MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

MPEG-2 standard is intented to be generic and to serve a wide range of applications. Therefore various requirements have been considered and different algorithmic elements have been integrated into a single syntax so that a wide algorithm toolkit is available. Anyway, in order to make easier the practical implementations of the specification, the concepts of profile and level have been introduced.

What is a profile ?

A profile is a "defined subset of the syntax of the specification".

In other words a profile imposes some bounds to the full syntax and it defines which tools or functionalities may be used to produce a bitstream and how.

What is a level ?

A level is a "defined set of constraints on the values which may be taken by the parameters of the specification within a particular profile".

For instance a given profile may use or not scalability , while the level gives the bounds to the image size.

● hierarchical profiles@levels ● non hierarchical profiles@levels (422P@ML) ● What is a conformance point ?

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Hierarchical profiles@levels

In a first time all the defined combinations of profiles and levels were structured in a hierarchical way.In this case a simpler profile happens to be a subset of every more complex profile and every parameter value of a lower level happens to be lower or equal to the corresponding value of every higher level.The consequence is the forward compatibility between different profiles and levels. The coded bitstreams

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MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

must contain a profile_and_level_indication of the simplest decoder capable of successfully decoding the bitstream, but also every decoder more complex can decode correctly the same bistream.

Which are the existing profiles and levels ?

The defined combinations of hierarchical profiles and levels (profile@level) are:

_____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

High X X

High-1440 X X X

Main X X X X

Low X X

Level/Profile Simple Main SNR Spatial High

Till scalability is not included, the MPEG-2 syntax can be seen as a super set of the syntax defined in MPEG-1 (ISO/IEC 11172-2) toward which there is anyway forward compatibility.

Up to profiles and levels

Non-hierarchical profiles@levels

In this case the profile, that is always a subset of the specification, has no relationship to other profiles in the sense that you cannot say if it is simpler than one or more complex than another. Also the levels of a non-hierarchical profile don't have necessarily any relationship to similarly named levels of other profiles. In this context compatibility, where it exists, is not a consequence of the hierarchy of profiles and levels, but exactly a choice of the definition of such a profile@level.

MPEG-2/ 4:2:2Profile@MainLevel

The first and the only defined (at the moment) non-hierarchical profile@level is 4:2:2Profile@MainLevel (abbreviation: 422P@ML). The goal of this profile is to be suitable for the TV production environment applications. Actually it is also called, incorrectly, "Professional Profile" or "Studio Profile". It is based on MainProfile@MainLevel, of which it is intended to overcome the limitations concerning the professional use.

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MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

MPEG-2/ MultiviewProfile

Work started on a new Profile that, using the MPEG-2 toolkit, will be able to manage stereo images.

Up to profiles and levels

What is a conformance point ?

On the bitstream side

It isn't the encoder to be tested but the bitstream that it produces.The bitstream must contain the profile_and_level_indication (the conformance point) of the simplest decoder capable of successfully decode the stream. So such decoder will be used to test if the bitstream is compliant with the specifications. Anyway the fact that an encoder produced one compliant bitstream doesn't mean necessarily that every bitstream produced by such encoder is compliant. Moreover it's possible that the encoder doesn't use the whole toolkit available at profile@level of the conformance point; for instance a 422P@ML stream with only Intra pictures.

On the decoder side

When a decoder product must be tested in order to verify its compliance with the specifications, a compliant bitstream at the claimed profile@level will be used. When the decoder can work at an undefined profile@level, the conformance point will be the immediately simpler defined profile@level; for instance a decoder capable to decode SpatialProfile@MainLevel (undefined) will be tested with an SNRProfile@MainLevel bitstream.

Up to profiles and levels

SimpleProfile@MainLevel

Abbreviation: SP@MLThe goal of SimpleProfile@MainLevel is to allow the existance of low cost decoders needing only one frame-memory, hence no B_pictures. A SimpleProfile@MainLevel bitstream would be suitable for low delay applications (no need for frame reordering), but on the other hand the coding efficiency is lower.

