Camera Bit Rate for the Web

K

Ken1212

Well-known member
My cameras shoot AVCHD in different bit rates, highest being 24mbps, can I use a lower bit rate without sacrificing resolution if footage is intended for the web. I usually compress to H.264 10mbps during export before uploading to the web. Most of the cameras I am using have about 4gb file limit and if I am recording more than 25 minutes in 1080P the camera automatically starts a new clip and end up with continuity and sound problems. This is primarily a problem with one camera shoot. So since I am uploading 10mbps, can I for example shoot at about 16mbps and still get the same quality as the 24mbps for the web?
 
Film at the highest rate and quality your camera can provide.

Use your NLE movie "exporter" to produce a movie to the spec you require.

24mbps can not give you the quality that 24mbps can but thats not the way to look at this. Source capture quality is "king".
 
Totally agree. It's easy to lower the bit rate in post, but there's nothing you can do to raise it - well, sure, you can tell your encoder to use a higher bit rate, but that's pretty pointless if your input data is at a lower rate, no encoder can magically improve the data :)
 
+1

Because:
* Even if it looks the same at first, once you start pushing the image in post, the difference can become obvious.
* Memory cards are cheap.
* You may want to upload your videos again with better quality in the future.

Also, bitrate is not all: the 24 Mbps of the C100 is a lot more robust than the 50 Mbps of the 5D2. Like, night and day. But if you're talking about different settings in one specific camera, then yes, the higher bitrate option is usually the one with the best IQ, and that's what you want.


Edit: the last project I shot used a BMC; we shot uncompressed RAW, which measures up at 912 Mbps without audio; the final result will be uploaded to vimeo.
 
Last edited:
Thank you guys, my Panasonic HMC80 camera has a 4gb file limit and in post I was getting more than one clip if my shot is longer than 27 minutes at 1080/p highest quality. I was importing the clips instead of the folder from SD to drive and that kept the clip separated which caused lose of frames and disruption in continuity. Now it's not an issue since importing the whole folder with the metadata stitched those clips into one continues cohesive clip. Thanks again.
 
As others have said shoot at the highest bit rate and then produce a lower bit rate for upload, I shoot AVCHD at 1080i 24 mbs but drop it down to 5mbs or even 1.5 mbs for delivery. Even my HPX shooting at 100mbs is dropped down to the same rates.
 
Yeah, like others have said. Shoot highest quality possible then, export at a low bitrate. Vimeo is like 5 and YT 8 I think.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top