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4K Video Encoding

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BrightSign Support Manager
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Last Updated: August 25, 2015

These are the requirements for encoding 4K video:

Note: 4K video must be played from a Class 10 SD card.

  • Video Codec: The video must be encoded as an H.265 (HEVC) file. These models do not support 4K video encoded using H.264.
  • Resolution: The maximum supported resolution is 3840x2160 or 4096x2160x24p.
  • Main Profile: If your display components support HDMI 2.0, you can display a 4K video at 60p; for this, you should encode the file using the Main 10 profile (10 bits of color depth with 4:2:0 chroma sampling) at level 5.1. If your display components do not support HDMI 2.0, you can display a 4K video at a maximum of 30p (with 8 bits color depth); for this, we recommend a Main profile at level 5.0. The following chart outlines supported color depths for 4K video:

 Resolution 

 8bit

 10bit

  12bit

 4Kp24
 4Kp25
 4Kp30

 4:4:4 (RGB)

 4:4:4 (RGB)

 4:4:4 (RGB)

 4Kp50
 4Kp60

 4:4:4 (RGB)
 4:2:0

 4:2:0

 4:2:2 
 4:2:0

Note: BrightSign players support both H.265 version 1 profiles: Main and Main 10. However, we do not support the recently ratified version 2 profiles.

  • Container Format: The following container formats are supported: .ts, .mov, .mp4, .mkv.
  • Bitrate: For 4K videos, we recommend a constant bit rate (CBR) between 30 and 40 Mbps. Note that the second video decoder can simultaneously support a 1080p video at up to 40 Mbps.
  • Merge Mode: If you are using B-frames as references in H.265 “merge mode”, the size of the references list should be limited to two or less.
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16 comments

  • 0
    Avatar
    PascalN

    Hi there,

    is there any converter/encoder which is prefered by your team?
    We tried different ways and encoders but none of them let us produce 4K HEVC (.mov, .ts, .mkv) containers which run on the 4K1042.

     

    Regards

  • 0
    Avatar
    Stefan Tulipan

    Hey everbody,

    i also need to know what kind of encoding programm can serv H.265?

    Source is AF, but then getting an H.265..??? Nobody knows? Even BS?

    Thanks Stefan

  • 0
    Avatar
    Alex

    You can use the free Handbrake software (http://handbrake.fr/) with the x265 video compressor to generate H.265 output for use.

    Or if you are more technical, you can use FFMPEG.

    http://www.wikihow.com/Install-FFmpeg-on-Windows

    http://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/builds/

    We can help you with a demo encode as long as the file is not too long in duration.

  • 0
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    PILET

    Hi there, 

    I have problem to encode existing videos in 4K H264 to H265.

    Do you have some tips with Handbrake to encode my works well on the BrightSign 4K242 (The firmware is up to date)

    I can upload one of the video (201 Mb) if you want.

    HAve a nice day and hope you can help me

    Sébastien

  • 0
    Avatar
    Lyndon

    are the files not playing or is the quality poor? Yes, send a link to the video to support @ brightsign.biz

  • 0
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    David A Ripp

    I have tried handbrake and ffmpeg.  In both cases, my video image looks fantastic.  But it is not flowing.  Every 10 seconds or so, the image changes.

  • 0
    Avatar
    Rob Tezai

    Can your players handle a higher bit rate h.265, something closer to a PRO RES HQ 150mbps for compression comparison

  • 1
    Avatar
    JRB Technical

    Again I will ask, will BrightSign please provide Presets for Adobe Media Encoder, as well as others.

    I have asked about this in the past for HD content, and was provided a list of settings, but no presets file.

    More and more people are using the Adobe Creative Cloud for production work flow, it just makes sense to make a BrightSign Preset file available.

    It would be so much easier for everyone if BrightSign would publish this on the site, a preset file to import into Adobe Media Encoder, with the recommended presets for common HD and 4K settings for people to use. That way everyone would have the proper recommended presets.

