Does the Studio version have any better H.264 delivery?

Hi guys, I'm wondering if Studio has any better features in regards to mp4 H.264 encoding.

More specifically, can you control the bitrate? Is it any faster?

I'm slowly trying to transition from Premiere, and so far I have found ways to 90% replicate my needs. But the export in Free leaves things to be desired, and I don't want to add the extra step of outputing a DNxHD master and compressing.

PS. If someone uses PluralEyes to sync multiple cameras and send to Resolve, I really like the Color Unsynced Clips option, because I instantly know what's in place and what's not. Have any of you found a way to transfer the colored clips to resolve, or is it still a function we can't have?

Thanks guys and gals!

[Peter Chamberlain]

With a current model GPU and Resolve Studio h.264 is significantly faster and many people say better.

Yes : Resolve Studio and QT or MP4 H.264/H.265 encoder NVIDIA is a hardware encoding by the GPU. Very, very fast and very good quality with Quality = Best.

The PE function which colors synced and unsynced clips is not carried in the XML. However, since good/synced clips are blue and unsynced are red, you probably noticed that you have an option in PE which take red clips to the end of the TL...
What you could do when in Resolve at the XML import time is to firstly color the clips (in Resolve) you had previously noticed being red in PE...

Thanks for the anwsers and suggestions!

Today I found out about Syncaila and I think I will also give that a try, to see if it's any different.

One thing no one mentioned though: can you control the delivery bitrate exactly, or are you still limited to selecting a quality and hoping for the best?

The Studio version is just better all around for 264 from playback to encoding. I couldn't have continued with the free version because of this.
I have not found a way to make PluralEyes work well with Resolve. Syncalai does work although extra steps are needed if you're making multicam sequences.

Today was a weird day with Resolve. Many re-exports, after weird behaviours to try and get something close to what I want.

Can someone with the Studio version answer my above question or at least post a screenshot of the delivery page with MP4, h.264 selection?

Can we specify the exact constant (or variable, what can you do...) bitrate of our mp4 exports?

Thank you for clarifying that resolve is generally faster, more responsive and overall better in the Studio version, but I hesitate forking over 300 bucks if I don't know how easy my exporting life will be.

Partial screen grab from the Studio version export page. The way you would control the bitrate is to change the "Restrict To" value.

There seems to be no way to set Constant Bit Rate. Personally, I export to HQX and then use VEGAS Pro to generate the H.264 or HEVC Renders. It has much better Render Controls for those CODECs, as long as you don't need anything > 4096x4096 resolution.

Also, [AAC] audio bitrates out of Resolve Studio are limited to 192kbps.

I personally think the H.264/Audio delivery is below-par, but the "workarounds" are not too disruptive.

So nothing changes when it comes to this aspect. That is a serious disappointment.

The restriction never seems to work. It's very inconsistent. I want something close to 15 Mbps and to get it for one file of the same project, I had to restrict it to 24Mbps, and another to 60!!! The very first time, I exported a file, I restricted it to 15, chose High profile, and Resolve gave me a file at 7 Mbps!!!!

It does make a difference when you have to export 2 and a half hours of reception at a master codec and then compress, both from a disk space standpoint and hours spent encoding. I still have media encoder or even handbrake, the software isn't the problem

Thank you for answering the question guys, I have to factor this into my decision.

Hello,

There must be some bad settings somewhere because with the studio version in MP4 / H.264 / NVIDIA, it is possible to use:
1) restriction to and a value
2) Rate Control (see screenshoot)

restriction_rate_control.jpg

Result

Code: Select all

General
Complete name                            : G:\Temp\restriction\test_3456.mp4
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media
Codec ID                                 : isom (isom/iso2/avc1/mp41)
File size                                : 83.5 MiB
Duration                                 : 3 min 8 s
Overall bit rate                         : 3 721 kb/s
Writing application                      : Lavf57.25.100

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4
Format settings                          : CABAC / 4 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames        : 4 frames
Format settings, GOP                     : M=3, N=12
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 3 min 8 s
Bit rate                                 : 3 521 kb/s<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Constant<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Frame rate                               : 25.000 FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.068
Stream size                              : 79.0 MiB (95%)
Color range                              : Limited
Color primaries                          : BT.709
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709
Codec configuration box                  : avcC

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AAC LC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID                                 : mp4a-40-2
Duration                                 : 3 min 8 s
Duration_LastFrame                       : -8 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 196 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 4.41 MiB (5%)
Default                                  : Yes
Alternate group                          : 1


It seems to be common for visual encoders to decide that no more than xx mbps is enough for a certain source even though you are trying to force it to do more bits per second...

