De wetenschappers van DivX Labs hebben de eerste alphaversie van hun nieuwste codec-engine online gezet. De encoder heeft de naam Plasma meegekregen en zorgt, in tegenstelling tot de voorgaande versies van DivX Pro, voor een kleinere filesize zonder verlies in beeldkwaliteit. Plasma kan vanaf hier gedownload worden. Voordat de software echter gebruikt kan worden, moet wel eerst DivX-versie 5.2.1 geïnstalleerd zijn op het systeem. DivX Pro Plasma Alpha build 1394 wordt geleverd met de volgende release notes:
R&D for the DivX Pro Plasma codec has been focused strictly around improving video quality and compression. In our testing Plasma improves compression over DivX Pro 5.2.1 by 8 - 34% depending on bitrate and resolution, ultimately translating to better video quality without increased file size. Better still, all enhancements are within the confines of DivX Certified profiles so you can reap the benefits on your DivX CE devices with no impact on content compatibility.Technical changes:
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- The DivX Encoder GUI has been redesigned
The DivX encoder configuration interface has been redesigned for ease of use. Related items are better grouped, there are fewer wizard-like screens to go through, and the window itself is far smaller than before.
- Performance/Quality mode points optimized
We are continuing refinement of the Codec Performance settings according to a rate-distortion model and practical usage.
- Fastest Useful for capture in 1-Pass, Quality based mode
- Balanced Better quality than DivX Pro 5.2.1's 'Standard' mode with faster encoding
- Better Quality Better quality than DivX Pro 5.2.1's 'Slow' mode with faster encoding
- Extreme Quality New mode (see below)
- Insane Quality New mode (see below)
- Rate-distortion optimized H.263 quantization
Plasma includes rate-distortion quantization to improve video quality and ensure optimal PSNR.
- New aspect-based resize
The encoder now allows you to configure resizing based on the pixel aspect ratio of the source instead of absolute frame output dimensions.
- Faster block search
Plasma includes performance enhancements to the motion estimation algorithm that reduce block search times for faster encoding.
- Support for 4MV
Plasma leverages 4MV for 8x8 block searches creating clear improvements in picture sharpness and reducing ringing artifacts. Effects are most noticeable on animé and textures with high contrast edges.
- New Extreme Quality mode
Plasma's Extreme Quality mode improves upon the compression/quality of Better Quality mode but does so with significant impact to encoding performance.
- New Insane Quality mode
Plasma contains a new Insane Quality mode that enables all applicable quality enhancements. Use this mode to see what Plasma is really capable of, but beware: it's very slow!
- Improved deblocking
Plasma includes a new proprietary deblocking algorithm that improves visual quality and PSNR while reducing decoder complexity.