addressed h264 export file sizes

[PSFerreira]

Hi, all.

So, I've been using VP v6.10 for the past years and now decided to try current version also to take advantage of the GPU processing.

But I'm a little curious about the file size of h264 exports.

Here's an example:

https://www.santosferreira.net/vp/vp01.png

https://www.santosferreira.net/vp/vp02.png

Same settings, isn't it?

And the results, 3 videos with no edits or with exactly the same edits:

https://www.santosferreira.net/vp/vp05.png

File sizes are doubling in v11.70. Or tripling, depending of the length of the video, seems to be exponential.

As I'm not an expert in video science, is there a simple explanation? Or am I missing something?

Regards.

[borate]

Using your export CPU-only settings with variable frame rate max 60fps, results here on a thirteen-second mp4...

               6.10             17.11

1080     5.62              7.73

1440    11.54              15.2

 

And on a 60-second mp4...

1080      30.76            31.35

1440       50.45           45.04

[PSFerreira]

Thank you for your response, Borate.

So, what is your secret?

[borate]

Wish there were a secret.  Perhaps hardware differences?  Share your project and we'll explore further.

The process is easy, quick and can be done privately.  Just follow these steps...

•     Back up --- With your project on the timeline, click on MENU at the top-left.  Click FILE|BACK UP PROJECT FILES TO FOLDER.  Choose a folder and SELECT FOLDER.
•     Upload ---  Use a free server - Google Drive, MS OneDrive, etc.* - to upload the saved, numbered FOLDER.    Do NOT upload the individual VPJ or export file. 
•     Get link --- Get a public link.  If using Google Drive click GET SHAREABLE LINK. If necessary change "restricted" to "anyone with the link can view" 
•     Share ---     Click COPY LINK | DONE.  Paste that link here, or click the folder at the top-right of this forum to message it privately to me.  It won't be shared.

          *    Before uploading, right-click the folder, click PROPERTIES.  Look at the File Size to confirm that it's not too big for the free space on the server.

[PSFerreira]

Thank you for putting an eye on this.

Here's the link: https://transfer-vinci-energies.netexplorer.pro/dl/K66WfdTdGYaxgsddMaIqMgq7O9NJub

This 15 seconds sequence example produces:

v6.10: h264, 1080p, default quality settings, 60fps = 20Mb

v6.10: h264, 1440p, default quality settings, 60fps = 31Mb

v11.71: h264, 1080p, default quality settings, 60fps = 88Mb

v11.71: h264, 1440p, default quality settings, 60fps = 94Mb

It is not hardware related, tests were done in the same PC. Also tested both versions in my work PC, got the same differences between versions.

Exporting in h265, I got equal values between both versions, so it happens only with h264 exports.

Thanks.

[borate]

                        6.10                                 17.11

1080              23.69MB                            86.68

1440              36.21                                  91.8

GPU was set to off (Re-encode).  Our results are fairly consistent.

Worth investigating.  Word has it that...

11.70 uses the WMF encoder, which is supported by GPU.  6.10 used the x264 encoder.  So, different encoders (both H264, but different implementation).

Encoder settings were changed inside the application code since 6.10 build.  This and other factors appear to explain the discrepancy.

 

[PSFerreira]

Lets hope its tweakable for the next versions.

Just for fun, I've re-encoded a sequence that absolutely needs to be h264: 43m53s @ 2160p, 30fps, in v6.10 = 16Gb, in v11.71 = 36Gb! 😎

Thanks for your help, Borate.

[borate]

Try different quality settings.  One may reduce size yet produce good results.  Try the AVI format h264 encoder, with similar quality options.

[PSFerreira]

Yes, I did tried.

The AVI produces a file even bigger.

The Low and Very Low options produces a very noticeable quality decrease.

The Medium Quality reduces the size but still big (22Gb in that 4K sequence I mentioned in the previous post). But quality seems very similar and I will analyze it better.