Linking vs. embedding .mpg files in APMS 4.0

[Eric]

Instead of embedding my .mpg files into the APMS 4.0 project, would the initial autorun.exe load much faster if I "linked" to the .mpg instead?

1. What are the performance differences between the two approaches?

2. Is there an 'overhead' savings by linking...especially if the .mpg is, umh, about 300MB???

Thanks much.

Eric

[Derek]

Re: Linking vs. embedding .mpg files in APMS 4.0

"the outer tracks of the CD, where the drive can more easily run your disc closer to its top speed"

The speed is relative.
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Something you may be able to answer for me ... what really are the differences between PAL & NTSC (technically) and is one better than the other?

[eric_darling]

Re: Linking vs. embedding .mpg files in APMS 4.0

what really are the differences between PAL & NTSC (technically) and is one better than the other?

PAL is the European standard (except in France, where they use SECAM (a third, much less popular standard based on PAL), because, well, they're French), and runs 25 frames per second (FPS). PAL came along after NTSC, so the engineers who cooked it up had the benefit of NTSC to go by. PAL has 625 lines of horizontal resolution (more is better), and runs at 50 Hz, because that's the voltage of European power receptacles.

NTSC, on the other hand, runs at 30 FPS (60 fields - also known as "interlaced" picture because two fields make up a frame - it's why grabbing a frame often leads to strange aliasing in the graphic, and why Adobe Photoshop includes a "de-interlace" filter in the video effects menu). 525 lines of horizontal resolution and 60 Hz cycles.

As far as which one is better, almost anyone who knows anything will tell you PAL is superior. It more closely matches the frame rate of film (24 FPS), which is aesthetically nicer, and the color reproduction is much better.

MPEG is built to handle frame rates that match one of these two color systems. You cannot alter that and have a viable MPEG-1 file. The varieties only come into play when you start talking about esoteric video things like drop-frame SMPTE timecode, where NTSC frame rate is actually 29.97 FPS, .03 less than 30. Still, it's a neglible difference, and will only apply to professional equipment.

[yosik]

Re: Linking vs. embedding .mpg files in APMS 4.0

To add my 2c worth:
If your output is to video/TV, then you should definitely match the system you are working with. But if your ultimate output is to a computer file, it doesn't really make a difference if you work in PAL or NTSC. In any case, Mpeg1 NTSC is 320X240 pixels, while Mpeg1 PAL is 352X288. (For Mpeg2, just X2 the above values).

Yossi Klein
NewMedia Coordinator
Michlalah - Jerusalem College

[PeLLaRaS]

Re: Linking vs. embedding .mpg files in APMS 4.0

NTSC is 352X240 pixels, not 320X240! And it can be 29.97 fps or 23.976 fps and those are for VCD (VideoCD) standard. In my opinion PAL (352X288 25fps) is better! But here we are talking about AMS4. So any resolution and frame rate doesn't matter. I'll recommend to everyone to use mpeg-1 videos encoded in 320X240 25fps because are the most compatiple with all PCs (even with a CPU at 133Mhz!)

[Michael]

Re: Linking vs. embedding .mpg files in APMS 4.0

What about full screen mpeg1? Is there a setting that will allow for the optimum viewing when encoding?

[eric_darling]

Re: Linking vs. embedding .mpg files in APMS 4.0

I'll recommend to everyone to use mpeg-1 videos encoded in 320X240 25fps because are the most compatiple with all PCs (even with a CPU at 133Mhz!)

Man what a can of worms we've opened here! You all are confusing some things here. True NTSC is not 352x240 pixels. Trust me, I've been in the professional video/film production business for over a decade. NTSC existed long before computers made it possible to drop to such ridiculously low resolutions and frame rates.

First of all, frame rate ALWAYS matters. If you are encoding from an NTSC source (for instance an American or Canadian VHS videotape), it is 30 FPS. Therefore, translating this to 25 FPS will make your video look TERRIBLE. Vice-versa for PAL. If you upconvert frame rate from 25 to 30 FPS, you're going to be sorry. NTSC is NEVER 23.976 FPS. Go ask your local broadcast television engineer.

PeLLaRaS, many of the users on this forum are not European. For those of us in the Americas or Japan (and many other countries scattered across the globe), 25 FPS is just plain wrong. That is unless you are introducing some sort of nice 2:3 pulldown with something like After Effects and a third-party filter, but then you're messing with the inherent frame rate.

NTSC can only be 30 (non-drop) or 29.97 (SMPTE drop-frame) FPS. There is no arguing this point. It's simply a matter of fact.

[eric_darling]

Re: Linking vs. embedding .mpg files in APMS 4.0

Mpeg1 NTSC is 320X240 pixels, while Mpeg1 PAL is 352X288. (For Mpeg2, just X2 the above values).

Not quite. Multiplying those values by 2 will result in non-standard resolutions for DVD (where 720x480 is appropriate for NTSC).

Furthermore, if we are talking about VCD compatible MPEG-1 (which, BTW is just one standardized flavor of MPEG-1, not the be-all end-all of MPEG-1's existence), then NTSC is 352x240 non-interlaced at 29.97 FPS. PAL is 352x288 non-interlaced at 25 FPS.

BUT, remember that we are talking about computers here, not television monitors. AMS isn't building projects for television viewing, at least not most of the time. Computers frankly couldn't care less about resolution, as long as the media is fast enough to handle it. You can have any MPEG-1 file be any size you want on a computer. 320x240 from an NTSC source is entirely doable. Just don't plan on watching it via VCD on a television monitor.

[Derek]

Re: Linking vs. embedding .mpg files in APMS 4.0

Man what a can of worms we've opened here!

... and I believe I held the can opener! [img]/ubbthreads/images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

[PeLLaRaS]

Re: Linking vs. embedding .mpg files in APMS 4.0

Hi Eric,
Thanks for the useful info.
I wasn't talking about the TV screen system but VideoCD stantard which NTSC is 352x240 29.76fps and some times 23.976 useing a 2:3 pulldown or something similar to bring it back at 29.97, isn't it? I have the opinion of this from some mpeg encoders!

[eric_darling]

Re: Linking vs. embedding .mpg files in APMS 4.0

Nope again. Sorry, it's 29.97 FPS, not 29.76. And I have no idea who would tell you that NTSC can be 23.976. That's just weird. I don't mean to debate just to be confrontational, but misinformation is very dangerous to people's livelihoods.

Do this test for me: If you can, burn a VCD on CD-R with NTSC material at 23.976 (which any MPEG authoring software worth its salt shouldn't let you do), then play it on a North American DVD player and North American TV. Do you get an image? I know you won't. Perhaps the audio part might work. But probably not.