Nodame Cantabile

Given that the Nodame raw is already Divx encoded, would using H.264 or VC-1 help ease the quality degradation from the hardsubbing while allowing for a smaller file size? I ask because I have no clue how it would turn out. If we were going from mpeg-2 HD broadcast (oh, the hard drive space I'd buy to have those versions), I could see the benefits of going H.264 or VC-1 over Divx or Xvid.

And.. just 'cause I know you might ask, here's a great program to do it in:

http://www.autogk.me.uk/

Auto Gordian Knot is easy to use and (if I remember correctly) handles subtitles as part of the process :)

deseipher wrote:Given that the Nodame raw is already Divx encoded, would using H.264 or VC-1 help ease the quality degradation from the hardsubbing while allowing for a smaller file size? I ask because I have no clue how it would turn out. If we were going from mpeg-2 HD broadcast (oh, the hard drive space I'd buy to have those versions), I could see the benefits of going H.264 or VC-1 over Divx or Xvid.

Oh, I didn't realize that it had already been divx encoded (shoulda looked) - in that case, I would still suggest using a h.264 compression - you can save space where you need to and not lose any quality (or at least very little) as a result of more effective motion prediction and other technologies. It certainly doesn't make sense to make it into a larger file! You can't gain anything from recompressing it bigger than the original and with a more efficient codec, you can make it smaller without losing anything :)

phlargo wrote:Well of course you're bound to get some compression artifacts in dim scenes.. you're already compressing it so much. I think there is a cost-reward analysis that needs to be done. I think you'll find vastly diminishing returns in that last bit of space. I'll also tell you - people don't like to get 5 gig files for a single episode

Well, this is for my own personal use, so I'm not bothered by that... :)

Currently, the MPEG4 encoding is out of the question, 'cause my standalone DVD player only supports MPEG2 and XViD/DivX.

I suppose I could just watch the 1.5GB raw without subs and not have to worry about artifacts at all... But the subs would be nice. :mrgreen:

I don't have my HDTV yet, so I can ponder the options for the moment... AFTER I get all the HD raws... :sweat:

bmwracer wrote:
Well, this is for my own personal use, so I'm not bothered by that... :)

Currently, the MPEG4 encoding is out of the question, 'cause my standalone DVD player only supports MPEG2 and XViD/DivX.

I suppose I could just watch the 1.5GB raw without subs and not have to worry about artifacts at all... But the subs would be nice. :mrgreen:

I don't have my HDTV yet, so I can ponder the options for the moment... AFTER I get all the HD raws... :sweat:

Ahh. I thought this was for distribution. In that case, 5 gigs is fine :) Something wonderful about having a media center PC though... hooking it up to your TV and being able to play anything!

AutoGordianKnot is a little outdated, I see.. you can cross encode in VideoLAN or use MEncoder if you're not afraid of command line stuff.

bmwracer wrote:

I don't have my HDTV yet, so I can ponder the options for the moment... AFTER I get all the HD raws... :sweat:

Sorry, but as the only seeder for Episode 2, it's probably safe to say it'll be a long while before you can try out the options. I was hoping the pieces that have been distributed out to the rest of the peers would eventually cover the entire file, but it looks like we haven't reached that point yet.

phlargo wrote:Ahh. I thought this was for distribution.

Nah... I don't do distro... It's more for my own personal satisfaction.

Maybe a trade with a friend or two, but that's it... I don't wanna be the J-Drama equivalent of an Amazon.com distribution hub. :beaten:

In that case, 5 gigs is fine :) Something wonderful about having a media center PC though... hooking it up to your TV and being able to play anything!

I've contemplated that from time to time... Maybe in the future.

deseipher wrote:Sorry, but as the only seeder for Episode 2, it's probably safe to say it'll be a long while before you can try out the options. I was hoping the pieces that have been distributed out to the rest of the peers would eventually cover the entire file, but it looks like we haven't reached that point yet.

I started the download on Episode 2 this morning before I left the house... Let's see how far it gets... :fingerscrossed:

Okay, 10-1/2 hours later... 32.4% completed, 4 peers, no seeds.

Patience is virtue.

No screencaps yet from Episode 1: I've got laundry to do and I've gotta wash my car. :sweat:

The progress on uploading Episode 2 looks better than yesterday. When I signed off, the peers that were connected were at 38% or so. I just started seeding again, and a couple of the peers are now at 43%, so it looks like some pieces are being distributed amongst peers, rather than just through me. A 5% jump is good to see and hopefully it'll get better. I should be able to upload continuously until Sunday night.

Here's some caps from the various 1280x720 sources...

The caps were saved as bitmaps then each was converted to max quality JPEG to reduce the file size (the bitmaps were 2.5MB each :sweat: )...

