[FFmpeg-user] Errors and artefacts when decoding a .h264 file from security camera

[Robert Krüger]

Hi,

I have a security camera file that gives me decoding errors which are very
likely the reason for several macroblocks being broken in the resulting
video (by far not all, you can still recognize the motive).

Are there any command line flags I can try to fix this or shall I submit a
trac ticket with the file?

Thanks,
Robert

Command line and output:

~/src/FFmpeg/ffmpeg -i file0000.h264 -c:v mpeg4 -q 1 file0000-transcoded.mov
ffmpeg version N-98974-g2a19232c19 Copyright (c) 2000-2020 the FFmpeg
developers
  built with Apple clang version 11.0.0 (clang-1100.0.33.17)
  configuration: --enable-libkvazaar --enable-gpl --enable-libx264
--enable-libx265
  libavutil      56. 58.100 / 56. 58.100
  libavcodec     58.101.101 / 58.101.101
  libavformat    58. 51.101 / 58. 51.101
  libavdevice    58. 11.101 / 58. 11.101
  libavfilter     7. 87.100 /  7. 87.100
  libswscale      5.  8.100 /  5.  8.100
  libswresample   3.  8.100 /  3.  8.100
  libpostproc    55.  8.100 / 55.  8.100
[h264 @ 0x7fb2b0009400] Increasing reorder buffer to 1
[h264 @ 0x7fb2b0009400] Increasing reorder buffer to 2
[h264 @ 0x7fb2b0009400] Increasing reorder buffer to 4
Input #0, h264, from 'file0000.h264':
  Duration: N/A, bitrate: N/A
    Stream #0:0: Video: h264 (High), yuvj420p(pc, bt709, progressive),
1280x720, 25 fps, 25 tbr, 1200k tbn, 50 tbc
File 'file0000-transcoded.mov' already exists. Overwrite? [y/N] y
Stream mapping:
  Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (h264 (native) -> mpeg4 (native))
Press [q] to stop, [?] for help
[swscaler @ 0x7fb260f00000] deprecated pixel format used, make sure you did
set range correctly
Output #0, mov, to 'file0000-transcoded.mov':
  Metadata:
    encoder         : Lavf58.51.101
    Stream #0:0: Video: mpeg4 (mp4v / 0x7634706D), yuv420p, 1280x720,
q=2-31, 200 kb/s, 25 fps, 12800 tbn, 25 tbc
    Metadata:
      encoder         : Lavc58.101.101 mpeg4
    Side data:
      cpb: bitrate max/min/avg: 0/0/200000 buffer size: 0 vbv_delay: N/A
[h264 @ 0x7fb2ae80ee00] Invalid NAL unit 0, skipping.
[h264 @ 0x7fb2ae823000] Invalid NAL unit 0, skipping.
[h264 @ 0x7fb2ae810600] A non-intra slice in an IDR NAL
unit.trate=3503.0kbits/s speed=17.9x
[h264 @ 0x7fb2ae810600] decode_slice_header error
[h264 @ 0x7fb2ae80ca00] A non-intra slice in an IDR NAL unit.
[h264 @ 0x7fb2ae80ca00] decode_slice_header error
[h264 @ 0x7fb2ae80f400] Invalid NAL unit 0, skipping.
[h264 @ 0x7fb2ae80c400] Invalid NAL unit 0, skipping.
[h264 @ 0x7fb2ae80ca00] A non-intra slice in an IDR NAL
unit.trate=3498.9kbits/s speed=19.1x
[h264 @ 0x7fb2ae80ca00] decode_slice_header error
[NULL @ 0x7fb2b0009400] sps_id 32 out of range
[h264 @ 0x7fb2ae80f400] Invalid NAL unit 0, skipping.
[NULL @ 0x7fb2b0009400] sps_id 32 out of range
[h264 @ 0x7fb2ae80c400] Invalid NAL unit 0, skipping.
[NULL @ 0x7fb2b0009400] pps_id 3199971767 out of range8.44
bitrate=3480.9kbits/s speed=19.4x
[h264 @ 0x7fb2ae80f400] Invalid NAL unit 0, skipping.
[NULL @ 0x7fb2b0009400] pps_id 3199971767 out of range
[h264 @ 0x7fb2ae80c400] Invalid NAL unit 0, skipping.
[NULL @ 0x7fb2b0009400] too many reference frames 32:08.40
bitrate=3495.3kbits/s speed=19.5x
[h264 @ 0x7fb2ae823000] too many reference frames 32
    Last message repeated 2 times
frame= 2014 fps=490 q=1.0 Lsize=   34484kB time=00:01:20.52
bitrate=3508.3kbits/s speed=19.6x
video:34474kB audio:0kB subtitle:0kB other streams:0kB global headers:0kB
muxing overhead: 0.028308%