Video Formats

[DJ]

If one were to capture analog video
into DV@25 mbits/s, MPEG2@ 25 mbits/s
and MJPEG@4500 and 7000 mb/s respectively,
which would be the best quality, all other
things being equal. Thanks.

DJ

[DrMordrid]

In terms of pure resolution DV and 7mB/s MJPeg would probably be the best.

DV has the highest resistance to recompression artifacting making it and the high data rate MJPeg better for adding effects.

The only real weakness of DV is its slightly reduced color space vs. MPEG-2 & MJPeg: it's 4:1:1 while they are usually sourced from YUY2 or YUV at 4:2:2. In 99.9% of cases DV's smaller colorspace is irrelevant.

MPEG-2 and low rate MJPeg both have a bit more initial DCT artifacting and are more prone to additional artifacting due to recompression when adding effects.

In addition unless the MPEG-2 files are I frame only they are difficult to edit. Even then they require conversion to IBP on export for "normal" use. This also means that re-editing IBP MPEG-2 video can be difficult unless you archive the I frame version.

Dr. Mordrid


[This message has been edited by DrMordrid (edited 18 January 2000).]

[DJ]

Thanks Doc

What I am seeking to do with this thread is to compare in a different way the DV500, Matrox RT2000 and MJPEG cards such as the DC30. It seems to me that many persons are throwing away perfectly good cards to get the newer cards simply because the imagine these cards have better quality. Except for native DV editing and some realtime capability, these cards have nothing over MJPEG. Of course these two points are enough to sway most persons including me but then again I do not have a DC30.

DJ