MPEG-2 FAQ
Table of Contents

  1. What is MPEG?
  2. Pre MPEG:
  3. What is MPEG video syntax ?
  4. MPEG Myths
  5. The 6 Steps to Claiming Bogously High Compression Ratios:
  6. What are the parts of the MPEG document?
  7. What is the evolution of an MPEG/ISO document?
  8. Introductory paper to MPEG?
  9. MPEG in periodicals?
  10. I keep hearing there's going to be this MPEG book?
  11. MPEG is a DCT based scheme, and that's about all, right ?
  12. What are constant and variable bitrate streams?
  13. What is statistical multiplexing ?
  14. How does MPEG achieve compression?
  15. What is the difference between MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 syntax?
  16. How does MPEG syntax facilitate parallelism ?
  17. What is the MPEG color space and sample precision?
  18. Is 4:2:0 the same as 4:1:1 ?
  19. What is the sample precision of MPEG ? How many colors can MPEG represent
  20. How are the subsampled chroma samples cited ?
  21. How do you tell an MPEG-1 bitstream from an MPEG-2 bitstream ?
  22. What are start codes?
  23. Coded block pattern
  24. Why is the DC value always divided by 8 ?
  25. Why is there a special VLC for DCT_coefficient_first:?
  26. What's the deal with End of Block ?
  27. What's this "Macroblock stuffing," and why do people hate
  28. What's the deal with slice_vertical_position and macroblock_address_increment?
  29. What is meant by "modified Huffman VLC tables":
  30. How does MPEG handle 3:2 pulldown?
  31. After all this standardization, what's left for research?
  32. Are some encoders better than others ?
  33. Is the encoder standardized ?
  34. What is the TM rate control and adaptive quantization technique ?
  35. Is it possible to code interlaced video with MPEG-1 syntax?
  36. Can MPEG be used to code still frames ?
  37. Why was the 8x8 DCT size chosen?
  38. Why was the 16x16 prediction size chosen?
  39. What do B-pictures buy you?
  40. Why do some people hate B-pictures?
  41. How are interlaced and progressive pictures indicated in MPEG?
  42. What does it mean to be compliant with MPEG…. other than paying your
  43. What are Profiles and Levels?
  44. What are Constrained Parameters Bitstreams?
  45. Why is (was) Constrained Parameters so important?
  46. Who uses constrained parameters bitstreams?
  47. Are there ways of circumventing constrained parameters bitstreams for
  48. Are there any other conformance points like CPB for MPEG-1?
  49. What frame rates are permitted in MPEG?
  50. What areas can be improved upon to create a better syntax than MPEG?
  51. What are the similarities and differences between MPEG and H.263
  52. How would you describe MPEG to the Data Compression expert?
  53. How does MPEG video really compare to TV, VHS, laserdisc ?
  54. What are the typical coded sizes for the MPEG frames?
  55. At what bitrates is MPEG-2 video optimal?
  56. Why does film perform so well with MPEG ?
  57. What is the best compression ratio for MPEG ?
  58. Is there an MPEG file format?
  59. What is the Digital Video Disc (DVD) ?
  60. What is the MPEG committee ?
  61. What ever happened to MPEG-3 ?
  62. Why bother having an MPEG-2 ?
  63. Is MPEG patented ?
  64. What is White Book
  65. What are some typical picture sizes and their associated applications
  66. Future topics:
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