Profile Table Level Table

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MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

_______________ ______________

B-frames NO

chroma_format 4:2:0

scalability NONE

Intra DC precision 8, 9, 10 bits

______________________________ ________________

Maximum Bit Rate 15 Mbps

Buffer Size 1835008 bits

Sample Density720 samples/lines576 lines/frame

30 frames/s

Luminance Sample Rate 10368000

Horizontal Vector Range -512:+511.5

Vertical Vector Range (frame pictures) -128:+127.5

Note:The maximum value of Luminance Sample Rate is lower than the simple product of the Sample Density values because the frame size 720x576 is used for 25Hz countries, while in 30Hz countries the format is 720x480.

Compatibility

Bitstreams decodable by aSimpleProfile@MainLevel decoder

Decoders able to decode a SimpleProfile@MainLevel bitstream

SimpleProfile@MainLevel

MainProfile@LowLevel

SimpleProfile@MainLevel

MainProfile@MainLevel

MainProfile@High-1440Level

MainProfile@HighLevel

SNRProfile@MainLevel

SpatialProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@MainLevel

HighProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@HighLevel

4:2:2Profile@MainLevel

Note:The SimpleProfile@MainLevel decoder is required to decode also the MainProfile@LowLevel bitstreams. That's possible because one frame-memory for MainLevel picture size can be easily used as two frame-memories for LowLevel picture size. Remember that all MPEG-2 decoders are required to decode also ISO/IEC 11172-2 bitstreams.

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MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

Up to profiles and levelsUp to table of profiles@levels

MainProfile@HighLevel

Abbreviation: MP@HLThe MainProfile@HighLevel allows the coding of the full HDTV European standard 1920x1152x25..

Profile Table Level Table

_______________ ______________

B-frames YES

chroma_format 4:2:0

scalability NONE

Intra DC precision 8, 9, 10 bits

______________________________ ________________

Maximum Bit Rate 80 Mbps

Buffer Size 9781248 bits

Sample Density1920 samples/lines1152 lines/frame

60 frames/s

Luminance Sample Rate 62668800

Horizontal Vector Range -1024:+1023.5

Vertical Vector Range (frame pictures) -128:+127.5

Note:The maximum value of Luminance Sample Rate is lower than the simple product of the Sample Density values. Actually some possible picture format are 1920x1152x25 (HDTV Interlaced), 1920x576x50 (progressive).

Compatibility

Bitstreams decodable by aMainProfile@HighLevel decoder

Decoders able to decode a MainProfile@HighLevel bitstream

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MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

MainProfile@HighLevel

MainProfile@High-1440Level

MainProfile@MainLevel

MainProfile@LowLevel

SimpleProfile@MainLevel

andonly Base Layer from:

SNRProfile@MainLevel

SNRProfile@LowLevel

SpatialProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@MainLevel (1)

HighProfile@High-1440Level (1)

MainProfile@HighLevel

HighProfile@HighLevel

(1) Not always, but it depends on the scalable_mode used by the Scalable Profile.

Up to profiles and levelsUp to table of profiles@levels

MainProfile@High-1440Level

Abbreviation: MP@H-14The MainProfile@High-1440Level allows the coding of HDTV interlaced with 1440 pixels/line or the coding of progressive sequences at 50 (or 60) Hz. The HDTV 1440x1152x25 format has become popular because it corresponds to 4 ITU-R 601 Rec. pictures and it was possible to record it with 4 D1-DVTRs and a multiplexer. As a matter of fact the maximum bit-rate value is just 4 times that of MainProfile@MainLevel.

