Hello, I've just read the posts about Pana v2.5 standalone and i agree that it is slower than v2.3, 1min avi (ativcr2.dll codec/capture) takes around 8mins as opposed to 6mins using v2.3 of the Panasonic. But the new features are as good as ever. However, I have dabbled with Heuris Mpeg Pro v2.0H, and the features of this encdoer are SUPERIOR to Panasonic, and the mpegs are cleaner, crisper and better sounding than any of the Panasonics, with the encdoing time at around 4mins per 1min of AVI.

So, i just wanted to know if anyone else has any thoughts on Heuris and if there is a review and comparison chart somewhere, please.

Finally, the person who wrote Video Pack 4 wants shooting,'cos its damn near impossible to use. CDMotion is tonnes better, and is well thought out.

Andy.

-- Andy (andy@snes.freeserve.co.uk), July 14, 2000

Answers

Andy, I admit that VP4 or WinOnCD can take some getting used to, but they do work. I am interested in the program CDMotion you mention. I have not heard of that before. Can you let us know where we might get a copy, trial or otherwise.

Thx.

tygrus

-- Tygrus (tygrus2000@hotmail.com), July 15, 2000.

What you're seeing there is the apparent lack of I-Frame (aka Scene Change) addition automatically. While Panasonic does make nice MPEGS, Heuris & TMPG which can detect scene changes and make on the fly I- Frame insertions usually perform much better. I've been performing some tests and based on RAW average Quantiz values here are the rankings: First test: MCS, TMPG, PAN Second Test: PAN, TMPG, MCS

Now, unfortunatly I cannot get a working trial version of MPP on my computer, but please send me one if you have it.

I would personally currently use TMPG because quite simply it produces excellent MPEGs at a fairly good rate and you cant beat the price. :)

-- FunOne (FunOne@tyler.net), July 16, 2000.

I've found an interesting MPEG comparison page at:

http://www.tecoltd.com/enctest/enctest.htm

It includes hardware and software encoders but unfortunately, Panasonic hasn't been evaluated here yet. TMPG and LSX3 rate very favourably compared with Heuris...

-- Frank Marshall (new_wave@one.net.au), July 16, 2000.

Hi Andy,

Quite interesting your data on Heuris vs Pana encoding time there. I was so intriqued that I did a few experiments. I am not sure weather the codecs play a lot of difference here.

I made a 5min clip of 352x288 25fps using Marvel G400 (MJPEG codec), and encode it to VCD PAL using Pana 2.5 stand alone and Mpro 2.0h on my Celeron 466 (actually it is a Celeron 300A running at 466 :), default templates. Pana did it in 21min while Mpro 25min. (I remember Pana 2.3 did it in about the same time, about 4x real time). I then encode again in Windows 2000, dual celeron 466 this time, Pana did it in 15 min, while Mpro 19min.

To further test it, I encode the same clip in a PIII 550, Pana did it in 21min while Mpro 15min !!! (Must be the SSE in PIII)

Then in another PIII 733 Pana did it in 18min, while Mpro 12min.

I don't think Panasonic v2.5 is much slower than v2.3, but Heuris MPEG Pro 2.0h does seems to be very fast with Pentium III. I wonder if anyone has dual PIII system to see how fast can it go. There seems to be less artifact in Mpro as compared to Panasonic, and I don't know why my Panasonic now gave me reddish and greenish hue one after another.

Any one has this experience with Panasonic before? And how about some tips on how to make the best looking MPEG using Mpro?

Rusman

-- Rusman E. Priyana (priyana@eudoramail.com), July 16, 2000.

I have experimented with this encoder from a DV baseline and got better results with Panasonic v2.5. In Mpeg 2 I could not get the encoder to see fields in source material that was based on field A. It did an enforced progressive scan like LSX with the usual disaster on playback of scrolling titles, transitions and moving subjects. It does not see a DVtype 1 avi just like most other encoders. Funny how bbMPEG does it properly but is so slow. Had trouble making it join two files smoothly as well, some software only saw one of the files. Have switch my processing to the Panasonic Plugin for Adobe Premiere, its quicker and less of a hassle.

-- Ross McL (rmclennan@esc.net.au), July 17, 2000.