Round 1 (COMPLETE!)

[meleechampion]

And while it's possible to optimize the settings, I don't think this is knowledge we should expect the average amver to have, since the focus for an amver is the editing, not the encoding.

True enough, glad to see you're being gracious.

HOWEVER, I've always thought I could do better encoding my stuff. I've only ever tweaked around with the stuff mentioned in EADFAG, do you have any other sites/articles/etc you can point me in the direction of? It is one area I want to read up on and improve upon.

[mirkosp]

http://mewiki.project357.com/wiki/X264_Settings

Mostly up to date (not entirely, but enough), it's the best thing around to learn more about x264 settings.
And then, a lot also comes by trial and error and seeing what works and how. Checking the x264 source code can also be a good thing, if you can understand what is going on.

[Nya-chan Production]

Kinematics knows what he's saying... but that said, I'm not considering filesize too much for these encodes, mostly because I don't expect the average AMVer to know farther than zarxgui's defaults and such, so I personally am going to consider filesize as a negative point only once we hit really ridiculous amounts... but that's because I'm trying to be nice.
In the end, there are things more important than filesize and quality to consider in an amv, so I won't start detracting for those unless it's painfully obvious that the quality is subpar/the filesize really is too big. I wouldn't want quality to be the key factor to put one video higher than the other ─ but it is still something I consider and that can put a video at disadvantage. I just don't want to be too harsh when there are more important aspects to an amv to consider, that's all.

That said, we also have to consider another thing about filesize: AMV visuals tend to be a lot busier than what an anime normally has. Sped up coloured footage and constant action and a lot of visual changes for the whole duration aren't exactly uncommon, and that's going to suck extra bitrate easily. So even at crf 17-18 it's possible to get past 4000kbps at 720p24. Hell, without tweaking x264's settings, a crf20 is prolly gonna push the filesize past 10mbps if you put some heavy static/noise effects for a while.
And while it's possible to optimize the settings, I don't think this is knowledge we should expect the average amver to have, since the focus for an amver is the editing, not the encoding.

Hey, I am complaining only because downloading these 100MB+ AMVs is a real pain, especially in 8-pack ^^;;

[Kisanzi]

That said, we also have to consider another thing about filesize: AMV visuals tend to be a lot busier than what an anime normally has. Sped up coloured footage and constant action and a lot of visual changes for the whole duration aren't exactly uncommon, and that's going to suck extra bitrate easily. So even at crf 17-18 it's possible to get past 4000kbps at 720p24. Hell, without tweaking x264's settings, a crf20 is prolly gonna push the filesize past 10mbps if you put some heavy static/noise effects for a while.
And while it's possible to optimize the settings, I don't think this is knowledge we should expect the average amver to have, since the focus for an amver is the editing, not the encoding.

I concur with this. It's sometimes hard to get the filesize sensible when you use specific types of noise or distortion without the video looking like ass once Zarxgui poops it out.

[Radical_Yue]

Just want to make it clear that our judges will not be judging off your file size and compression abilities but off the visual/audio quality.

[Animated]

Hey, I am complaining only because downloading these 100MB+ AMVs is a real pain, especially in 8-pack ^^;;

You never had the chance to download an 8-pack rar! THANK GOD editors are dropping out!

[GuntherAMVs]

So, group C has until midnight tonight, or midnight tomorrow?

[AMV_4000]

So, group C has until midnight tonight, or midnight tomorrow?

Noon tomorrow if I heard correctly

[Radical_Yue]

So, group C has until midnight tonight, or midnight tomorrow?

Noon tomorrow if I heard correctly

Correct, you have until noon (CST) tomorrow, the 16th.

[AMV_4000]

Yay! Hopefully I can start editing in 8 hours!