[FFmpeg-user] GOP Structure - XDCAM RDD9

[Anthony Smith]

Hello everyone,

I am having an issue creating an RDD9 compliant MXF using FFMPEG within
FFASTrans.
I am transcoding from a QT ProRes 422 HQ MOV to XDCAM MXF then re-wrapping
using BMX Trans Wrap to ensure RDD9 compliance.

The base issue is the GOP structure and the last frame of each GOP.
Clients Baton File QC is looking for a B frame, whereas FFMPEG outputs a P
frame.

The expected file specs after transcode are:

PAL 1920x1080 50i XDCAM 422 50mbps long-gop, closed gop. M=3, N=12
2x AES PCM audio streams, 1 channel in each.

My command is as follows:

c:\FFAStrans1.0.0\FFAStrans1.0.0\Processors\ffmpeg\x64>ffmpeg.exe -i
"z:\100_incoming_media\OM_TEST.mov" -profile:v 0 -level:v 2 -map 0:1 -r 25
-pix_fmt yuv422p -aspect 16:9 -intra_vlc 1 -b:v 50000000 -minrate 50000000
-maxrate 50000000 -bufsize 17825792 -rc_init_occupancy 17825792
-sc_threshold 1000000000 -non_linear_quant 1 -color_primaries bt709
-color_trc bt709 -colorspace bt709 -seq_disp_ext 1 -video_format component
-color_range 1 -chroma_sample_location topleft -signal_standard 4 -dc 8
-qmin 3 -qmax 28 -mpv_flags +strict_gop -strict 1 -g 12 -bf 2 -field_order
tt -top 1 -flags +cgop+ildct+ilme -alternate_scan 1 -map 0:2 -map 0:3
"z:\10000_temp\MXFTEST\OM_Test_Out.mxf"

Everything is fine, except for the GOP structure.
Running FFProbe, the GOP structure is IBB PBB PBB PB*P*
I submit this to clients Baton File QC and they fail it, as the expected
GOP is: IBB PBB PBB PB*B*

If I remove the +cgop flag from the command I do get the desired IBB PBB
PBB PBB
But as expected, the GOP isn't closed and fails file QC.

What else is interesting, doing the exact same transcode with the same
parameters within Telestreams Vantage transcoding system, I get a GOP
structure that looks like this at the very beginning "BB IBB PBB PBB PBB".
It opens with two B frames at the beginning of the file and then
subsequently follows the correct closed GOP pattern throughout.

I'm thinking; I am either doing something wrong with the FFMPEG Command, or
just missing something.  Or the output file from FFMPEG and its GOP
structure is correct and Baton File QC parameters are being too strict.  Or
there is a very slim chance that there is a bug with FFMPEG creating XDCAM
Closed Gop MXF files.

At the end of the day, it's down to the difference between a "B" frame and
"P" frame at the end of a Closed GOP output from FFMPEG.

I understand that Closed GOPs are separate and don't cross reference each
other, and makes sense why there would be a P frame at the end of the
closed GOP and not a B frame...
Just annoying that the clients Baton file QC says this can't be so... a
literal "computer says no" moment.

Anyways, hope this made sense.  Happy to clarify further.

Regards,

Anthony.