[Eee Pad Transformer General] SmithersJ0nes:
I've been keeping an eye on the Handbrake 720p thread for a while: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1060825 as I have been noticing jerky video playback since I got my Transformer a couple of months ago. As some of the guys in the thread are doing sterling work to try and solve the issue for us all I didn't want to hijack the thread with my workaround for smooth video playback as it means encoding to DivX. Let me explain:

I now encode to DivX using the DivX Plus Converter. I'm not sure about posting direct links to paid software so a quick Google search will point you in the right direction.

The settings are as follows:

Output Profile: DivX HD 720p

Custom Resolution: 1104 X 624 (this is important as I have found 1280 x 720 produces a slight judder at times)

Video Bitrate (kbps): 3000 kbps

Audio Bitrate (kbps): 128 kbps

The slightly lower resolution has no impact on quality at all and comparing the original MKV and the encoded file there is minimal difference in quality if any. After the file is encoded rename the extension from divx to mp4 and play it with Rockplayer or MoboPlayer (in software mode) this is important as the stock media player won't load the file.

I know there is a cost involved here with the encoder used and may not suit everyone but I'm also sure there are other free encoders out there that will do the same job , I just havent had time to try any.

Original file:

General

Unique ID : 198601087651856379593994534176452094873 (0x95692D9C86D819CA13C4B691D5EDAB99)

Complete name : D:\Transformer Convert\The Chicago Code.S01E01.mkv

Format : Matroska

File size : 1.09 GiB

Duration : 44mn 45s

Overall bit rate : 3 495 Kbps

Encoded date : UTC 2011-02-08 01:41:10

Writing application : mkvmerge v3.0.0 ('Hang up your Hang-Ups') built on Apr 19 2010 11:58:49

Writing library : libebml v0.7.7 + libmatroska v0.8.1

Video

ID : 1

Format : AVC

Format/Info : Advanced Video Codec

Format profile : High@L4.1

Format settings, CABAC : Yes

Format settings, ReFrames : 8 frames

Format settings, GOP : M=6, N=22

Codec ID : V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC

Duration : 44mn 45s

Bit rate : 3 045 Kbps

Width : 1 280 pixels

Height : 720 pixels

Display aspect ratio : 16:9

Frame rate : 23.976 fps

Color space : YUV

Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0

Bit depth : 8 bits

Scan type : Progressive

Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.138

Stream size : 953 MiB (85%)

Writing library : x264 core 105 r1732 2b04482

Encoding settings : cabac=1 / ref=8 / deblock=1:-2:-2 / analyse=0x3:0x113 / me=umh / subme=9 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=24 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=1 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=0 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=6 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=5 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=1 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=250 / keyint_min=23 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=40 / rc=2pass / mbtree=1 / bitrate=3045 / ratetol=1.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=10 / qpmax=51 / qpstep=4 / cplxblur=20.0 / qblur=0.5 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00

Language : English

Audio

ID : 2

Format : AC-3

Format/Info : Audio Coding 3

Mode extension : CM (complete main)

Codec ID : A_AC3

Duration : 44mn 45s

Bit rate mode : Constant

Bit rate : 448 Kbps

Channel(s) : 6 channels

Channel positions : Front: L C R, Side: L R, LFE

Sampling rate : 48.0 KHz

Bit depth : 16 bits

Compression mode : Lossy

Stream size : 143 MiB (13%)

Encoded File (2min 23sec clip):

General

Complete name : D:\Transformer Convert\ASUS.TF101.DIVX.Sample.divx

Format : AVI

Format/Info : Audio Video Interleave

File size : 89.2 MiB

Duration : 2mn 23s

Overall bit rate : 5 209 Kbps

Writing library : Boilsoft AVI tool build 1/release

Video

ID : 0

Format : MPEG-4 Visual

Format settings, BVOP : 1

Format settings, QPel : No

Format settings, GMC : No warppoints

Format settings, Matrix : Default (H.263)

Muxing mode : Packed bitstream

Codec ID : DX50

Codec ID/Hint : DivX 5

Duration : 2mn 23s

Bit rate : 5 071 Kbps

Width : 1 100 pixels

Height : 620 pixels

Display aspect ratio : 16:9

Frame rate : 23.976 fps

Color space : YUV

Chroma subsampling : 4:2:0

Bit depth : 8 bits

Scan type : Progressive

Compression mode : Lossy

Bits/(Pixel*Frame) : 0.310

Stream size : 86.8 MiB (97%)

Writing library : DivX 3330

Audio

ID : 1

Format : MPEG Audio

Format version : Version 1

Format profile : Layer 3

Mode : Joint stereo

Mode extension : MS Stereo

Codec ID : 55

Codec ID/Hint : MP3

Duration : 2mn 23s

Bit rate mode : Constant

Bit rate : 128 Kbps

Channel(s) : 2 channels

Sampling rate : 44.1 KHz

Compression mode : Lossy

Delay relative to video : 14ms

Stream size : 2.19 MiB (2%)

Alignment : Split accross interleaves

Interleave, duration : 42 ms (1.00 video frame)

Interleave, preload duration : 500 ms

I have uploaded a sample here if anyone wants to check it out:

ASUS.TF101.DIVX.Sample.rar

I've also uploaded a converted 720p trailer of Prince Of Persia Sands Of Time as it has a lot of panning in it:

Prince Of Persia Trailer

And a converted 1080p trailer of Avatar

Avatar Trailer

Both the trailers have slightly different resolutions to the settings above: Avatar (1280x532), Prince Of Persia (1104x498), these were the defaults chosen by the encoder and I saw no reason to change them.

I am no expert in the field but was happy that I now have smooth video playback on my Transformer until the 720p issue is solved so I thought I would share my findings as I have had a lot of help from the forums on different matters in the last couple of months. I should also say my Transformer is rooted running Prime 1.5 but the results were the same running stock 3.1.

Mods, if there is anything in this post that needs editing please let me know.

Cheers SmithersJ0nes