How are you compressing your film to down 50MB?

[Richard J. Johnson]

I use FCP with Compressor but I can't get my twilightfest film down to 50MB and the audio is not attached to the video file. I have tried 60min high quality encode so far. When I export using QT the file is 1.27 gigs. Any help would be appreciated. I am fairly new to Commpressor as well. And it is not HD.

[Jack Daniel Stanley]

60 min high quality is a DVD setting

You need to look for the H.264 settings or Web settings.

[Richard J. Johnson]

60 min high quality is a DVD setting

You need to look for the H.264 settings or Web settings.

Please excuse my noobness on compression. I tried using Quicktimemovie, I then changed the settings to h.264 best quality and it brought 1.25 gigs to 387MB. There a lot of settings I can't figure out which one to use to preserve the quality. It is frustrating because some of these take a long time to do and is still too big.

[HuckLBerry]

Use H.264 and calculate your required bitrate based on the length of the film. You can always get the filesize down to what you need.

Example:

50 megabytes = 51,200 kilobytes
4 minute film = 240 seconds

51,200 / 240 = 213.3 kilobytes per second for video and audio

If you're using 96 kilobytes in your audio stream (use aac 96kb) leaves you with 117 kilobytes per second for video.

Don't forget to look at the resize frame options and choose the best quality options for scaling if you're changing from your native resolution. Also consider dropping the frame rate too?

[Richard J. Johnson]

Use H.264 and calculate your required bitrate based on the length of the film. You can always get the filesize down to what you need.

Example:

50 megabytes = 51,200 kilobytes
4 minute film = 240 seconds

51,200 / 240 = 213.3 kilobytes per second for video and audio

If you're using 96 kilobytes in your audio stream (use aac 96kb) leaves you with 117 kilobytes per second for video.

Don't forget to look at the resize frame options and choose the best quality options for scaling if you're changing from your native resolution. Also consider dropping the frame rate too?

Thank you. I wish I understood what you just said:). When I get home I will use this to try to figure it out. Could I take the 387MB file and compress it again? I need to get foresight to 50MB and I have to get a 9 minute corporate video from 1.2 gigs to 100MB. Thanks for the reply Learning is beautiful thing. but I might PM you.:beer:

[Dick Campbell]

Here'a a recipe: Export using QT Compressor; select BROADBAND HIGH (or MEDIUM) from the pulldown; in Options select H.264 and your custom aspect ratio.

[Zim]

. File>Export
2. Format > Movie to Quicktime Movie
3. Click on "Options button"
4. Click on "Settings"
5. Compression settings>Use H.264
6. Frame Rate> Set your frame rate.
7. Key Frames > I find Automatic works best.
8. Check "Frame Reordering"
9. Data Rate. Check "Restrict to" and start with a figure of about 970 kbits/sec. If your final file is too small or too large (e.g. for the DVXuser fest 50MB limit), this is the number you make smaller or larger in subsequent exports until you get it right.
10 Quality slider> Best
11. Encoding> Best Quality (Multi Pass)
12. Hit OK
13. Filters> you needn't touch this, unless you want to make some last minute adjustments to contrast, brightness etc. The H.264 is a b*stard for making films appear lighter/more washed out. The best way to counter this is to hit this Filters button, go into Adjustments>ColorSync and then play around with the source and destination profile settings until you find one that suits you. You can always use your mac system monitor preferences to create a new profile if you need to. The main thing to play around with here is the gamma.
14. Size> NTSC 720 x 486 4:3. If you have used widescreen, go to custom setting and put 720 x 405 (I actually prefer 720 x 404 - which is divisible by four and might just make a quality difference, don't know). If you are not satisfied with the quality you may want to try a smaller setting (in proportion of course)
15. Hit OK
16. Hit "Sound Settings" Button
17. Format> I use AAC
16. Channels> Stereo (L/R) unless you used Mono sound.
17. Rate>48.000 kHz (or 32.000 kHz if this is what you used, see above).
18. Check "Show Advanced settings"
19. Render Settings, Quality> Best
20. Encoding Strategy> Average Bit Rate
21. Target Bit Rate> 128 kbps
22. Hit OK
23. Make sure Video and Sound checkboxes are checked. Uncheck "Prepare for Internet Streaming"
21. Export your video

You should now have a decent quality video of around 50 MB. If necessary, re-export from Quicktime Pro changing the Restricted Data Rate (see #9 above) until you get the optimal file size.

