendering for export"?