    Same goes for Handbrake, Apple Final Cut Pro X, Sony Vegas Pro 13, AVID Media Composer,and any other major software I might have missed that people are using for HD and 4K. I believe they all have presets, and the ability to import/export them.

    Thank you.

     

  • 0
    Avatar
    JOshua HIggason

    Im also having a lot of trouble getting a 4k file to render and playback. Im following the Instructions here (h.265, HEVC, CBR:35mb/s, 3840x2160, 29.97fps). But I cant get it to play on the brightsign. Can you publish an adobe Media Encoder preset that will work?

     

  • 0
    Avatar
    Lyndon

     

    I've asked my colleagues for AME settings for h.265. I've been told that the default settings should work and have been used, but I'll get confirmation. 

  • 0
    Avatar
    Chris Russell

    I have a problem regarding encoding for 4K playback I would really appreciate some help with. I am encoding some content for an exhibition, using Adobe Media Encoder and/or Handbrake. I have two types of content: full screen video content using library footage edited together, and full screen shows produced in After Effects where I am either animating layered Photoshop files to show evolutionary adaptation, or producing a grid of image sequences showing variations of human eyes. From After Effects I generally export a ProRes422 file and then encode from that. I have tried adding a dummy audio track as well to see if it was related to that, but still no good.

    When I encode the full motion video, this largely encodes and plays back ok, but when I encode the sequences, using exactly the same preset, when playing back it either freezes at random points, or plays back with lots of glitches/stuttering. I have tried Media Encoder, Handbrake and Squeeze, with a variety of bitrates, CBR and VBR settings, and the problems persist. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to follow a pattern - I encoded a test sequence in Media Encoder and Handbrake and it worked fine, made some changes and then re-encoded it the next day using the same settings and it wouldn't play correctly.

    Any suggestions to overcome this would be great.

    Thanks.

  • 0
    Avatar
    Jon Sheldon

    Please confirm the 4K video specification for playback on an XD1033. I'm using a high spec class 10 card - SanDisk Extreme microSD 32GB.

    I have spent many many hours trialling and testing all kinds of variations on the video spec you provide but the results are frustrating.

    A third party has been sending a lot of 4K HEVC H.265 file variations, all created in Handbrake and PAV tube. But only lower bitrate versions will play.

    I have now been using Sorenson Squeeze 11 Pro to create files to meet the spec, but am getting equally frustrated. The spec states that CBR bitrates of 30 to 40Mbps are possible but through trial and error, I have discovered I'm not even able to exceed 18Mbps CBR, which stutters occasionally.

    My files are: 3840x2160x25p, 4:2:0 8 bits (Main Profile). I've attached the Media Info spec tree for a 22Mbps file that also stutters occasionally.  Please review it and give me a clue!

  • 0
    Avatar
    Lyndon

    Can you create a support ticket and submit a link in that ticket so we can download and look at the video? Most of the time stuttering is due to bitrate spikes well above support spec. Some encoders don't do a good job of adhering to settings restricting bitrates. So you think you're encoding a 40mbps file, but there are spikes over 200mbps in it. You can use a free program like bitrateviewer to see how well your encoder stuck to your settings. 

  • 0
    Avatar
    JRB Technical

    Again, it would be nice if BrightSign published proper presets for Adobe Media Encoder for HD and 4K videos, as well as presets for other prominent software packages, as there are so many different sub settings for video encoding. This would help with these issues people are having with encoding video for all BrightSign players. 

  • 0
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    Jon Sheldon

    Hi Lyndon,

    I will raise a ticket a send an example file. I' be very surprised if a pro piece of software like Sorenson Squeeze doesn't constrain the bit rate to a chosen maximum, there is a tick box to Constrain Bit Rate, and you can chose percentage 100%. Brightsign suggest using Handbrake in some information, that seems more difficult to get CBR files out of it. Squeeze has always been reliable for me.

    I will try out bitrate viewer as suggested too. Thank you

  • 0
    Avatar
    Jon Sheldon

    Hi Lyndon,

    Whats the limit on file size to upload ? Have tried a couple of times to raise the ticket with the attached file but doesn't seem to work.

    Many thanks, Jon

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