some Streamparser JM-SP decoder charts re HBR/25p ...

it's getting even better ...

Update: HQ3GOP V9

Latest adjustment:

• modified Matrix for 1080i modes (HBR/FSH). B-Frames go even larger and quantization is more balanced.

• FH increased to 60M. Spans in 1080i50 mode.

For the time being myself I consider V9 as the "final" version. However, if you encounter errors please let me know…

So here's a summery of what HQ3GOP is about:

The purpose of HQ3GOP was/is to make the highest possible image quality and at the same time the smoothest motion in 25p/50i in an all around setting (suitable for both bright high definition scenes as well as low key scenes) while also providing excellent 24p at the same time in a 3GOP setting.

I've been working intensively on the soon to be released Spizz T6 setting (especially with regard to PAL modes). The upcoming Spizz T6 is really, really great! However 25p in Spizz T6 is designed to span reliably in 25p mode (it does!). In HQ3GOP 25p doesn't span on extremely stressing scenes such as my Code Torture Movie. But HQ3GOP is not aimed at spanning in HBR/25p mode… it's aimed at max. IQ and achieving the max. frame size with very good quantization while still being stable (of course) in 25p. In my opinion the setting does provide exactly this. edit: HQ3GOP V10 now also spans in 25p mode!

• high resolving & pretty sharp matrix still showing very smooth motion

• HBR/25p and FSH/50i show no (or only very little) compression artifacts on fine edges when shooting high definition scenes with motion

• fine "grain"-like noise without macroblocking also in 25p

• AVCHD 1080 modes are 3GOP, AVCHD 720p modes are 6GOP

• up to 140M in 24H/24p mode

• up to 110M in 24L/24p mode (spans)

• up to 66M in HBR/1080p25 and FSH/1080i50 modes

• up to 60M in FH/1080i50 mode (spans)

• up to 60M in SH/720p50 mode (spans)

• in camera playback works in all modes

• contains the Pasadena Pulse Audio Patch V2 B2 by Per Lichtman

All modes have been successfully tested shooting my Codec Torture Movie with a very sharp lens on...

• SanDisk 95MB/s SDXC 64GB cards

• SanDisk 95MB/s SDHC 32GB cards

• SanDisk 30MB/s SDHC 16GB cards

Two copies of each of the respective cards have been tested. This is why I think it's highly unlikely that you encounter card speed errors when you use one of these cards (however, I still would recommend to use 95MB/s cards). You also won't encounter mosquito noise even when the codec hits the frame limit. You also won't see the codec run in fallback mode.

Reliable spanning probably requires SDXC cards (SanDisk 95MB/s SDXC 64GB).

According to @bkmcwd spanning can only be considered reliable when the camera spans over 30 minutes shooting a highly stressing scene (containing high frequency details, high contrast and motion). I think this is a very reasonable assumption and I've tested spanning accordingly.

So here's a copy of my spanning report from above supplemented by the lately adjusted FH mode and the new 25p/50i matrix. Spanning has been tested on a modified version of my Codec Torture Movie on SanDisk 95MB/s SDXC 64GB cards.

• 24H: doesn't span. Camera stops recording as soon as the file size is 4.29GB. The file finishes correctly.

• 24L: Spans at 110M bitrate. I've stopped recording after 32 minutes. 7 files spanned. In camera playback doesn't work with a 32min spanned file. Of course the files look fine on the computer. (However, several single files tested played back in camera just fine.)

• HBR/25p: doesn't span. Camera stops recording as soon as the file size is 4.29GB. The file finishes correctly. edit: HQ3GOP V10 now also spans in 25p mode!

• FH/1080i50: Spans at 62M bitrate (trick mode). I've stopped recording after 32 minutes. 5 files spanned. In camera playback of the 32min file works.

• 720p50: Spans at 60M bitrate. I've stopped recording after 32 minutes. 4 files spanned. In camera playback of the 32min file works.

Unlike @bkmcwd's 3GOP settings in HQ3GOP Auto Modes have not been tested (since personally I don't use any… except of Auto Focus occasionally). Auto Modes may work reliable … but I simply don't know. Out of curiosity I've tested HBR/25p today on my Codec Torture Movie with "I-Contrast" and "I-Dynamik" set to the respective max setting on a SanDisk 30MB/s SDHC 16GB card exposed correctly and also heavily overexposed. The camera didn't crash. However, again, the setting has not been tested sufficiently with all Auto modes enabled (shutter or aperture priority or so...).

My special thanks of course go to @bkmcwd and @driftwood!!!

Attached charts of the latest 25p on my Codec Torture Movie, 25p Low Key and 50i (FH setting) spanning test.

Update: HQ3GOP V11

Latest adjustment:

• FSH/SH Bitrate slightly lowered to 66.7M to improve spanning in 25p on highly demanding scenes

Attached charts of the latest 25p ...

1.) Codec Torture Movie with motion

2.) highly detailed outdoor daylight scene (windless, so actually no motion; therefore large I-Frames and pretty small B-Frames on this scene)

25p still runs stable on SanDisk 30MB/s 16GB cards. However, for reliable spanning in 25p SanDisk 95MB/s SDXC 64GB cards should be used (SanDisk 95MB/s SDHC 32GB card should also work fine... not yet tested with V11)

No P-frames in V12, that is, in the sample file.

Hello Towi. I'm a Pal user and i found your patch just now. Good alternative to Driftwood's Spizz. It 's very interesting and stable. Thanks.

Not sure about Spizz T6 but HQ3GOP has been very stable for me and spans reliably on Sandisk Extreme 64GB 95mbs card.