I had such a problem with flat-color animation where neither Adobe Media Encoder nor ffmpeg or other encoders would produce a clip at the required bitrate (yes, not even constant bitate worked) because source is so compressible...only using Intra-frame allowed for some control...using a low bitrate wouldn't visually be a problem but the festival required the bitrate to be no less than 20 mbps

I get almost exactly the same options as Jean Claude in the free version. The only menus missing are the Lookahead and Rate Control. For YouTube I tend to use the .mov container as it gives me linear PCM audio.

Hello,

Anyway YT or Vimeo re encodes. It is better to send them what is better quality vs upload time ...
The good compromise.

Hello,

There must be some bad settings somewhere because with the studio version in MP4 / H.264 / NVIDIA, it is possible to use:
1) restriction to and a value
2) Rate Control (see screenshoot)

restriction_rate_control.jpg

Result

Code: Select all

General
Complete name                            : G:\Temp\restriction\test_3456.mp4
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media
Codec ID                                 : isom (isom/iso2/avc1/mp41)
File size                                : 83.5 MiB
Duration                                 : 3 min 8 s
Overall bit rate                         : 3 721 kb/s
Writing application                      : Lavf57.25.100

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4
Format settings                          : CABAC / 4 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames        : 4 frames
Format settings, GOP                     : M=3, N=12
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 3 min 8 s
Bit rate                                 : 3 521 kb/s<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Constant<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Frame rate                               : 25.000 FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.068
Stream size                              : 79.0 MiB (95%)
Color range                              : Limited
Color primaries                          : BT.709
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709
Codec configuration box                  : avcC

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AAC LC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID                                 : mp4a-40-2
Duration                                 : 3 min 8 s
Duration_LastFrame                       : -8 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 196 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 4.41 MiB (5%)
Default                                  : Yes
Alternate group                          : 1


What the hell???? That's exactly what is needed! What's shown in the picture is what I'm asking for!

How come the previous screenshot doesn't show these options in MP4??

Jean Claude what version of Resolve is this from? Could it be there's a difference between 15 and 16, given that 16 is still in beta, so features might be missing for now?

EDIT: I see that both Jean Claue and Michael Andreas use the Studio version, and Jean Claude speficies he has the16 beta 3. I'm honestly baffled by the difference in those pictures, unless Studio 15 doesn't offer the Rate Control option.

Hello,

There must be some bad settings somewhere because with the studio version in MP4 / H.264 / NVIDIA, it is possible to use:
1) restriction to and a value
2) Rate Control (see screenshoot)

restriction_rate_control.jpg

Result

Code: Select all

General
Complete name                            : G:\Temp\restriction\test_3456.mp4
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media
Codec ID                                 : isom (isom/iso2/avc1/mp41)
File size                                : 83.5 MiB
Duration                                 : 3 min 8 s
Overall bit rate                         : 3 721 kb/s
Writing application                      : Lavf57.25.100

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4
Format settings                          : CABAC / 4 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames        : 4 frames
Format settings, GOP                     : M=3, N=12
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 3 min 8 s
Bit rate                                 : 3 521 kb/s<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Constant<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Frame rate                               : 25.000 FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.068
Stream size                              : 79.0 MiB (95%)
Color range                              : Limited
Color primaries                          : BT.709
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709
Codec configuration box                  : avcC

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AAC LC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID                                 : mp4a-40-2
Duration                                 : 3 min 8 s
Duration_LastFrame                       : -8 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 196 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 4.41 MiB (5%)
Default                                  : Yes
Alternate group                          : 1


Rate Control is only available for some encoding options, for example NVENC.

For the Native/CPU Encoder, here should be a CBR/VBR Option or Toggle, for example:



And the audio encode options need to be improved...

Hello,

There must be some bad settings somewhere because with the studio version in MP4 / H.264 / NVIDIA, it is possible to use:
1) restriction to and a value
2) Rate Control (see screenshoot)

restriction_rate_control.jpg

Result

Code: Select all

General
Complete name                            : G:\Temp\restriction\test_3456.mp4
Format                                   : MPEG-4
Format profile                           : Base Media
Codec ID                                 : isom (isom/iso2/avc1/mp41)
File size                                : 83.5 MiB
Duration                                 : 3 min 8 s
Overall bit rate                         : 3 721 kb/s
Writing application                      : Lavf57.25.100

Video
ID                                       : 1
Format                                   : AVC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile                           : High@L4
Format settings                          : CABAC / 4 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC                   : Yes
Format settings, Reference frames        : 4 frames
Format settings, GOP                     : M=3, N=12
Codec ID                                 : avc1
Codec ID/Info                            : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                                 : 3 min 8 s
Bit rate                                 : 3 521 kb/s<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Width                                    : 1 920 pixels
Height                                   : 1 080 pixels
Display aspect ratio                     : 16:9
Frame rate mode                          : Constant<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Frame rate                               : 25.000 FPS
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.068
Stream size                              : 79.0 MiB (95%)
Color range                              : Limited
Color primaries                          : BT.709
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.709
Matrix coefficients                      : BT.709
Codec configuration box                  : avcC