Profile Table Level Table

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MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

_______________ ______________

B-frames YES

chroma_format 4:2:0

scalability NONE

Intra DC precision 8, 9, 10 bits

______________________________ ________________

Maximum Bit Rate 60 Mbps

Buffer Size 7340032 bits

Sample Density1440 samples/lines1152 lines/frame

60 frames/s

Luminance Sample Rate 47001600

Horizontal Vector Range -1024:+1023.5

Vertical Vector Range (frame pictures) -128:+127.5

Note:The maximum value of Luminance Sample Rate is lower than the simple product of the Sample Density values. Actually some possible picture format are 1440x1152x25 (HDTV Interlaced), 1440x576x50 (progressive).

Compatibility

Bitstreams decodable by aMainProfile@High-1440Level decoder

Decoders able to decode a MainProfile@High-1440Level bitstream

MainProfile@High-1440Level

MainProfile@MainLevel

MainProfile@LowLevel

SimpleProfile@MainLevel

andonly Base Layer from:

SNRProfile@MainLevel

SNRProfile@LowLevel

SpatialProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@MainLevel (1)

HighProfile@High-1440Level (1)

MainProfile@High-1440Level

MainProfile@HighLevel

SpatialProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@HighLevel

(1) Not always, but it depends on the scalable_mode used by the Scalable Profile.

Up to profiles and levels

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MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

Up to table of profiles@levels

MainProfile@MainLevel

Abbreviation: MP@MLThe MainProfile@MainLevel is probably the most popular combination of MPEG-2 profiles and levels, also in terms of hardware implementations. It's considered the standard extension of MPEG-1 because many limitations have been removed or overtaken. Actually with the MainProfile@MainLevel it's possible to code ITU-R 601 Rec. picture format, that is an interlaced one, without filtering processes before coding. Furthermore the Maximum Bit Range value allows a wider range of applications and in general a better quality.

Profile Table Level Table

_______________ ______________

B-frames YES

chroma_format 4:2:0

scalability NONE

Intra DC precision 8, 9, 10 bits

______________________________ ________________

Maximum Bit Rate 15 Mbps

Buffer Size 1835008 bits

Sample Density720 samples/lines576 lines/frame

30 frames/s

Luminance Sample Rate 10368000

Horizontal Vector Range -512:+511.5

Vertical Vector Range (frame pictures) -128:+127.5

Note:The maximum value of Luminance Sample Rate is lower than the simple product of the Sample Density values because the frame size 720x576 is used for 25Hz countries, while in 30Hz countries the format is 720x480.

Compatibility

Bitstreams decodable by aMainProfile@MainLevel decoder

Decoders able to decode a MainProfile@MainLevel bitstream

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MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

MainProfile@MainLevel

MainProfile@LowLevel

SimpleProfile@MainLevel

andonly Base Layer from:

SNRProfile@MainLevel

SNRProfile@LowLevel

SpatialProfile@High-1440Level (1)

HighProfile@MainLevel (1)

MainProfile@MainLevel

MainProfile@High-1440Level

MainProfile@HighLevel

SNRProfile@MainLevel

SpatialProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@MainLevel

HighProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@HighLevel

4:2:2Profile@MainLevel

(1) Not always, but it depends on the scalable_mode used by the Scalable Profile.

Up to profiles and levelsUp to table of profiles@levels

MainProfile@LowLevel

Abbreviation: MP@LLThe MainProfile@LowLevel has a level table closier to MPEG-1 than MainProfile@MainLevel. In general, when bit-rate decreases, artifacts are less visible if the picture resolution is lower. So this level works with the 352x288 frame size (interlaced format possible) at low bit-rate. But at the MainLevel it would be possible to get the same low bit-rate without reducing the picture resolution before coding (or reducing less the picture resolution).