Click on the image to see it in full size. :)

The 1280x720 JTV version:
[image]

The 1280x720 raw:
[image]

My 1280x720 xViD hardsub of the raw (quality=1, maximum setting):
[image]

The full size images show a color and detail degradation in the JTV version, particularly where Nodame's dress is concerned... And if you toggle between the JTV and raw/hardsub images, you'll also notice a slight difference in aspect ratios as well...

bmwracer wrote:Here's some caps from the various 1280x720 sources...

The caps were saved as bitmaps then each was converted to max quality JPEG to reduce the file size (the bitmaps were 2.5MB each :sweat: )...

Click on the image to see it in full size. :)

The 1280x720 JTV version:
[image]

The 1280x720 raw:
[image]

My 1280x720 xViD hardsub of the raw (quality=1, maximum setting):
[image]

The full size images show a color and detail degradation in the JTV version, particularly where Nodame's dress is concerned... And if you toggle between the JTV and raw/hardsub images, you'll also notice a slight difference in aspect ratios as well...

Nice encoding on your hardsub; I can hardly notice any difference and it'd be hard to see it in motion. I did notice the difference in aspect ratio you mentioned as well. Good stuff :victory:

deseipher wrote:Nice encoding on your hardsub; I can hardly notice any difference and it'd be hard to see it in motion. I did notice the difference in aspect ratio you mentioned as well. Good stuff :victory:

I suppose the trick now is to figure out which quality setting I can use before those details start to get lost from compression...

Even at the quality=1 setting for xViD, there is macroblocking in some of the dimly lit scenes... I'll post caps of that soon.

All these encoding, great work.

Is this a labor or love for a great Jdorama or just the actress in question :bonk:

heyman wrote:Is this a labor or love for a great Jdorama or just the actress in question :bonk:

Both.

Really. :victory:

Props on your encode :victory: What's the difference in filesize between your encode and JTV's encode?

atskv9 wrote:Props on your encode :victory: What's the difference in filesize between your encode and JTV's encode?

Six to one: it's over 6GB... :sweat:

I'm going to run a new encode with a different quality setting and see if there's any noticeable degradation... And hopefully a more reasonable file size. :beaten:

bmwracer wrote:
Six to one: it's over 6GB... :sweat:

I'm going to run a new encode with a different quality setting and see if there's any noticeable degradation... And hopefully a more reasonable file size. :beaten:

Well, I'd say it's a tough task with the raw already compressed with Divx, but considering I don't have much video encoding experience, I'd certainly like to see what you can whip up.

Now, time for another Episode 2 update. Three of the four peers connected to me are closing in on 60%. I'm trying to maintain an upload rate close to 20 KB/s as possible, but I'm also downloading Last Friends Ep.2 and Lost Time Life: Juri-as-Cute-Nurse Episode, so those two are taking some of the uploading as well. When those two are done downloading, I'll hold off on uploading them, and leave that all for Episode 2. Hopefully by the time I wake up tomorrow evening some will be done.

Aside from 'racer, I don't know who from the forums here is downloading the raws, but for anyone who is, I'd suggest getting a jump on downloading Episode 3 if possible. I checked the peer stats over at d-addicts and two of 'em at 93%, so if anyone jumps in now, you'll get a pretty good head start. Once I'm done with Episode 2, I can help fill in the last 7% and that shouldn't take too long.

http://www.d-addicts.com/forum/torrents.php?search=nodame+720

That'll take you to the available 720p torrents, including JTV's. The raws are the [BIG5] Divx 6 versions. The quality of JTV's isn't as good as the raws, but that's not a dealbreaker for everyone, and they provide hardsubs. Either way, you've got options :victory:

deseipher wrote:Well, I'd say it's a tough task with the raw already compressed with Divx, but considering I don't have much video encoding experience, I'd certainly like to see what you can whip up.

Yeah, it'll be hit and miss... And each full encode test is roughly four/five hours...

Time to consider a multi-core processor, ne? :rolleyes:

Three of the four peers connected to me are closing in on 60%.

One of 'em is probably me. :sweat:

That'll take you to the available 720p torrents, including JTV's. The raws are the [BIG5] Divx 6 versions. The quality of JTV's isn't as good as the raws, but that's not a dealbreaker for everyone, and they provide hardsubs. Either way, you've got options :victory:

:doh: I had no idea that the BIG5 DivX versions were raws+subs: I thought they were Chinese hardsubs... :sweat:

Or am I totally confused?

bmwracer wrote:
:doh: I had no idea that the BIG5 DivX versions were raws+subs: I thought they were Chinese hardsubs... :sweat:

Or am I totally confused?

Yeah, you're totally confused :hehe:

I remember the discussion thread for the particular torrents mentioned that Chinese softsubs were included, so I figured I'd just download the video and use Siantut's subs. Worked out pretty well for me :victory:

Not to worry though, I'm here to share the Nodame goodness. :mrgreen: