[MPlayer-users] difference between -lameopts vbr=0 and cbr;

[Struan Bartlett]

Arpi wrote:

>>[Automatic answer: RTFM (read DOCS, FAQ), also read DOCS/bugreports.html]
>>There's something I don't understand from the mencoder man page.
>>
>>                 vbr=<0-4>           variable bitrate method
>>                                        0: cbr
>>                                        1: mt
>>                                        2: rh(default)
>>                                        3: abr
>>                                        4: mtrh
>>
>>                 abr                 average bitrate
>>
>>                 cbr                 constant bitrate.
>>                                     Forces also CBR mode  encod.
>>                                     ing  on  subsequent ABR pre.
>>                                     sets modes
>>
>>Does vbr=0 ("variable bitrate method 0") mean constant bitrate?
>>    
>>
>yes
>
>>Does vbr=3 mean the same as abr?
>>    
>>
>yes
>
>cbr is just an 'alias' for vbr=0  (easier to remember)
>and abr to vbr=3
>
Thanks for clearing this up.

Isn't it confusing, in particular putting constant bitrate in the list 
of vbr settings?

Perhaps it would improve matters (for beginners at least) to change the 
man page as follows:

                 vbr=<0-4>           variable bitrate method
<                                       0: cbr
>                                       0: cbr (constant, not variable, bitrate)

<                abr                 average bitrate
>                abr                 average bitrate (same as vbr=3)

<                cbr                 constant bitrate
>                cbr                 constant bitrate (same as vbr=0).

Struan.