FFMPEG -bf flag with mpeg4 codec creates video that cant be played with WMP/MCE

[ramitb]

Summary of the bug: In FFMPEG setting the -bf flag to anything but 0 while using the mpeg4 codec creates video that's broken in WMP12/MCE playback.

How to reproduce: A sample file (you can try others) is uploaded at: ​http://www.mediafire.com/?5xwf84kbzp6ci4y

COMMAND:

ffmpeg -y -i csi.ts -an -vcodec mpeg4 -bf 3 csi.mp4

OUTPUT:

ffmpeg version N-41195-g8a0efa9 Copyright (c) 2000-2012 the FFmpeg developers
  built on May 31 2012 20:04:59 with gcc 4.6.3
  configuration: --enable-gpl --enable-version3 --disable-w32threads --enable-runtime-cpudetect --enable-avisynth --enab
le-bzlib --enable-frei0r --enable-libass --enable-libcelt --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable
-libfreetype --enable-libgsm --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libnut --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-librtmp --enable-libschro
edinger --enable-libspeex --enable-libtheora --enable-libutvideo --enable-libvo-aacenc --enable-libvo-amrwbenc --enable-
libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libx264 --enable-libxavs --enable-libxvid --enable-zlib
  libavutil      51. 55.100 / 51. 55.100
  libavcodec     54. 23.100 / 54. 23.100
  libavformat    54.  6.101 / 54.  6.101
  libavdevice    54.  0.100 / 54.  0.100
  libavfilter     2. 77.100 /  2. 77.100
  libswscale      2.  1.100 /  2.  1.100
  libswresample   0. 15.100 /  0. 15.100
  libpostproc    52.  0.100 / 52.  0.100
[mp3 @ 02bd1000] Header missing
[mpeg2video @ 01e0cb00] mpeg_decode_postinit() failure
    Last message repeated 7 times
[mpegts @ 01e0be20] max_analyze_duration 5000000 reached at 5016000
Input #0, mpegts, from 'csi.ts':
  Duration: 00:00:46.61, start: 14.737000, bitrate: 8185 kb/s
  Program 1
    Stream #0:0[0x1100]: Video: mpeg2video (Main) ([2][0][0][0] / 0x0002), yuv420p, 720x480 [SAR 8:9 DAR 4:3], 9000 kb/s
, 31.22 fps, 29.97 tbr, 90k tbn, 59.94 tbc
    Stream #0:1[0x1101]: Audio: mp2 ([4][0][0][0] / 0x0004), 48000 Hz, stereo, s16, 384 kb/s
[buffer @ 0313f0c0] w:720 h:480 pixfmt:yuv420p tb:1/90000 sar:8/9 sws_param:flags=2
[buffersink @ 0313f3e0] No opaque field provided
Output #0, mp4, to 'csi.mp4':
  Metadata:
    encoder         : Lavf54.6.101
    Stream #0:0: Video: mpeg4 ( [0][0][0] / 0x0020), yuv420p, 720x480 [SAR 8:9 DAR 4:3], q=2-31, 200 kb/s, 30k tbn, 29.9
7 tbc
Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (mpeg2video -> mpeg4)
Press [q] to stop, [?] for help
ac-tex damaged at 32 138.8 size=    2160kB time=00:00:45.91 bitrate= 385.4kbits/s dup=11 drop=0
[mpeg2video @ 01e0cb00] Warning MVs not available
[mpeg2video @ 01e0cb00] concealing 765 DC, 765 AC, 765 MV errors
frame= 1398 fps= 46 q=31.0 Lsize=    2232kB time=00:00:46.61 bitrate= 392.2kbits/s dup=12 drop=0
video:2219kB audio:0kB global headers:0kB muxing overhead 0.552200%

[Carl Eugen Hoyos]

Replying to ramitbhalla:

Summary of the bug: In FFMPEG setting the -bf flag to anything but 0 while using the mpeg4 codec creates video that's broken in WMP12/MCE playback.

Do you have any indication there is a bug in FFmpeg? Did you try other decoders?

[ramitb]

Actually if you use Bframes with libxvid or libx264 (replace the codec) it works fine. Only when I use mpeg4 it breaks WMP/MCE. Some players are able to play it back but WMP can't.