Profile Table Level Table

_______________ ______________

B-frames YES

chroma_format 4:2:0

scalability NONE

Intra DC precision 8, 9, 10 bits

______________________________ ________________

Maximum Bit Rate 4 Mbps

Buffer Size 475136 bits

Sample Density352 samples/lines288 lines/frame

30 frames/s

Luminance Sample Rate 3041280

Horizontal Vector Range -128:+127.5

Vertical Vector Range (frame pictures) -64:+63.5

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MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

Compatibility

Bitstreams decodable by aMainProfile@LowLevel decoder

Decoders able to decode a MainProfile@LowLevel bitstream

MainProfile@LowLevel

andonly Base Layer from:

SNRProfile@LowLevel

HighProfile@MainLevel (1)

MainProfile@LowLevel

MainProfile@MainLevel

MainProfile@High-1440Level

MainProfile@HighLevel

SNRProfile@LowLevel

SNRProfile@MainLevel

SpatialProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@MainLevel

HighProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@HighLevel

4:2:2Profile@MainLevel

(1) Not always, but it depends on the scalable_mode used by the Scalable Profile.

Up to profiles and levelsUp to table of profiles@levels

SNRProfile@MainLevel

Abbreviation: SNR@MLThe SNRProfile@MainLevel (SNR scalability) may be considered as the MainProfile@MainLevel plus a quality enhancement layer. The total bistream is actually composed of two different bitstreams, one (decodable by a MainProfile@MainLevel decoder) for the base layer and one for the enhancement layer.

Profile Table Level Table

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MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

_______________ ______________

B-frames YES

chroma_format 4:2:0

scalability

SNR

base layer +1 enh. layer

Intra DC precision 8, 9, 10 bits

______________________________ ________________

Maximum Bit Rate:total

base layer15 Mbps10 Mbps

Buffer Size:total

base layer1835008 bits1212416 bits

Sample Density720 samples/lines576 lines/frame

30 frames/s

Luminance Sample Rate 10368000

Horizontal Vector Range -512:+511.5

Vertical Vector Range (frame pictures) -128:+127.5

Note:The maximum value of Luminance Sample Rate is lower than the simple product of the Sample Density values because the frame size 720x576 is used for 25Hz countries, while in 30Hz countries the format is 720x480.

Compatibility

Bitstreams decodable by aSNRProfile@MainLevel decoder

Decoders able to decode a SNRProfile@MainLevel bitstream

SNRProfile@MainLevel

SNRProfile@LowLevel

MainProfile@MainLevel

MainProfile@LowLevel

SimpleProfile@MainLevel

andLower Layers from:

SpatialProfile@High-1440Level (1)

HighProfile@MainLevel (1)

SNRProfile@MainLevel

SpatialProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@MainLevel

HighProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@HighLevel

andonly Base Layer by:

MainProfile@MainLevel

MainProfile@High-1440Level

MainProfile@HighLevel

4:2:2Profile@MainLevel

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MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

(1) Not always, but it depends on the scalable_mode used by the Scalable Profile.

Up to profiles and levelsUp to table of profiles@levels

SNRProfile@LowLevel

Abbreviation: SNR@LLThe SNRProfile@LowLevel (SNR scalability) may be considered as the MainProfile@LowLevel plus a quality enhancement layer. The total bistream is actually composed of two different bitstreams, one (decodable by a MainProfile@LowLevel decoder) for the base layer and one for the enhancement layer.

Profile Table Level Table

_______________ ______________

B-frames YES

chroma_format 4:2:0

scalability

SNR

base layer +1 enh. layer

Intra DC precision 8, 9, 10 bits

______________________________ ________________

Maximum Bit Rate:total

base layer4 Mbps3 Mbps

Buffer Size:total

base layer475136 bits360448 bits

Sample Density352 samples/lines288 lines/frame

30 frames/s

Luminance Sample Rate 3041280

Horizontal Vector Range -128:+127.5

Vertical Vector Range (frame pictures) -64:+63.5

Compatibility

Bitstreams decodable by aSNRProfile@LowLevel decoder

Decoders able to decode a SNRProfile@LowLevel bitstream

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MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

SNRProfile@LowLevel

MainProfile@LowLevel

andLower Layers from:

HighProfile@MainLevel (1)

SNRProfile@LowLevel

SNRProfile@MainLevel

SpatialProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@MainLevel

HighProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@HighLevel

andonly Base Layer by:

MainProfile@LowLevel

MainProfile@MainLevel

MainProfile@High-1440Level

MainProfile@HighLevel

4:2:2Profile@MainLevel

(1) Not always, but it depends on the scalable_mode used by the Scalable Profile.

