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   MP4 vs XviD - Revenge of the Scene

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[#178814] Written by: SantaBJ (Super Moderator) [03/03/12, 08:40]
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Most of you have probably already noticed the switch from the XviD codec and the AVI container to x264
mp4 files. Many of you have complained. Some of you understand where this change comes from. Some of
you don't. This is for those of you who don't.

The Scene has changed its rules to broaden deployment of x264 for SD releases to replace the aging XviD
AVI. You may not agree with this decision, but it doesn't matter. Fact of the matter is, it's done - and there
is NOT A THING that EZTV can do about it even if we wanted to (and some of us, me included, do).

EZTV is not part of the scene. We do not cap or encode the content we distribute. Therefore, we are not in
control of this process in any way. When the scene decides to do something, they'll do it and they will
certainly not listen to us.

For more, read this:
http://torrentfreak.com/bittorrent-pirates-go-nuts-after-tv-release-groups-dump-xvid-120303/
[#178912] Written by: magnetron1952 [04/03/12, 09:29]
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Good on them I don't care what format a Releaser uses because I watch everything on my computer,
but that said I have been playing with one of these
http://www.lg.com/us/tv-accessories/lg-ST600-smart-tv-upgrader/technical-specifications and it plays
the formats commonly used via streaming from the computer AND they are cheaper than ya Xbox or PS3
and doesn't waste DVDs. It also has USB so you can plug in the Movie or show without even having a
Network.
EDIT: divx and AVI look Cr@p on a 65" HD TV anyway.
Why complain your getting it free.
THXs Uploaders.
[#178927] Written by: JeanLucPicard [04/03/12, 17:33]
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Quote by magnetron1952

EDIT: divx and AVI look Cr@p on a 65" HD TV anyway.


I have noticed that the newly-released x264 videos show an overall improved video quality -
especially a lot less block artifacts - when compared to XviD releases. And since I use PS3 Media
Server to stream videos to my plasma via PS3 or XBox, even strange formats are not really an issue.

On the other hand, my company laptop (Lenovo T510) is not able to play back these x264 files
properly ... the constantly-occuring A/V delay is simply killing me. When I have to take a business
trip, there is no way I can watch x264's in my hotel room ... but this is just a minor inconvenience
anyway since anyone can reencode the MP4 files into an AVI container by using freeware and a few
mouseclicks.

So ... smaller filesizes with higher resolution and comparable quality or identical filesizes with
higher resolution and better quality? Count me in ...
[#178936] Written by: pinner458 [04/03/12, 19:52]
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I can't believe the amount of people complaining about this in comments section and yet 2 people have
commented on this a dedicated forum for the issue.

Anywho: I watch everything on my pc too but now i have to watch everything with vlc(i prefer wmp but its
not a big deal) however I find I have trouble with some files and no trouble at all with other, I have no idea
why but that is my main problem with the switch. I'm on a pretty old computer but then that would be
they'd either all work or none of them would right....?
[#178942] Written by: mrpire [04/03/12, 21:48]
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Now i dont know if this will help any of the users here but i'm gonna share what i have managed to do
today regarding these x264 files...

I usually just stream films an tv programmes strate from my windows media player to the video player
on my 250g Xbox360 or put them on a flash drive and play them like that but as we know this wont
work with the new formats

After a lot of searchin online and on youtube i have found out that you can get these files to play on my
xbox all i had to do was set up this media centre on my xbox, i clicked on it it gave me a 8 digit code
an told me to go to xbox.com/pcsetup on my desktop input the code an let it link an sync my desk top
to my xbox an that has let me play the new files! i have only tested a couple Spartacus an L5 one was
480 the other 720 but so far so good! i have not tried a mkv file yet but the others work really well and
like people have said a little bit better quality!

