MPEG-FAQ 4.0: Mpeg2encode / mpeg2decode
MPEG-FAQ 4.0:
Mpeg2encode / mpeg2decode
From: cfogg@netcom.com (Chad Fogg)
Subject: MPEG-2 source code and MS-DOS executables available via anon. FTP
We, the MPEG Software Simulation Group, are releasing our MPEG-2 and
MPEG-1 Video encoder and decoder source code, along with example bitstreams
and pre-compiled MS-DOS executables. Please read the following extracts
from our README file for more information:
mpeg2encode / mpeg2decode
=========================
MPEG-2 Encoder / Decoder, Version 1.0, May 1994
MPEG Software Simulation Group
(MPEG-L@netcom.com)
Contents:
1. Overview
2. Introduction
3. Contacting the MPEG Software Simulation Group
4. Availability
5. Installation
6. Acknowledgements
7. History of the technical report
1. Overview
===========
This directory contains our implementation of an ISO/IEC DIS 13818-2 codec.
It converts uncompressed video frames into MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 video
coded bitstream sequences, and vice versa.
The files mpeg2enc.doc and mpeg2dec.doc in the doc/ directory contain
further information about the codec. The doc directory also contains an
FAQ file answering frequently asked questions about MPEG. A precompiled
version of the programs for MSDOS (requires at least a '386) and a set
of verification files are available separately.
Subdirectories src/mpeg2enc and src/mpeg2dec contain the source code
for the encoder and decoder, subdirectory par/ contains a couple of
example encoder parameter files for 25 and 30 frames/sec MPEG-2 and
MPEG-1 video.
2. Introduction
===============
MPEG-2 Video is a generic method for compressed representation of video
sequences using a common coding syntax defined in the document ISO/IEC
13818 Part 2 (CD: Nov. 1993, DIS: March 1994) by the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), in collaboration with the
International Telecommunications Union (ITU) as Recommendation H.262.
The MPEG-2 concept is similar to MPEG-1, but includes extensions to
cover a wider range of applications. The primary application targeted
during the MPEG-2 definition process was the all-digital transmission
of broadcast TV quality video at coded bitrates between 4 and 9
Mbit/sec. However, the MPEG-2 syntax has been found to be efficient
for other applications such as those at higher bit rates and sample
rates (e.g. HDTV). The most significant enhancement over MPEG-1 is the
addition of syntax for efficient coding of interlaced video (e.g. 16x8
block size motion compensation, Dual Prime, et al). Several other more
subtle enhancements (e.g. 10-bit DCT DC precision, non-linear
quantization, VLC tables, improved mismatch control) are included
which have a noticeable imporvement on coding efficiency, even for
progressive video. Other key features of MPEG-2 are the scalable
extensions which permit the division of a continuous video signal into
two or more coded bit streams representing the video at different
resolutions, picture quality (i.e. SNR), or picture rates.
The MPEG Software Simulation Group is currently developing MPEG
software with the purpose of providing aid in understanding the various
algorithms which comprise an encoder and decoder, and giving a sample
implementation based on advanced encoding models. The MPEG-2 software
project is on on-going development. Since the current version of the
encoder already employs a reasonable (and the most popular) subset of
the MPEG-2 signal coding toolkit, and there appears to be sufficient
public interest, we have decided to make a first public release of the
code.
This encoder can also be used for generating good quality constant
bitrate MPEG-1 sequences and is (to our knowledge) the first public
release of an encoder based on the relatively sophisticated TM5 coding
model.
3. Contacting the MPEG Software Simulation Group
================================================
We welcome any project-specific questions, comments, suggestions, bug
reports etc. They should be sent to the Internet address:
MPEG-L@netcom.com
which automatically forwards them to the authors.
4. Availability
===============
The current version of the codec source code is available by anonymous
ftp from:
URL=ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/cfogg/mpeg2/ ors
URL=ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/cf/cfogg/mpeg2/
This directory contains the following files:
README this file
mpeg2codec_v1.0.tar.gz codec source code and documentation
mpeg2codec_verify_v1.0.tar.gz verification archive
mpeg2v10.zip MS-DOS executable archive
tennis.m2v sample MPEG-2 video sequence (8 frames 704x576)
tennis.par, tennis.stat.gz parameter file and statistics output
for tennis.m2v
You need gunzip (GNU zip/unzip) to uncompress the .gz archives.
Alternatively, the files may be retrieved by sending E-mail to:
ftp-request@netcom.com
... with the following line in the body of the message:
SEND cfogg/mpeg2/mpeg2codec_v1.0.tar.gz
You can retrieve the directory listings by sending the following command
to ftp-request@netcom.com:
DIR cfogg/mpeg2
General information can be retrieved with the command: HELP
5. Installation
===============
[ommitted from this Usenet posting]
6. Acknowledgements
===================
Authors of the current release are:
Stefan Eckart (stefan@lis.e-technik.tu-muenchen.de)
Chad Fogg (cfogg@netcom.com)
Cheung Auyeung (auyeung@mot.com)
7. History of Technical Report Project
======================================
The Technical Report, a document which primarily consists of
a C source code program, was initiated by the MPEG committee to:
- Provide an example of MPEG video syntax being intelligently employed
to generate good quality video.
- A reference tool for implementors
- Aid in understanding the MPEG specification
MPEG would like to especially thank Dr. Stefan Eckart for his
contributions have greatly helped the MPEG-2 Technical Report project
start onto a successful path towards the final 13818-5 document.
MPEG lends a kind acknowledgement to Arian Koster (PTT) for initiating
the MPEG-1 technical report project in Autumn 1992, and Leonardo
Chiariglione (Chairman of MPEG) and Didier Le Gall (Chairman of MPEG
Video) for support throughout both projects. Also many thanks to MPEG-1
project contributors Peter Au (Hughes Aircraft), Ron Burns (Hughes
Aircraft), Stefan Eckart (Technical University of Munich), Chad Fogg,
Tsuyoshi Hanamura (Waseda University), Kinya Oosa (Nippon Steel), Brian
Quandt (Heuris Logic) and Hiroshi Watanabe (NTT).
Regards,
Chad Fogg
MPEG Chair for Software Simulation
cfogg@netcom.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Version 1.1a of the MPEG Software Simulation Group's MPEG-2 codec is
now available via anonymous ftp from
URL=ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/cfogg/mpeg2/mpeg2codec_v1.1a.tar.gz
[192.100.81.1]
If you have mpeg2codec_v1.1.tar.gz and the program 'patch', it is sufficient to download
mpeg2codec_v1.1_v1.1a.diff to upgrade vom v1.1 to v1.1a.
The most import difference between v1.1 and v1.1a is the fix of a bug which
caused decoding of MPEG-1 sequences to fail if the compiler assumes 'char' to
be unsigned. Thanks to all who had offered assistance in finding this bug.
A Windows 32s port of mpeg2decode (and mpeg2play), courtesy of CompCore, is
available as mpeg2w11.zip. A DOS version of mpeg2encode and mpeg2decode is
available as mpeg2d11.zip.
Best regards,
Stefan Eckart, MPEG Software Simulation Group.