File sizes and quality

Clarity3

A series I downloaded from Paramount+ was in two parts as the episodes were released, the first five episodes then the remaining five episodes a month later.

The first five had file sizes from 8GB to 10GB, however the second five resulted in file sizes of 1GB to 2GB. When watching the resulting MKV episodes there is a marked difference in the video quality between the larger files and the smaller ones. The smaller ones create high pixelation in dark scenes sufficient to loose images.

Today, as a test, I downloaded episodes from the same series and the previous larger files are now 1GB to 2GB and the previous smaller files remain the same at 1GB to 2GB.

Does anyone know why this difference is occuring and whether it is possible to attain the higher quality file sizes?

Germania

Does anyone know why this difference is occuring and whether it is possible to attain the higher quality file sizes?
Clarity3

Both in H264 ? - Please name the title and used country

btw: There was changes at P+ a month ago - see here

Clarity3

Yes, both H264, Yellowstone season 5, UK.

Not sure what I am seeing in the post you linked.

Germania

> Not sure what I am seeing in the post you linked.

There were changes to the license requests a month ago ..
.. maybe they change more than this

Germania

I've currently no access to P+ in Europe ..
.. so I tried in Canada and after selecting s05e01+14 1080p i get only 720p for both

And both episodes require the new VMP (Verfied media path) .. the change a month ago

for example s05e01 is offered in 1920x1080 5727 kbps and I get only 1280x720 3828 Kbps
but this bit rates are only the info in mpd - the resulting 720p video is real 1029 kbps

If the result was better in the past ..
.. P+ switched from constant bit rate (CBR) to variable bit rate (VBR)

Clarity3

Thanks
I am uncertain about VMP - Is this a method to prevent downloading (other than streaming to view) and is this a feature for StreamFab engineers have yet to resolve?

Do you know ('insider information') if P+ have changed the bit rate method and why they would do that other than complaints about potential buffering with CBR

Germania

> I am uncertain about VMP - Is this a method to prevent downloading

This is one way of preventing an (easy to get) Android certificate (L3)
from being used to obtain a key for decryption - see also Protected_Media_Path

Since I have never paid for a P+ account myself (due to lack of use, only 7 trial days),
I also have no "insider information" and can't compare with old downloaded titles.

If I were you, I would try the P+ Channel on Amazon (here)

Clarity3

The Amazon route appears to be an Amazon payment method for a P+ subscription. It does not recognise an existing P+ subscription and without continuing with a payment I cannot see if it transfers to P+ or hosts the programme (I am reluctant to pay twice for the same subscription).

I have tried a few more downloads to compare with previous ones and I get a variation, some are the same (albeit with a few Kb difference and others much smaller) so it's unclear what might be happening.

0xFeedBeef

A series I downloaded from Paramount+ was in two parts as the episodes were released, the first five episodes then the remaining five episodes a month later.

The first five had file sizes from 8GB to 10GB, however the second five resulted in file sizes of 1GB to 2GB. When watching the resulting MKV episodes there is a marked difference in the video quality between the larger files and the smaller ones. The smaller ones create high pixelation in dark scenes sufficient to loose images.

Today, as a test, I downloaded episodes from the same series and the previous larger files are now 1GB to 2GB and the previous smaller files remain the same at 1GB to 2GB.

Does anyone know why this difference is occuring and whether it is possible to attain the higher quality file sizes?
Clarity3

Are you downloading from Paramount+ -proper or Para+ on Amazon? I don't recall the bitrates on Para+ -proper being that high, that being a reason why I never bothered to go for "vendor-direct" approach after experimenting; such rates are only attainable with CBR via Amazon, which is what (having checked) *cene use.

AGuyWithAComputer

Yellowstone is not on P+ here in the states, it's on Peacock. and currently the remainder of season 5 is only on paramount network.

That said, I've never seen anything from P+ with a result size of 8 to 10gb from a TV show. Not even sure Movies get that size.

Clarity3

Are you downloading from Paramount+ -proper or Para+ on Amazon? I don't recall the bitrates on Para+ -proper being that high, that being a reason why I never bothered to go for "vendor-direct" approach after experimenting; such rates are only attainable with CBR via Amazon, which is what (having checked) *cene use.
0xFeedBeef

Yes, Paramount+ 'proper'. Here in the UK it appears Paramount+ can be subscribed via Amazon but as I have a Prime membership I am reluctant to proceed with joining via Amazon, to see if it recognises my subscription and get automatically charged before I can halt the process.

That said, I've never seen anything from P+ with a result size of 8 to 10gb from a TV show. Not even sure Movies get that size.[/QUOTE]

It does seem odd the files are that large, although I have seen one or two films >7GB.

I am just disappointed the video qulity is so poor even though the download is indicated to 1080p

0xFeedBeef

Para+ -proper always had low bitrates, I tried it even with US (via Prime and -proper) and -proper was always lower bitrates than even cVBR on Prime, but you get a 7-day free trial via Prime UK, so that's 700 titles you can pull from them in that week... ;)

AGuyWithAComputer

I am just disappointed the video qulity is so poor even though the download is indicated to 1080p
Clarity3

1080 only refers to the resolution only. It has nothing to do with quality.

Most of what I have downloaded from P+ is around 1GB for a 45ish minute episode. I've never noticed anything in the blacks like what you are describing. In my old DVD rips sure, not in anything I've downloaded from P+.

It could even be something in your display that is failing. Or maybe you just have it too bright. Or maybe you have your color balance all of.

theresay

The Amazon route appears to be an Amazon payment method for a P+ subscription. It does not recognise an existing P+ subscription and without continuing with a payment I cannot see if it transfers to P+ or hosts the programme (I am reluctant to pay twice for the same subscription).

I have tried a few more downloads to compare with previous ones and I get a variation, some are the same (albeit with a few Kb difference and others much smaller) so it's unclear what might be happening.
Clarity3

Amazon will not "recognize" if you already have a Paramount+ account. Some providers who's also available on Amazon allow you to link your accounts but it has to be done manually, not automatic. Amazon offers a 7-day free trail so you try it out first. I'm in the U.S., Amazon usually have 2 to 3 promotions a year on channels (subscribe for a couple of months at a fraction of the original price), I usually wait for one of those promotions to subscribe to the Paramount Channel and download everything I want during the promotion period, then unsubscribe when the promotional period is about to expire.