[M4IF Technotes] Call for MPEG-4 Encoders - Robert X. Cringely project

[Rob Koenen]

Exciting project, Ben.
Let me know if you can use M4IF's support. We'll advertise this
on the website and in the weekly news digest.
Through the Technotes and Discuss lists, you'll have reached the 
great majority of vendors; the ones that aren't there should
get the news thought the news list.
What is the target date for evaluation?
Keep us posted,
Rob
ps: Bit of a shame you are keeping with Simple Visual Profile,
    because there is much promising ASP stuff out there. 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ben Waggoner [mailto:ben   interframemedia.com] 
> Sent: Monday, November 11, 2023 13:07
> To: Streaming Media MPEG-4; technotes   lists.m4if.org; 
> discuss   lists.m4if.org
> Subject: [M4IF Technotes] Call for MPEG-4 Encoders - Robert 
> X. Cringely project
> 
> 
> Everybody,
> 
>     Okay, I've got a Big Deal to announce.  Robert X. 
> Cringely, computer industry journalist and broadcaster 
> extraordinaire, is launching a new internet talk show, 
> NerdTV, using MPEG-4 technology.
> 
>     Anyone familiar with Bob's past PBS series like "The 
> Triumph of the Nerds" and his seminal book "Accidental 
> Empires" knows this is a big deal. Here are some past columns 
> from him describing this project, in chronological order:
> 
> http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20020321.html
> http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20020328.html
> http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20020912.html
> http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20020704.html
> 
>     I've been consulting with him on the media delivery 
> technologies part of the project, and we've decided that it's 
> progressive download MPEG-4 all the way for the video part.  
> Users will even be welcome to download and edit the camera 
> sources, and edit together their own versions!
> 
>     All going well, this will be the first really big public 
> use of MPEG-4, and while we picked the technology on its own 
> merits, it's my hope that this can help jump start the 
> industry some in the video-playing-on-computers market.
> 
>     The next phase of the project is to pick the right 
> encoder, hence this email.  We're doing an open call for 
> encoders for evaluation for this project.  Since I've got 
> relationships with a number of vendors, I'm going to do all 
> the testing, but Bob's going to pick the final results he 
> likes best.  I've talked to some encoder vendors directly, 
> but wanted to make a public call to any companies who would 
> like to submit their software.  As an added bonus, I'll be 
> doing an article for DV about the process of designing the 
> media technologies for this project, including how we went 
> about picking an encoder.
> 
>     So, here is the basic constraints we're looking for in 
> the file, and I'm happy to look at any encoder that can meet 
> these specs:
> 
> Compatible with playback with ISMA Profile 1, QuickTime 
> 6.0.2, Envivio plug-in, and MPEG4IP.
> 
> Progressive download compatible file (MooV atom at the front 
> of the file)
> 
> Total data rate of 100-120 Kbps (2-pass VBR would be 
> welcome).  We'll be tweaking with the right resolution and 
> data rate, but compression efficiency provided by the tool 
> will be a major factor in our decision.
> 
> Simple Visual video
> 
> AAC-LC audio (should be able to do 22.050 mono at 20 Kbps)
> 
> Source will be progressive PAL DV.  It'll probably be in 
> QuickTime format, but a transcode to .AVI might be possible.
> 
> 
>     Anyone interested in providing an encoder for evaluation, 
> drop me a private note at ben   benwaggoner.com
> 
> 
> Ben Waggoner <http://www.benwaggoner.com>
> Compressed Video Consulting, Training, and Encoding
> 
> My Book:            http://www.benwaggoner.com/books.htm
> Cleaner Tutorial:   http://www.saferseas.com/navseries/adclean.html
> Compression Books:  http://www.benwaggoner.com/bookshelf.htm
> 
> 
> 
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