Nero Adds CUDA to Accelerate Video Encoding

By Steve Seguin, published on March 3, 2009 at 8:50 PM
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: , , , ,
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Nero will soon support GPU-accelerated video encoding in its Nero Move it software.

During CeBIT 2009 this week, Nero announced that it will be providing a free update for users of its Nero Move it software that will add support for Nvidia's CUDA architecture. The addition of Nvidia CUDA technology will give systems that are equipped with a modern Nvidia GPU a massive boost in the speed of which the software performs video encoding.

"Nero Move it empowers users to take control of their video, music, and photo libraries. By utilizing Nvidia CUDA technology, and the subsequent accelerated video encoding time, we have made it even easier and faster for consumers to freely move their content between their mobile devices," said Charly Lippoth, CTO of Nero.

According to Nero, a task such as transcoding a high-definition video to an iPod compatible format will go from taking hours, down to taking just minutes.  Better yet, Nero states that there should be an even greater time savings seen when high-definition content is created using the H.264 video compression format standard.  With a growing number of digicams now supporting HD video recording, often in crazy non-standard formats, being able to quickly convert such HD video clips to a useful standard format would be great.

Unfortunately, although Nero was previewing the latest version of Nero Move it at CeBIT 2009, the update that will enable Nvidia CUDA support will not be released until April 2009. Furthermore, it does not seem like computer systems equipped with just an ATI- or Intel-based graphics solution will be benefiting from this update.  Older Nvidia graphics solutions that do not support Nvidia CUDA technology seem to also be out of luck with this update and users with entry-level Nvidia graphics solution may not see the same performance gains as systems with faster Nvidia GPUs.

The Nero Move it software supports a wide range of video, music and photos formats, as well as a long list of mobile media devices and online communities.  The software allows users to import, organize, convert, view and export digital media of virtually all format types and provides free updates when a new format becomes available.  The software is currently available online for as low as $29.99, although a 15-day trial is available for free.

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liemfukliang 03/04/2009 3:17 AM
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How about Nero Recode? Does it also support CUDA?

skittle 03/04/2009 3:51 AM
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No thanks, its already been proven that GPU accelerated encoders (The ATI encoder and Badaboom) suck.


Quote :a task such as transcoding a high-definition video to an iPod compatible format will go from taking hours, down to taking just minutes.


My Q6600 + x264 can already do this.

TheFace 03/04/2009 4:58 AM
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Thanks skittle for your insightful input. Programming for these GPUs in Brook+ or CUDA is difficult and still in early stages. Hence early encoders will not be all they have promised. That doesn't mean that an encoder developed by NERO, one of the foremost encoding/transcoding/decoding for video companies will be bad, but to take the news with a grain of salt is probably recommended. In other words, your flaming lacks anything insightful to have been worth the time to write it.

Personally, I am hopeful that they can take advantage of the GPU power in the encoding process. I hope that CUDA is just a first step and that they are moving on to OpenCL so that all (new) cards will eventually be supported.

Mr_Man 03/04/2009 5:04 AM
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[citation][nom][/nom]users with entry-level Nvidia graphics solution may not see the same performance gains as systems with faster Nvidia GPUs. [/citation]
Nah, you think?

LeJay 03/04/2009 9:55 AM
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skittle :
No thanks, its already been proven that GPU accelerated encoders (The ATI encoder and Badaboom) suck.My Q6600 + x264 can already do this.


No, it can't.

Harby 03/04/2009 1:02 PM
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skittle :
No thanks, its already been proven that GPU accelerated encoders (The ATI encoder and Badaboom) suck.



So you're saying that because 2 programs don't work that well the foundation sucks? I mean, all those programs (all 2 of them!) are clearly the pinnacle of CUDA evolution and will never be surpassed.

/sarcasm off

skittle 03/04/2009 1:32 PM
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Dark Shikari (one of the two main devs of x264) over on #x264 has been quoted many times saying that there are no real benefits of using the GPU.

Those encoders barely use the GPU anyway, the ATI encoder for example falls back on ffmpeg 90+% of the time.

The only real benefit GPUs have is in the decoding process, which if your encoding AVC->AVC helps alot. Let your GPU do the decoding (DGAVCindex/decode), and feed that to x264.

skittle 03/04/2009 1:36 PM
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LeJay :
No, it can't.



If I turn down x264 to the quality of the ATI/badaboom encoders I can easily achieve over 200fps. Thats roughly 10minutes for a 90 minute 23.97fps film.

Icester 03/04/2009 3:08 PM
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I think what skittles means is that so far all the GPU based encoders suck - at least for quality of output (a point that I don't think anyone can disagree with). It is very disappointing that none of the developers took the time to make better encoders, instead they have given the GPU encoder idea a pretty big, ugly black eye. I think more than anything is proved that taking advantage of the GPU for complex tasks is more difficult than initially anticipated.

I think everyone will remain skeptical until someone pulls it off and I do hope that Nero does it. I definitely _do_ think that it can be done. I am very surprised that it has taken this long and still no tangible results.

tenor77 03/04/2009 4:14 PM
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1. Bout time
2. Why isn't Nero standing on trial next to the Pirate Bay guys? I mean their software can be used to break the law right? Oh wait, that's right because they're not responsible for the actions of the end user. If only they applied this logic universally.

TheFace 03/04/2009 4:58 PM
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Really Skittle? You're going to attempt to continue and add to your line of reasoning that since 2 programs suck, and one guy said it won't work that the whole attempt at the gpu assisted decode is for nothing?

IBM in the 80s said that the home PC would never take off. They were as spot on as I believe you are.

jivdis1x 03/04/2009 7:08 PM
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tenor77 :
1. Bout time2. Why isn't Nero standing on trial next to the Pirate Bay guys? I mean their software can be used to break the law right? Oh wait, that's right because they're not responsible for the actions of the end user. If only they applied this logic universally.


nero software alone can't copy or transcode copyrighted materials. If that materials has some sort of protection build in with that media.
1. You can't rip the copyrighted media using nero software.
2. Nero will tell you the media is copyright and will not continue if it discovered that it's copyrighted.

skittle 03/04/2009 8:14 PM
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No, Its because GPUs are indisputably good at Floating Point Calcuations. However encoders use very very little FP calculations. Do you see the relationship there? Its very simple. You have fallen victim to false claims by the PR people.

Hop on to #x264 and bug dark shikari, or akupenguin if you want the gory details.

Anonymous 03/04/2009 10:47 PM
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Youare such a smart guy Skittles that you don't have a clue. If u use a softer to encode/decode you belive you know what is all about. Or that you know what CUD is... so you are victim of stupidity.

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