Audio
ID                                       : 2
Format                                   : AAC LC
Format/Info                              : Advanced Audio Codec Low Complexity
Codec ID                                 : mp4a-40-2
Duration                                 : 3 min 8 s
Duration_LastFrame                       : -8 ms
Bit rate mode                            : Constant
Bit rate                                 : 196 kb/s
Channel(s)                               : 2 channels
Channel layout                           : L R
Sampling rate                            : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                               : 46.875 FPS (1024 SPF)
Compression mode                         : Lossy
Stream size                              : 4.41 MiB (5%)
Default                                  : Yes
Alternate group                          : 1


What the hell???? That's exactly what is needed! What's shown in the picture is what I'm asking for!

How come the previous screenshot doesn't show these options in MP4??

Jean Claude what version of Resolve is this from? Could it be there's a difference between 15 and 16, given that 16 is still in beta, so features might be missing for now?

EDIT: I see that both Jean Claue and Michael Andreas use the Studio version, and Jean Claude speficies he has the16 beta 3. I'm honestly baffled by the difference in those pictures, unless Studio 15 doesn't offer the Rate Control option.

I think they added a few options in Resolve 16, but I'm not sure which options were already there in 15 (and it's too hard to go back and check if you've already upgraded).

I guess if you're on the free version there is no way to reliably render CBR files?

EDIT: I see that both Jean Claue and Michael Andreas use the Studio version, and Jean Claude speficies he has the16 beta 3. I'm honestly baffled by the difference in those pictures, unless Studio 15 doesn't offer the Rate Control option.

I am still using DR Studio 15. Before responding, I did update to the latest NVIDIA driver, no change in encoding options resulted.

EDIT: I see that both Jean Claue and Michael Andreas use the Studio version, and Jean Claude speficies he has the16 beta 3. I'm honestly baffled by the difference in those pictures, unless Studio 15 doesn't offer the Rate Control option.

I am still using DR Studio 15. Before responding, I did update to the latest NVIDIA driver, no change in encoding options resulted.

Hello,
As far as I can remember, this is one of the new features of the V16.

Hello,
As far as I can remember, this is one of the new features of the V16.

That may be. One of the change notes for Studio 16b3 reads
"Improved support for NVIDIA H.264 and H.265 rendering parameters on the Delivery page on Windows and Linux in DaVinci Resolve Studio".

Those interested could do their own research to see if the free version of DR16 has this.

Hello,
As far as I can remember, this is one of the new features of the V16.

That may be. One of the change notes for Studio 16b3 reads
"Improved support for NVIDIA H.264 and H.265 rendering parameters on the Delivery page on Windows and Linux in DaVinci Resolve Studio".

Those interested could do their own research to see if the free version of DR16 has this.

Hello Michael,
Since the V16B001.

DVR_V16_News.jpg

That solves it then, it's a new feature for Studio 16!

Very nice and timely discovery, seems 16 brought a lot of small little improvements, such as this, that really make Resolve an extremely strong contender for professionals.

That solves it then, it's a new feature for Studio 16!

Very nice and timely discovery, seems 16 brought a lot of small little improvements, such as this, that really make Resolve an extremely strong contender for professionals.

As per my post above, you can't know if those new options will let you achieve what you need, you'll have to risk the $300.

That solves it then, it's a new feature for Studio 16!

We don't know whether the feature is in DR Free 16. Download it and try for yourself.

It's not in Free, I've been using Beta 4 scarcely for a month.

It doesn't feel like that much of a risk anymore. Given the screenshot, what else can a "constant bitrate" option do??

If you're going to go with Studio, you may want to consider the dongle if you think you may want to work with Fusion effects.

It's not in Free, I've been using Beta 4 scarcely for a month.

It doesn't feel like that much of a risk anymore. Given the screenshot, what else can a "constant bitrate" option do??

Like I said before, "constant bitrate" doesn't guarantee that you will get the exact bitrate that you write in the "restrict to" box...

you must understand those optons are NOT available for the native encoder, these are NVIDIA/AMD hardware encoder options (NVENC/VCE), which you don't get if you don't buy the Studio version

perhaps you can try those NVIDIA/AMD encoder options for free in other video conversion software like A's or Hybrid and see if they do what you need

When I say they "should be" a CBR Encode Option for Native Encoder... I didn't mean that it's there, but people are seeing it.

I meant it's not there, but should be added as an option for the Native Encoder.