The MPEG Handbook, Second Edition [Hardcover]

John Watkinson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 024080578X | ISBN-13: 978-0240805788 | Publication Date: November 15, 2004 | Edition: 2

A complete, professional 'bible' on all aspects of audio and video compression using MPEG technology, including the MPEG-4 standard and, in this second edition, H-264. The clarity of explanation and depth of technical detail combine to make this book an essential and definitive reference work.

THE MPEG HANDBOOK is both a theoretical and practical treatment of the subject. Fundamental knowledge is provided alongside practical guidance on how to avoid pitfalls and poor quality. The often-neglected issues of reconstructing the signal timebase at the decoder and of synchronizing the signals in a multiplex are treated fully here.

Previously titled MPEG-2, the book is frequently revised to cover the latest applications of the technology.

* Benefit from John Watkinson's in-depth understanding of MPEG technology with explanations developed and proven in seminars presented worldwide.
* Comprehensive coverage of the main and latest standards--MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H-264.
* Learn how you can apply MPEG technology to achieve the best quality.
* Coverage of enabling technologies such as interpolation, motion estimation and transforms.
* An invaluable treatment of significant new extensions made available by MPEG-4, such as object coding, mesh coding and animation.
* Essential reading for those involved with the delivery of compressed audio, video, graphics and interactive capability over the Internet and broadband networks.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"As with all John Watkinson books, the present one is a classic example of an excellent engineering textbook. It deserves to be on the bookshelf of every broadcaster involved in new coding technologies." - EBU Technical Review

Reviews of the Previous Edition:
"No book can claim to be a definitive book on a given technology. Technologies develop too fast. This book, however, deserves to be acclaimed as the definitive book on general MPEG aspects." The EBU Technical Review

"...a thorough and very lucid introduction to audio and video compression. Through the use of simple, clear diagrams and some of the clearest technical writing I have come across, Watkinson makes the whole process look remarkably straightforward...an absorbing read for the curious, and a useful source of hard information for those with a professional interest."
Electronics Australia

Book Description

THE definitive book on general MPEG aspects!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 470 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 2 edition (November 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 024080578X
• ISBN-13: 978-0240805788
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #609,293 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing coverage of key topics, February 27, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: MPEG Handbook (Hardcover)

This book covers a broad range of topics, some relevant to video and audio coding, some not (e.g. digital filters, Fourier transform, phase locked loop !). Key topics such as motion estimation and compensation are not clearly described. The information on the MPEG standards is disappointing, by my reckoning less than 1/3 of the book actually deals with MPEG. There is no mention of MP4 profiles/levels or MP4 systems.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good for introduction of concepts and nomenclature .but ...., February 2, 2005

By 

Canadian Engineer - Ottawa (Kanata, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The MPEG Handbook, Second Edition (Hardcover)

The last 1/3 of the book serves as a good introduction to MPEG. All of the concepts and terminology definitions, can be found on the web, but it will take you days to find it all. This book is good if you want to save time looking thru useless web pages that may or may not be correct.

Worth the money? Depends on how valuable your time is.

The first 2/3's is mostly academic principles of sampling/transforms/compression. Engineering text book stuff.

Also, the book is very rough around the edges. Looks like a collection of stuff from different sources. The book jumps all over the place, and leaves things open ended at times.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Builds on scientific principles, includes audio, December 25, 2003

By 

Jonah Probell "Jonah Probell" (Silicon Valley & Boston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: MPEG Handbook (Hardcover)

Many video compression books start with a particular specification and then provide background to justify the decisions made in defining the specification. This book approaches video compression starting from scientific principles and building on those towards describing the decisions made in digital compression standards. It describes the history of common analog video formats and proceeds to a solid overview of the MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4 digital video compression formats.

Many video compression books completely disregard or gloss over audio. This one includes audio compression with the same complete treatment given to video. The book covers MPEG layer 1-3 audio, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AAC, and Dolby AC-3.

This book is complete, has no obvious typos, is logically organized, and contains many useful diagrams.