FCP-L: [FCP-L] Re: OT: Elgato Turbo 264 HD question

Hey Craig

I haven't used this device myself mate so I can't really comment authoritatively on the encoding quality but there is no doubt in my mind that the CompressHD/Matrox MAX offers superior quality and performance. Nonetheless the Elgato offers excellent value for money ... I did get a chance to compare an example Elgato encode against the original plus a Compressor encode of the same but I didn't have any control over the settings used so it wasn't a very fair comparison; 2-pass Compressor vs Elgato (like the Matrox it's single pass only), in that example, the Compressor encode remained truest to the original but the Elgato wasn't bad, producing a higher contrast encode with slightly blown out highlights and crushed blacks. Since then the Elgato got a least one update that brought an increase to its top end bitrate going from a maximum 10 Mb/s encode to 20 Mb/s. There ma have been other updates that I'm not aware of.

Best
Andy

--- In FinalCutPro-L@yahoogroups.com, "craigseeman" <cseeman@...> wrote:
>
> How good is the codec compared to Apple's H.264, which these days is one of the worst compared to Main Concept, Dicas, maybe x264 some would add. I know CompressHD "Max" technology looks better than Apple's.
>
> I'm asking this because I've heard a fair number of complaints about the Turbo264 codec but maybe it's been improved.
>
> I wonder if part of the issue is that CompressHD talks through PCIe vs Turbo264 USB. Of course that's part of the dilemma when one wants an H.264 accelerator on an iMac or MacBook(Pro) sans slots or Express port.
>
> Given how powerful the top of the line iMacs are becoming it'll be interesting to see where Apple and the H.264 accelerator developers go with this.
>
> BTW I'm coming at this from the angle of a compressionist where both speed and quality are important for client delivery.
>
> --- In FinalCutPro-L@yahoogroups.com, "andymees" <andymees@> wrote:
> >
> > You should be able to find/access the Elgato device in Compressor by opening a custom setting in the Inspector window, switching to the Encoder pane and then first selecting File Format: Quicktime Export Components then Encoder Type: Elgato Turbo.264HD
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In FinalCutPro-L@yahoogroups.com, Shane Ross <comeback@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Nope...doesn't show up in Compressor. Damn.
> > >
> > > -shane
> > >
> >
>