[Kyle Stebbins]

Filthrich-

Judging by your sig I'd think you would have a good grasp on something as simple as compression.

Zim-

Great rundown. You really took your time to go into that kind of detail.

I'll follow your guidelines when I run mine through QT Pro.

[Zim]

I forgot to give Horncastle the credit for that. He gave me that the last fest. I saved it because it was such a good help for me I knew someone else would need it.

[Richard J. Johnson]

Filthrich-

Judging by your sig I'd think you would have a good grasp on something as simple as compression.

Zim-

Great rundown. You really took your time to go into that kind of detail.

I'll follow your guidelines when I run mine through QT Pro.

You think Zim's rundown is simple? :huh: Compression is not my area of expertise. But I can change a diaper in like 4 seconds. Try that buddy.:beer:

[Richard J. Johnson]

I forgot to give Horncastle the credit for that. He gave me that the last fest. I saved it because it was such a good help for me I knew someone else would need it.

And I did. Thank you.

[Zim]

It is not mine either. But do about 900 and ACC for sound and that really cuts it down.

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

You think Zim's rundown is simple? :huh: Compression is not my area of expertise. But I can change a diaper in like 4 seconds. Try that buddy.:beer:I can do both. :)

Seriously though, following Horncastle's list that Zim posted is quite simple. Just read it and follow it one step at a time. It's all there.

Any problems, just post them here.

Good luck!

Mike

[Richard J. Johnson]

Lol. Thanks, I will.

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Lol. Thanks, I will.Good luck! :thumbup:

[Horncastle]

I forgot to give Horncastle the credit for that. He gave me that the last fest. I saved it because it was such a good help for me I knew someone else would need it.

Thanks for that credit Zim!

In case it's of use to anyone, here is a pdf I made up and posted in another thread. It's longer than Zim's version above but may be useful to someone (including PAL users).
Jason

[Kyle Stebbins]

You think Zim's rundown is simple? :huh: Compression is not my area of expertise. But I can change a diaper in like 4 seconds. Try that buddy.:beer:

Haha! Touche!

Didn't mean to make that as sarcastic as it came out. :)

[Richard J. Johnson]

Haha! Touche!

Didn't mean to make that as sarcastic as it came out. :)

I know. You seem like a cool dude. :beer:

[King Cole]

Zim and Horncastle,
I'm pretty familiar with compression, but I also want to thank you for taking the time to post that. It will be very much appreciated come compression time.

JC

[Richard J. Johnson]

I got the movie down to 48MB but I am having 2 issues. I shot the movie in 16:9 and when it is done converting it is stretched out and looks crazy. And I am getting these interlaced line things every time someone moves. So I tried it using 4:3 and the aspect ratio looks right but those lines are even worse. Then when I get rid of the lines, there are black bars around the entire movie, Like it is too small for the viewer. I put it 720X405, 720X402, and a few others but it keeps stretching the image and losing quality. I tried different data rate changes as well. 970, 960,940 etc. I guess my question is why am I getting those lines and why can't I get it stay in widescreen and maintain the quality?

[Nathan Beaman]

Your frame size should be divisible by 16. Mpeg codecs use macroblock sizes of 16x16 so if you use odd sizes that don't divide into 16 you will end up with a glitch or line somewhere in your video - usually the bottom - in an effort by the encoder to fill in the missing parts of the macroblock.

[Robbie Comeau]

14. Size> NTSC 720 x 486 4:3. If you have used widescreen, go to custom setting and put 720 x 405 (I actually prefer 720 x 404 - which is divisible by four and might just make a quality difference, don't know). If you are not satisfied with the quality you may want to try a smaller setting (in proportion of course)


Zim,

I shoot 24pA SQUEEZE on the DVX.

When I export that type of footage, I export the size as 854 x 480. Not 720 x 404.

854 x 480 makes it bigger. Is 720 x 404 a setting you use for TRUE widescreen?

Cause I know the DVX, 16:9, SQUEEZE mode isn't really "true" widescreen.