hope this might help some people out!
[#178944] Written by: skone [04/03/12, 22:13]
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I really hope that the scene groups dont stop doing the xvid/avi's. I understand that the x264/mp4's
maybe a quicker encode. but from what i have seen the last little while is that the groups are getting
the xvid/avi's out just as quick as the x264/mp4's, just they arent putting them up here but on another
tracker which will remain unnamed. I do hope the groups go back to the way they used to be with
putting up there work here for the show's, i do really enjoy this site and the features it has. I also
would like to thank the various groups for the work that they do in bring the various shows and to use
here. On a side note for the shows that i have been downloading the files sizes between the 2 different
types have very little difference, so i hope that wasn't part of the reason that the scene groups made
the switch
[#178947] Written by: onesimusdkp@gmail.com [04/03/12, 22:52]
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I for one am glad that they are making the conversion. I am a software developer and one of the projects
that I am working on is actually a media archiving system, that also allows for conversion of media types.
One of the big things that we were looking at when we first started out with the project was finding the best
quality format for the size of the file. x264 is one of the many formats that we chose to use though our
application can do almost any video format. One thing we noticed about x264 format is that it is similar to
how vectored images allow for any size screen with very little distortion. I noticed that with playing a xvid
file on my 24in screen, it was good quality but when I expanded it to be on my 42in TV, it could notice the
distortion. But with x264, both are the same good quality. The size of the file is also a nice little change as
well.
[#178953] Written by: barkdull [04/03/12, 23:31]
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x264 seems to work just fine on my computer and plays on my Xtreamer player connected to a 47" TV.
The video is a little better but .avi was OK too. I have noticed the audio out of sync with the
video a couple of times but that might just be growing pains as we all switch over.
[#178967] Written by: JeanLucPicard [05/03/12, 00:20]
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Quote by barkdull
I have noticed the audio out of sync with the video a couple of times but that
might just be growing pains as we all switch over.


I gave that AV delay some thought ... this might be due to variable audio bitrate that isn't
properly handled or encoded.
[#178969] Written by: NicNac [05/03/12, 00:23]
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The only complaint I have over the switch, was that it was done in the middle of a season. I archive my files
to disk for playback in the future... and due to not wanting mixed file types, I'm either hunting out avi's or
converting...

But come next season, definitely going with the smaller file size, better quality!!
[#178985] Written by: JeanLucPicard [05/03/12, 01:35]
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Quote by NicNac
The only complaint I have over the switch, was that it was done in the middle of a
season.


However groups would have done it, it would have always been in the middle of some season. And I
really doubt that they would treat each show individually.

Since I only keep the show until the respective season gets a DVD release, I don't bother much about
the format switch.
[#178987] Written by: a [05/03/12, 01:47]
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i'm all for the forward change in technology.

right now though, i'm hoping that the scene will quickly come to a consensus on the appropriate
encoding settings using the x264. reason is because different rips right now have varying sizes all
over which is inconsistent in quality and result.
[#178991] Written by: gerg [05/03/12, 02:16]
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Lots of good comments guys. Most replicate my thoughts

However I don't think XviD is that bad unless you have a 55" or more TV (lucky buggers!)
We can still get XviD from TPP or ETTV etc. Your right however X264 seems to be the way of the
future with better video and controls.

Its just a pain ending up with a folder of ones favorite TV series half XviD and half mp4

Its easy to convert guys. Have tried Format Factory and I can convert mp4 to Xvid quickly and with
same 720x404

Xbox streaming works fine with both formats althougn have seen one mp4 that wouldn't play

Keep up the good work EZTV and yes we do know you don't control the capping and coding
[#179030] Written by: sirenk [05/03/12, 08:59]
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it is 2012, and if u dont have a pre-historic device new format won't be a problem, it is been used
for years now..
i even think it is a little bit late for a change, better late than none...
thx
[#179041] Written by: jpsarob [05/03/12, 10:27]
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There is no dispute that AVC/H.264 coding is better than xvid.
.mp4 video quality therefore is better and files are considerably smaller.

Nevertheless the following sound issues appear
(AAC is the official audio format of the mp4 standard):

1. No standalones that playback AAC are available at this time.
2. AAC is heavily patented technology.
3. Only a few hardware devices currently support AAC decoding.
4. AAC is not yet fully S/PDIF implemented.
5. Certain decoders accept AAC, but since they convert on the fly, sound issues appear constantly.

It seems to me that the audio part of mp4 is not yet fully acceptable.
It is likely for someone to have more than often sound issues with the mp4.

Since I strongly believe that black box technology such as the xbox & PS3 cannot dictate technologial
advances, in my humble opinion mp4 is not ready yet for wide range distributions.

Personally, it took me some time to re-adjust my gear. I enjoy better quality video with mp4 and barely
acceptable sound. In any case mkv was never a dissapointment to me.
ipv6 ready