Up to profiles and levelsUp to table of profiles@levels

SpatialProfile@High-1440Level

Abbreviation: Spatial@H-14The SpatialProfile@High-1440Level, despite its name, allows both spatial scalability and SNR scalability and the total bitstream may be composed by two or three different layers. When only two layers are used, there is either the spatial scalability or the SNR one, when there are three layers the two kinds of scalability may be combined in any order. Compatibility is easily achieved till the base layer which may be successfully decoded by simpler decoders and an SNRProfile@MainLevel decoder can sometimes decode till the middle layer (if spatial scalabilty is adopted for the third layer).The goal of such a combination should be to allow the coding of HDTV keeping compatibility towards standard definition receivers with and without SNR scalability.

Profile Table Level Table

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MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

_______________ ______________

B-frames YES

chroma_format 4:2:0

scalability

Spatialand/orSNR

base layer +1 or 2

enh. layers

Intra DC precision 8, 9, 10 bits

______________________________ ________________

Maximum Bit Ratetotal

till middle layerbase layer

60 Mbps40 Mbps15 Mbps

Buffer Sizetotal

till middle layerbase layer

7340032 bits4882432 bits1835008 bits

Enhan. Layer Sample Density1440 samples/lines1152 lines/frame

60 frames/s

Lower Layer Sample Density720 samples/lines576 lines/frame

30 frames/s

Luminance Sample RateEnhan. LayerLower Layer

4700160010368000

Horizontal Vector Range -1024:+1023.5

Vertical Vector Range (frame pictures) -128:+127.5

Notes:Scalability can be performed in four different ways. There can be one or two enhancement layers, in the latter case Spatial and SNR scalabilities can be used in any order. When only SNR scalability is used, that's just as an SNRProfile@High-1440Level (not defined).The maximum value of Luminance Sample Rate is lower than the simple product of the Sample Density values.

Compatibility

Bitstreams decodable by aSpatialProfile@High-1440Level decoder

Decoders able to decode a SpatialProfile@High-1440Level bitstream

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MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

SpatialProfile@High-1440Level

SNRProfile@MainLevel

SNRProfile@LowLevel

MainProfile@High-1440Level

MainProfile@MainLevel

MainProfile@LowLevel

SimpleProfile@MainLevel

andLower Layers from:

HighProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@MainLevel (1)

SpatialProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@HighLevel

andtill middle Layer by:

SNRProfile@MainLevel (1)

only Base Layer by:

MainProfile@MainLevel (1)

MainProfile@High-1440Level

MainProfile@HighLevel

4:2:2Profile@MainLevel (1)

(1) Not always, but it depends on the scalable_mode used by the Scalable Profile.

Up to profiles and levelsUp to table of profiles@levels

HighProfile@HighLevel

Abbreviation: HP@HLThe HighProfile@HighLevel is the top hierarchical combination of profile and level so that the decoder is able to decode every hierarchical bitstream.

Profile Table Level Table

_______________ ______________

B-frames YES

chroma_format4:2:2

or4:2:0

______________________________ ________________

Maximum Bit Ratetotal

till middle layerbase layer

100 Mbps80 Mbps25 Mbps

Buffer Sizetotal

till middle layerbase layer

12222464 bits9781248 bits3047424 bits

Enhan. Layer Sample Density1920 samples/lines1152 lines/frame

60 frames/s

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MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

scalability

Spatialand/orSNR

base layer +1 or 2

enh. layers

Intra DC precision 8, 9, 10, 11 bits

Lower Layer Sample Density960 samples/lines576 lines/frame

30 frames/s

Luminance Sample RateEnhan. Layer 4:2:2Enhan. Layer 4:2:0Lower Layer 4:2:2Lower Layer 4:2:0

