G1 Video Encoding: How To

---

Credit goes to "dLirious" at TMoNews.com

Step-by-step for Windows: updated settings by teckel

This is not a duplicate video conversion post. This doesn't just give instructions on how to make a video, but how to do it with high quality, so the movie is the correct aspect ratio, and movies filmed in Panavision and other higher aspect ratios are always shown in normal 16x9 widescreen. Also, this is for DVD rips from widescreen sources (everything I have is widescreen). If you're doing TV shows or something else at 4:3 this won't work (I can give those instructions as well if there's demand for it).

SUPER supports a wide variety of input/source file format to play or encode (to & from) without any additional third party software:
Video format: 3gp/3g2(Nokia,Siemens,Sony,Ericsson) asf, avi (DivX,H263,H263+,H264,Xvid,MPEG4,MSmpeg4 etc..), fli, flc, flv (used in Flash), mpg (Mpeg I,Mpeg II), mov(H263,H263+,H264,MPEG4 etc..), mp4(H263,H263+,H264,MPEG4), ogg, qt, rm, str (Play Station), swf (Flash), viv, vob, wmv
Audio format: ac3, amr, mp2, mp3, mp4, ogg, ra, wma
AviSynth Script Files: avs. ALL Input/source files that fail to encode, will be encoded without error when using AviSynth scripts.

Download Super here

SUPER © Setup:
Codecs: MP4 H.264 AAC LC
Video: 480:270 3:2 23.976 480kbps (yes, you set the video to 480x270)
Audio: 44100 2 96kbps Default
Options: Hi Quality:eek:FF Top Quality:eek:FF
Pad: Top:24 Bottom:26 Left:0 Right:0
Crop: Top:0 Bottom:0 Left:Calc Right:Calc

While everything else stays the same from movie to movie, the Calc options above need to be calculated depending on the resolution of the video source. I'll quickly give the calculation and then give an example. The calculation is ( Width - ( Height * 16 / 9 ) ) / 2. Width and Height are of the source video and the result would be what you would select for the left and right crop.

Here's a couple examples from my DVD rips:

* 886x480 source video: ( 886 - ( 480 * 16 / 9 ) ) / 2 = 16 (set the left and right crop to 16)
* 1128x480 source video: ( 1128 - ( 480 * 16 / 9 ) ) / 2 = 137 (set the left crop to 136 and the right crop to 138)
* 852x480 source video: ( 852 - ( 480 * 16 / 9 ) ) / 2 = -0.7 (this movie is already 16x9 so you can turn Crop OFF)


That's it! Perfect aspect ratio, no stretching, and very high quality. Oh, and I would suggest that when you playback a movie TURN ON AIRPLANE MODE! (Home, Menu, Settings, Wireless controls, Airplane mode). The phone searching for GSM, Edge, 3G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, and apps trying to use connections will cause your video to slow down, pause, or even fail. As a bonus, it will also greatly extend video viewing time.

Other information:
For high quality, I went with 480kbps video and 96kbps audio. When doing samples, I tested many bit rates and found 480/96kbps to be the perfect balance between quality and file size. A 90 minute movie will be about 380MB using these settings, this allows me to have about 8-9 movies on a 4GB card, plenty for me. You can sacrifice quality for a smaller file size by using 336kbps video and 64kbps audio which will result in the same 90 minute movie being about 265MB.

23.976 frames per second is what all DVD's of movies are filmed at as movies are all shot at 24 frames per second. Using 25 frames per second or 29.97 or 30 will just LOWER the quality because the converter will have to create averaged frames or duplicate previous frames to generate more frames than the source video has. If the source movies you're converting from are not 23.976 already, whoever ripped it did so incorrectly. In the future, make sure you always rip movies from DVD at 23.976.

You should always use the 3:2 aspect ratio in SUPER © as that's what the G1 format is. If you don't select 3:2, if you preview the movie on your computer it will look different than on your G1 because it will stretch it on your computer. Basically, keeping it always at 3:2 no matter what the source will allow you to preview videos on your computer and they will look the same on your G1 as well.


Saving File:

Right click in the box directly under the purple OUTPUT section to reveal the menu for Super ©. Here you will select the default area to save your file by selecting “Output File Saving Management. And you will also find the function to add your media files here as well Add Multimedia Files or Ctrl+A.

