MPEG Program Stream

The mpeg2 output produces an MPEG-2 Program Stream (.mpg), the container used for DVD-Video and for general file-based MPEG-2 delivery.

The mpeg2 output produces an MPEG-2 Program Stream (.mpg) carrying MPEG-2 video. Program Stream is the container used for DVD-Video and for file-based delivery generally.

Codec-level tuning for the video stream is documented separately under MPEG2 advanced video codec parameters.

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<query>
    <userid>[UserID]</userid> <!-- required-->
    <userkey>[UserKey]</userkey> <!-- required-->
    <action>[Action]</action> <!-- required-->
    <source>[SourceFile]</source> <!-- required-->
    <format>
        <output>mpeg2</output> <!-- required-->
        <size>[Size]</size>
        <bitrate>[Bitrate]</bitrate>
        <framerate>[Framerate]</framerate>
        <keyframe>[GOPLength]</keyframe>
        <bframes>[0|2]</bframes>
        <video_codec_parameters>
            <open-gop>[0|1]</open-gop>
            <mpv_flags>[Flags]</mpv_flags>
            <sc_threshold>[Threshold]</sc_threshold>
        </video_codec_parameters>
    </format>
</query>
{
    "query": {
        "userid": "[UserID]", // required
        "userkey": "[UserKey]", // required
        "action": "[Action]", // required
        "source": "[SourceFile]", // required
        "format": {
            "output": "mpeg2", // required
            "size": "[Size]",
            "bitrate": "[Bitrate]",
            "framerate": "[Framerate]",
            "keyframe": "[GOPLength]",
            "bframes": "[0|2]",
            "video_codec_parameters": {
                "open-gop": "[0|1]",
                "mpv_flags": "[Flags]",
                "sc_threshold": "[Threshold]"
            }
        }
    }
}
ParameterDescriptionAllowed ValuesDefault Value
keyframeGOP length in framesPositive integer number15
bframesB-frames0 – off (IPPPPPP)
2 – on (IBBPBBP)
2
gopGOP type. Deprecated – use open-gop, mpv_flags and sc_threshold instead. Ignored when open-gop is setcgop – closed GOP, scene detection off
sgop – strict, open GOP
cgop

Note that gop parameter affects multiple codec settings:

  • gop=cgop - closed GOP, disabled scene detection
  • gop=sgop - strict and open GOP (doesn't affect scene detection)

gop=cgop case is applied by default, so the GOP is closed and sc_threshold codec parameter is overridden.

Set open-gop codec parameter to override behavior of gop.

Video codec parameters

These are set inside the video_codec_parameters block. See MPEG2 advanced video codec parameters for the full list.

ParameterDescriptionAllowed ValuesDefault Value
open-gopGOP openness0 – closed
1 – open
-
mpv_flagsMPV flagsValid flags string, +strict_gop fixes the GOP length to keyframe-
sc_thresholdScene change threshold. Requires an open GOPPositive integer number. A large value disables scene detection-

The MPEG-2 encoder does not support a closed GOP together with scene detection, so sc_threshold is
overridden with a large value whenever the GOP is closed. Scene-driven keyframes require open-gop=1.

DVD-Video compliance

To produce DVD-Video compliant output, choose compliant values for the following parameters:

ParameterDVD-Video values
sizeNTSC: 720x480, 704x480, 352x480, 352x240
PAL: 720x576, 704x576, 352x576, 352x288
framerateNTSC: 29.97
PAL: 25
keyframe15 (NTSC), 12 (PAL)
bitrateup to 9800k of video, keeping the total muxed rate within 10080k

For a general-purpose MPEG Program Stream use any resolution, frame rate and GOP length the MPEG-2 codec supports.