62668800835584001474560019660800

Horizontal Vector Range -1024:+1023.5

Vertical Vector Range (frame pictures) -128:+127.5

Compatibility

Bitstreams decodable by aHighProfile@HighLevel decoder

Decoders able to decode a HighProfile@HighLevel bitstream

HighProfile@HighLevel

HighProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@MainLevel

SpatialProfile@High-1440Level

SNRProfile@MainLevel

SNRProfile@LowLevel

MainProfile@HighLevel

MainProfile@High-1440Level

MainProfile@MainLevel

MainProfile@LowLevel

SimpleProfile@MainLevel

HighProfile@HighLevel

andonly Base Layer or till middle Layer by:

HighProfile@High-1440Level(1)

(1) Not always, but it depends on the scalable_mode used by the Scalable Profile.

Up to profiles and levelsUp to table of profiles@levels

HighProfile@High-1440Level

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MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

Abbreviation: HP@H-14The HighProfile@High-1440Level is quite similar to SpatialProfile@High-1440Level exept for the chroma format (4:2:2 is allowed), and for the intra_dc_precision (till 11 bits). Two more restrictions are given to the layers combination: a 4:2:0 layer is not permitted if the lower layer is 4:2:2 and the spatial enhancement layer can't be 4:2:2 if the lower layer is 4:2:0 (but it's possible with the SNR enhancement layer). Anyway the number of allowed layers combinations is greater. In the level table many values have been increased.

Profile Table Level Table

_______________ ______________

B-frames YES

chroma_format4:2:2

or4:2:0

scalability

Spatialand/orSNR

base layer +1 or 2

enh. layers

Intra DC precision 8, 9, 10, 11 bits

______________________________ ________________

Maximum Bit Ratetotal

till middle layerbase layer

80 Mbps60 Mbps20 Mbps

Buffer Sizetotal

till middle layerbase layer

9781248 bits7340032 bits2441216 bits

Enhan. Layer Sample Density1440 samples/lines1152 lines/frame

60 frames/s

Lower Layer Sample Density720 samples/lines576 lines/frame

30 frames/s

Luminance Sample RateEnhan. Layer 4:2:2Enhan. Layer 4:2:0Lower Layer 4:2:2Lower Layer 4:2:0

47001600626688001105920014745600

Horizontal Vector Range -1024:+1023.5

Vertical Vector Range (frame pictures) -128:+127.5

Compatibility

Bitstreams decodable by aHighProfile@High-1440Level decoder

Decoders able to decode a HighProfile@High-1440Level bitstream

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MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

HighProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@MainLevel

SpatialProfile@High-1440Level

SNRProfile@MainLevel

SNRProfile@LowLevel

MainProfile@High-1440Level

MainProfile@MainLevel

MainProfile@LowLevel

SimpleProfile@MainLevel

HighProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@HighLevel

andonly Base Layer by:

MainProfile@High-1440Level(1)

MainProfile@HighLevel(1)

(1) Not always, but it depends on the scalable_mode used by the Scalable Profile.

Up to profiles and levelsUp to table of profiles@levels

HighProfile@MainLevel

Abbreviation: HP@MLThe HighProfile@MainLevel, beside the HighProfile table including 4:2:2 chroma_format and intra_dc_precision till 11 bits, has a level table with some values greater than those of MainProfile@MainLevel. In particular the Maximum Bit Rate of 20 Mbps for all layers allows an improvement of a MainProfile@MainLevel scheme.

