WMV-HD vs DivX-HD
By Matt Burns 
posted July 7th 2006 9:55AM
posted July 7th 2006 9:55AM
So what is the best codec to use when recording high-def? WMV-HD or DivX-HD are both recorded at 1280x720 but one must be better quality then the other. Each one of these codecs can record at different quality at the same resolution but the bit rate changes to allow for smaller file sizes. DEN GURU did a set of tests that compares them against the original high-def transport stream. What we liked about their shoot-out is the split screen shots that lets your eyes decide which one is better then the other. Sometimes though, the picture quality isn't everything. They liked the WMV-HD image better but the DivX-HD produced a file five times faster and 50% smaller. That's worth something in our book.
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That doesn't seem like a fair comparison. They just used the default "high" settings for WMV and DivX. The high settings on WMV was over 6kbps where the DivX was just above 3kbps. If they had manually set the encoding rates to something similar they'd have the same file size but more than likely find that DivX is faster to encode while still producing equal if not better results.
I really wish someone would develop a stand-alone DVD recorder that records DIVX-HD onto 4.7GB DVD +/- R's. This would be a really affordable way to record OTA or firewire. Even better would be COMPONENT INPUTS (or HDMI) that are macrovision protected and any other DRM that is 5c compliant and allows COPY ONCE/ALWAYS.
I'd really love to see some chinese company offering this option on a DVD recorder.
"1280x720 dpi"
That's not the correct use of Dots Per Inch. I'm really surprised given this an HD blog.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dpi
Jade, good call.
Regarding the codecs, I personally re-encode everything with XviD, and am prepping my process for AVC. So while I suppose WMV-HD vs. Divx was a good comparison, I think a more relevant comparison would be WMV-HD vs. an AVC codec (H264, x264).
I think I'm going to have to look into encoding my TS files into WMV-HD to save space and because my primary way to watch recorded HD is Via my Xbox 360. I got it working with my TS files now, but I would like the better playback support (fast forward, etc) that WMV supplies over the straight TS files. Does WMV allow Chapter creation? That would really make it worth it.
Why o why can't we get some form of DIVX-HD, WMV-HD or other MPEG-4 stand alone recorder for HD recording on DVD-R?
I guess they used ABC or Fox (or ESPN) as the source since they only took 720P programming, which is unfortunate for those liking 1920x1080.
I am an amateur cameraman and have been working around codecs for the last 6 years. I compared WMV-HD, H.264, DivX-HD and XviD-HD (profile) on my Sony HDR-FX1 shootings. My result: H.264 best by far, but you gotta work out the best codec settings, then DivX-HD, same thing, then XviD-HD (couldn't fit the proper settings to work as I needed) and last WMV-HD (you need quite higher bitrates for the same quality as the mentioned or you see aberations and macroblock artifacts). Because the main point has always been reducing size of MPEG-2/HD TS stream onto something with as little quality drop as possible yet much smaller, I will work with H.264 HD custom profile, until something better comes up. My setting is 1440x1080i (4:3) pixel AR 1:1, variable bitrate round 4.5 Mb, keyframe boost 60%, B-frame reduction 40%, bitrate variability 40%, automatic quantizers 1-51 at step-by-4, spatial encoding, 2-3 unbiased B-frames, all partitions and transforms, adaptive weighted biprediction, slight deblocking, and no CABAC (it is troublesome when combining files and editing too).
At these settings I get best results with the same bitrate of all mentioned. Try it out and see.