Once you have added the file just click on the Encode (Active Files) button and voila!!! You will have your newly converted video files for your G1. Hope this was useful and if you have any questions please feel free to PM me or post your questions. I do have the direct link for the Super © program so if you are having trouble finding it just PM me and Ill gladly send it to you. ENJOY!!!!

EDIT: Once you have loaded the video you intend to encode you can double click on the file to find out its' original settings such as frame rate and such so you can choose it from the list. This might help with the quality of the video.

NOTE: You can download the Video Player 1.0 in the android market to play these files.

Here's a screen shot:


Thanks to rushmore and everyone who tested to find additional options to optimize the encoding video quality.

ALTERNATE WINDOWS OPTION: by rushmore
Quote from: rushmore on October 25, 2008, 12:49:48 PM

SOG Video Converter options that give proper aspect ratio using 1.0 Video Player on G1 (SOG the only converter that I have tried that works for this)

Choose profile setting "to iPhone"

480X320, H.264: Excellent Quality : (I adjust the parameters as listed below)

Audio = 64
Video Quality = 312 (you can make it higher, this value gives more space for video files with good quality).
Frame rate = 23.97
Output Image = Keep Aspect Ratio (this is important)
Video resolution = 480:320

MAC USERS: By mapin0518

Nobody here seems to be a mac user, but in case another one besides myself wanders in here... I found THE app to use for video encoding on the mac...

ffmpegX
http://ffmpegx.com/index.html

It seems to be extremely flexible and lets you specify all the specs you want for encoding.

Good day !

LINUX USERS: How to by BearTard

Quote from: BearTard on October 11, 2008, 01:17:22 PM

For those using Linux, be sure and check out Avidemux. It's available in the repositories of most Linux distributions and has automatic tools for converting to various formats (like PSP, for example--which should be great on the G1).

It's as simple as loading a video, selecting PSP from the tools menu, and starting it up.

Or if you're a Linux masochist, the following is a basic converter to Xvid that might be of some use.

Code:

mencoder <inputfilename> -ovc xvid -xvidencopts bitrate=-<targetvideosize>ass=1:turbo:threads=2 -ofps 25 -oac copy -o /dev/null

mencoder <inputfilename> -ovc xvid -xvidencopts bitrate=-<targetvideosize>ass=2:threads=2 -ofps 25 -oac mp3lame -lameopts br=$abitrate:vol=2:aq=2:mode=0:vbr=0 -o output.avi

STRAIGHT DVD RIP: By umop.apisdn

Quote from: umop.apisdn on October 23, 2008, 12:50:25 PM

DVD ripping for COMPLETE NEWBIES.

If you are completely clueless about how to rip a DVD to your G1 (like I was a week ago) this post is for you.
This method will rip a movie straight from your DVD to an MP4 file that the G1 Video Player 1.0 knows how to play.

You will need to download and run HandBrake (an open source ripper) http://handbrake.fr/ HandBrake has the simplest, most intuitive UI of any ripper I have found so far.

Here are some settings that work for the G1. Some experimentation may find a better set of parameters, but these work and yield good results. A two hour movie ends up about 375 MB.

Source: Browse to the VIDEO_TS folder on your DVD
Title: Select the longest one.
Destination: Wherever you want to keep the file. You can actually rip directly to the mounted SD card of the G1, if you want.
Preset: Classic works. Others may also, I haven't tested them yet.
OutPut Settings: Set Encoder to Mpeg4, Audio to AAC, uncheck the two other checkboxes.

On the Picture Settings tab, turn off Crop, check "Loose Anamorphic", and set width to 480. (NOTE: sometimes you have to check Anamorphic PAR before Loose Anamorphic becomes usable. Maybe this is a GUI bug?)

On the Video tab, set the Quality Avg Bitrate to 384.

Click Start in the upper left corner. A 2 hour movie takes about 45 min to encode.

Hopefully people will find this helpful.

Noel.

EDIT: If the DVD you want to rip is copy protected, you will need to also install DVD43 ( http://www.dvd43.com ), a system tray application that de-copy-protects DVDs on the fly. There aren't any configuration parameters, you just install it and forget it. It silently removes copy protection as you read data from the DVD.

TMPGEnc. 4 Xpress Template: Android Video Encoding

I have created a template for TMPGEnc Express 4.0 and above that will make encoding videos to the Android Video Player much easier. It will work with unencryped DVD files, WMV, MPEG, AVI, MOV, and just about any video you throw at it. (if you have the codec)

You must have TMPGEnc 4.0 Xpress or later installed before placing the template file. Just download the template, extract the file and put it in the "Export" folder found under /Documents/TMPGEnc/Template. Now follow the directions below.