Profile Table Level Table

_______________ ______________

B-frames YES

chroma_format4:2:2

or4:2:0

______________________________ ________________

Maximum Bit Ratetotal

till middle layerbase layer

20 Mbps15 Mbps4 Mbps

Buffer Sizetotal

till middle layerbase layer

2441216 bits1835008 bits475136 bits

Enhan. Layer Sample Density720 samples/lines576 lines/frame

30 frames/s

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MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

scalability

Spatialand/orSNR

base layer +1 or 2

enh. layers

Intra DC precision 8, 9, 10, 11 bits

Lower Layer Sample Density352 samples/lines288 lines/frame

30 frames/s

Luminance Sample RateEnhan. Layer 4:2:2Enhan. Layer 4:2:0Lower Layer 4:2:0

11059200147456003041280

Horizontal Vector Range -512:+511.5

Vertical Vector Range (frame pictures) -128:+127.5

Compatibility

Bitstreams decodable by aHighProfile@MainLevel decoder

Decoders able to decode a HighProfile@MainLevel bitstream

HighProfile@MainLevel

SNRProfile@MainLevel

SNRProfile@LowLevel

MainProfile@MainLevel

MainProfile@LowLevel

SimpleProfile@MainLevel

HighProfile@MainLevel

HighProfile@High-1440Level

HighProfile@HighLevel

andtill middle Layer by:

SNRProfile@LowLevel (1)

SNRProfile@MainLevel (1)

only Base Layer by:

MainProfile@LowLevel (1)

MainProfile@MainLevel (1)

MainProfile@High-1440Level(1)

MainProfile@HighLevel(1)

4:2:2Profile@MainLevel (1)

(1) Not always, but it depends on the scalable_mode used by the Scalable Profile.

Up to profiles and levelsUp to table of profiles@levels

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MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

4:2:2Profile@MainLevel

Abbreviation: 422P@MLThe goal of 4:2:2Profile@MainLevel is to be suitable for application in the TV production environment. So the performance, in terms of video coded quality, is expected to be better than MainProfile@MainLevel. Furthermore the 4:2:2Profile should provide good performance also when several coding and decoding processes are necessary, but the number of generations should be kept limited, as the MPEG compression techniques are lossy.The main removed limitation on the profile side is the chroma_format, 4:2:2, that gives the name to the profile, is possible and it should allow chroma key effects for the decoded images. Besides also the Intra DC precision may be improved (till 11 bits).On the level side the most important increased parameter value is Maximum Bit Rate, 50 Mbps, that allows a good picture quality even with only Intra_pictures, so that applications that used Motion-JPEG compression (non-standard) can now use an MPEG-2 standard profile.

Profile Table Level Table

_______________ ______________

B-frames YES

chroma_format4:2:2

or4:2:0

scalability NONE

Intra DC precision 8, 9, 10, 11 bits

______________________________ ________________

Maximum Bit Rate 50 Mbps

Buffer Size 9437184 bits

Sample Density720 samples/lines608 lines/frame

30 frames/s

Luminance Sample Rate 11059200

Horizontal Vector Range -512:+511.5

Vertical Vector Range (frame pictures) -128:+127.5

Note:Compared to MainProfile@MainLevel the number of lines/frame has been increased in order to include some lines from the Vertical Blanking Interval.The maximum value of Luminance Sample Rate is lower than the simple product of the Sample Density values because the frame size 720x608 is used for 25Hz countries, while in 30Hz countries the format is 720x512.

Compatibility

Bitstreams decodable by a4:2:2Profile@MainLevel decoder

Decoders able to decode a 4:2:2Profile@MainLevel bitstream

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MPEG-2 Profiles and Levels

4:2:2Profile@MainLevel

MainProfile@MainLevel

MainProfile@LowLevel

SimpleProfile@MainLevel

andonly Base Layer from:

SNRProfile@MainLevel

SNRProfile@LowLevel

SpatialProfile@High-1440Level (1)

HighProfile@MainLevel (1)

4:2:2Profile@MainLevel

(1) Not always, but it depends on the scalable_mode used by the Scalable Profile.

Up to profiles and levelsUp to table of profiles@levels

Page edited by: Laurent BochLast update: July the 19th 1996

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