Robbie

[Richard J. Johnson]

I was having all types of problems getting it right. I finally de-interlaced the footage and used some crazy size And it came out really nice. then i missed something in the edit and had to export again and forgot what settings i used. it took like 5 hours to get it right again. But its right dammit :) compression is an artform in itself.

[armisiano]

I'm using Adobe Premiere Pro, and can't seem to figure out how to export this properly. I've tried quick time at h.264, and it's still about half a gig. Are all the videos going to be like 320x240 or something? Because I seem to remember them being larger when I watched the time fest entries. Bottom line, please help. I'd hate to not be able to submit my film because of my technological confusion.

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

I'm using Adobe Premiere Pro, and can't seem to figure out how to export this properly. I've tried quick time at h.264, and it's still about half a gig. Are all the videos going to be like 320x240 or something? Because I seem to remember them being larger when I watched the time fest entries. Bottom line, please help. I'd hate to not be able to submit my film because of my technological confusion.
Get QT Pro and follow the steps in this thread. It's only $20 or $30 bucks and it works!:thumbup:

[armisiano]

Get QT Pro and follow the steps in this thread. It's only $20 or $30 bucks and it works!:thumbup:

Any methods that WON'T cost an unemployed young man more money? If not, fine, but I must ask.

[Michael Anthony Horrigan]

Any methods that WON'T cost an unemployed young man more money? If not, fine, but I must ask.
Good point. I don't know.
How small have you managed to make it? Can you get it under 500MB?

If you can upload it to Vimeo (make it private) and check the option to allow someone (who knows the password) to download the high quality version... I would be happy to compress it for you.

There's probably another way though. Still, I would be happy to do it.

Mike

[armisiano]

Good point. I don't know.
How small have you managed to make it? Can you get it under 500MB?

If you can upload it to Vimeo (make it private) and check the option to allow someone (who knows the password) to download the high quality version... I would be happy to compress it for you.

There's probably another way though. Still, I would be happy to do it.

Mike

If it gets to that point, I will keep this in mind. Thanks a lot.

[Simon Höfer]

Use H.264 and calculate your required bitrate based on the length of the film. You can always get the filesize down to what you need.

Example:

50 megabytes = 51,200 kilobytes
4 minute film = 240 seconds

51,200 / 240 = 213.3 kilobytes per second for video and audio

If you're using 96 kilobytes in your audio stream (use aac 96kb) leaves you with 117 kilobytes per second for video.

Don't forget to look at the resize frame options and choose the best quality options for scaling if you're changing from your native resolution. Also consider dropping the frame rate too?

Actually the audio stream should be 96kbit/s, not kbyte/s. That are 12kbyte. So of those 213.3kilobytes are 201.3 kilobytes for video and 12 kilobytes for Audio.

But talking in kilobytes is kinda unfortunate, because the preferences are always in kbit/s.

Ok, to clear things up a bit, here an example for a 6 minute film:

50 megabytes = 51,200 kilobytes = 409,600kbit
6 minute film = 360 seconds

409,600 / 360 = 1137,78 kilobit per second (kbit/s) for video and audio.

If you're using 96 kbit/s in your audio stream (use aac 96kb) leaves you with 1041kbit/s kilobytes per second for video.

So the 970kbit/s for video suggested from jason actually make sense :) It could even be a little bit more (depending on you audio settings), but with this value you are safe!

[mjjason]

Anyone know what the best way to export and compress via Adobe Premiere Pro CS3? I exported as Microsoft AVI but the compression was horrible and the aspect ration was wrong. I shot 720 24PN but it looks squeezed.

Anyone have any good suggestions on how to export out of Adobe? I can use Quicktime pro to compress down to a sub 50mb .h264 file I just need to get something good before that step.

[Adam Beck]

Good Question, I too have CS3.

[armisiano]

Anyone know what the best way to export and compress via Adobe Premiere Pro CS3? I exported as Microsoft AVI but the compression was horrible and the aspect ration was wrong. I shot 720 24PN but it looks squeezed.

Anyone have any good suggestions on how to export out of Adobe? I can use Quicktime pro to compress down to a sub 50mb .h264 file I just need to get something good before that step.

Sorry, I've had nothing but trouble. You can read about it if you're interested here: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=150745
(http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?t=150745)