Best Codec for Web Sharing?

[Shawn Storm]

Hi Folks,

Forgive me if this has already been discussed. I am a total novice when it comes to video and I just started delving into the video realm (although I have been doing photography for 12 years). I have a GH1 on order and I hope to start doing short films and music videos. One thing I have never been able to figure out is the best way to export video for sharing on the web.

I am sure the answer isn't simple so let me narrow it a bit. I have played a little bit with video in the past and I can never seem to export a decent looking video that isn't unreasonably large. I have been checking out the movie trailers on Apple.com and one example is they managed to get a 2min14sec trailer in 480p (848x480) to be 24 megs with perfect image quality. They seem to use H.264 w/ AAC 44.1 kHz stereo sound, 23.98 fps and 1740 kbit/s data rate. How do they manage to get the trailers to be so flawless yet decently sized? And why 23.98 fps instead of 24?

Anyways, I suppose I should be reading a book or taking a class instead of asking novice questions on here, but I figured I would give it a shot anyways. Thanks in advance for helping me to learn. Give me a year and I guarantee I won't be asking newbie questions. :)

-shawn-

[Jack Daniel Stanley]

Hi Folks,
...They seem to use H.264 w/ AAC 44.1 kHz stereo sound, 23.98 fps and 1740 kbit/s data rate. How do they manage to get the trailers to be so flawless yet decently sized? And why 23.98 fps instead of 24?

"use H.264 w/ AAC 44.1 kHz stereo sound, 23.98 fps and 1740 kbit/s data rate"
is your answer.
for VIMEO, do the same but up your data rate to 5 or 6k.

H.264 is the secret. The rest is settings. You've deciphered the Apple trailer settings. You'll get the same results using H.264 with those settings.

If you're using FCP, output your full quality master from your timeline. Drag your full quality master into compressor. Grab the LAN STREAMING preset under WEB workflows. Open the QT settings, make sure DOUBLE PASS for best quality is selected, and then tweak your data flow rate. I think the LAN preset is 1100 kbits/second. I usually up that to 1300. Best bet though is use VIMEO. Make a file that's 1280X720 with 3k to 6k kbits/second. Upload. Let them worry about the size.

23.98 is because there's no such thing as 24p in video. It's actually 23.976. Your trying to space out 24 frames over 60 interlaced fields (59.97) actually per second and that's the best guess as to how it divides. It all stems from to do with the rate of electricity in the U.S. All video remains "over 60" because cameras and NLE's still work with 60i (among other things) and all tape is based on a 60i stream, so to keep things compatible, etc. etc,

[Shawn Storm]

"use H.264 w/ AAC 44.1 kHz stereo sound,
H.264 is the secret. The rest is settings. You've deciphered the Apple trailer settings. You'll get the same results using H.264 with those settings.

If you're using FCP, output your full quality master from your timeline. Drag your full quality master into compressor. Grab the LAN STREAMING preset under WEB workflows. Open the QT settings, make sure DOUBLE PASS for best quality is selected, and then tweak your data flow rate. I think the LAN preset is 1100 kbits/second. I usually up that to 1300. Best bet though is use VIMEO. Make a file that's 1280X720 with 3k to 6k kbits/second. Upload. Let them worry about the size.


Thanks much for info! I am planning on getting FCE (can't afford FCP), but unfortunately am currently using iMovie and QT Pro. I will definitely look into getting a Vimeo account as it sounds like they make it easy. :)

Obviously there is lots to learn in the video realm! I'm looking forward to understanding it all better.

-shawn-

[Ben_B]

Can easily get a free vimeo account.

[Shawn Storm]

Can easily get a free vimeo account.

Ya - I figured that out pretty quick. :)

I also found a number of simple tutorials on Vimeo of exactly how to export video for optimum quality.

-shawn-