• Step 1: Open Application and click "Start a new project"
• Step 2: Drag and drop a file or a variety of files in any format, aspect or demension
• Step 3: Click the "Format" tab at the top and at the bottom of the list there is a "Custom Output Templates" folder, choose the "Android Formated MP4" and hit select. On the next screen make sure "Output each clip in a seperate file" is selected
• Step 4: Select "Encode" tab at the top of the screen, choose the output location and then click on the "Start Encode" button in the bottom left that looks like a movie clip with an arrow.

This program is expensive ($99) but I have been using it for years for all the different devices I have. There is a trial and the software can be found here: http://tmpgenc.pegasys-inc.com/en/product/te4xp.html. It is the only software that I know that can take multiple video formats and sizes and batch process them too to one format.

I have converted a number of DVD's in different Aspect ratios and alot of recorded TV from my Vista Media Center, the quality is amazing and has not failed me yet. Please try my template and let me know if you have any problems. I am going to work on a couple more templates in the future to be able to choose Quality Encodeing or Lower Quality with Smaller Size.

Let me know your thoughts and experiences, or any changes I should make to the steps above.
Jcostanza4

he mikey, love your tut on encoding with super, one question i have all your videos are ***x480 in size. i want to convert a hd rip i have its 1280x544 what settings would i use for this?

I have tried using handbrake and Super. I have grabbed the VOB files using DVDShrink, but am unable to use Super to create a MP4 file. The file that gets created from handbrake causes the video player to inform me that the video is not able to be played. I used the options that were listed by the OP for handbrake, but still get the message. Is Super able to handle the multiple VOB's and create a single MP4?

TIA,

rrstx

Sorry for asking im kinda of a newbie when it come's to stuff like this, But im at the http://www.erightsoft.com/S6Kg1.html website and i dont quite know what to download to download the software. can someone help me out?

in my first post look for where i typed

Download Super here

Originally Posted by Mikey1022

in my first post look for where i typed

Dude, Your the best! Thanks.

* 886x480 source video: ( 886 - ( 480 * 16 / 9 ) ) / 2 = 16 (set the left and right crop to 16)
* 1128x480 source video: ( 1128 - ( 480 * 16 / 9 ) ) / 2 = 137 (set the left crop to 136 and the right crop to 138)
* 852x480 source video: ( 852 - ( 480 * 16 / 9 ) ) / 2 = -0.7 (this movie is already 16x9 so you can turn Crop OFF)

Im sorry im just not understanding what any of this mean's. As much as i would like to but i just can't find any of this in the program. Im like glimpsing between the post and the program and trying to locate where this information is on the program. LOL! Help?!!?! Im like having a major brain fart.

Originally Posted by Mikey1022

SUPER © Setup:
Video: 480:270 3:2 23.976 480kbps (yes, you set the video to 480x270)
Audio: 44100 2 96kbps Default
Options: Hi Quality:eek:FF Top Quality:eek:FF
Pad: Top:24 Bottom:26 Left:0 Right:0
Crop: Top:0 Bottom:0 Left:Calc Right:Calc

Why 3:2? it looks squeezed and terrible.
Why 480x270? The G1 is 480x320 now I have two blue (not even black) bars across the top and bottom of the movie.
Is this supposed to take 2 hours per movie? or is my computer just too slow?
The frame rate is perfect, no jitters in playback.
The file is not 250MB is over 500MB actually.

Originally Posted by brooklynite

Why 3:2? it looks squeezed and terrible.
Why 480x270? The G1 is 480x320 now I have two blue (not even black) bars across the top and bottom of the movie.
Is this supposed to take 2 hours per movie? or is my computer just too slow?
The frame rate is perfect, no jitters in playback.
The file is not 250MB is over 500MB actually.

1) If using Super C, you need to change the color option for the pads.

2) Good sticky over at Tmonews about this.

3) I find that 336K video bitrate using H264 looks fine on the G1's 3" screen.

4) Also find that 64K audio at 22.5 sample rate is fine ( I upped Pick of Destiny to 96K at 32K sample rate, though).

These settings save space and battery lasts longer too.

If you do not want to constantly mess with aspect ratio settings, SOG is the best endcoder, but is $30. I use it and use auto aspect ratio option.

SOG also seems to look better at the same bit rates as Super C.