Best way to compress files?

I am converting my videos from tape and DVD to store on my Hard Drive. I will be playing them back on my TV and/or computer.
I am importing them into iMovie.
Any thoughts on best compression settings to export files that look good but don't take up massive amount of space? Video quality is more important to me than the space, though obviously I don't want to retain the full quality DV files.
I have already tried various combinations as QT files using High quality/Best quality settings. I noticed I am getting horizontal jaggy edges in some cases. I used the "sharpen" filter and the edges seemed to go away. Or was some other variable at work? Would de-interlace make a difference? Would a higher end editing program like FCP make a difference?
Just curious as to your thoughts. Thanks.

De-interlacing will get rid of the lines...
...took me years to figure that out...
you should have that option on most of the compression methods..
here's what i most commonly use...
Under Expert Settings:
Movie to Mpeg-4
...click on options...
File Format: Mp4
Video Format: H.264
Data Rate: 1500kbps (you can bump this up to 2000 if you want... beyond that there's not really a noticeable difference...)
Image Size: 640x480 VGA
(if you have a widescreen project then Preserve aspect ratio using: 'Letterbox' (give black lines at top and bottom) or 'Fit within Size')
Frame Rate: 30
Keyframe every 24 frames is fine.... for super high action, you can do a smaller number...
then hit ok, press save and then let it crunch through the numbers...
if you are having problems with lines in your video, you may want to use similar settings,
only save it as a quicktime movie... with mp4 or H.264 encoding... etc... and once you've chosen your settings, click the 'size' button underneath 'Video:' and select "De-interlace source video"
Good Luck!
-Nate

Similar Messages

What is the best way of compressing a large 3 hour final cut file

What is the best way of compressing a large 3 hour final cut file. I shot the play and it is in final cut and I rndered it so now I have a 22gb file that I need to put on a dvd . Any suggestions
Thanks
Macbook Pro
2.3 GHz Intel Core i7
with Final Cut Pro 7.0.3
using Lion as operating system

Presuming your menus aren't complicated(include audio or video) the total size for the MPG-2 and AC3 files should probably be under 8GB for a dual layer disk. The inspector will tell you the estimated size. 2-pass varible bit rate would be recommended.
Trying to fit 3 hours on a DVD-5 will only bring very noticable quality hits. Compressor will let you change the average bit rate so that you can fit 174 minutes but trade-off isn't worth it in my opinion.
Be aware that dual-layer -R and +R media may not play well for everyone everywhere.
I presume you are not making 1000 or more copies? If you were replication could solve this.
One other alternative would be to break-up the show into two parts and spread it across two DVD-5s.

Best way to compress wav files?

I have been recording lectures using my digital camera, and they come out in a wav format and like 200-300 MB for one hour of talking. That seems unecessarily huge. What is the best way to compress the files (maybe to mp3?) so that they are still decent enough quality to understand the speaking?

You can convert songs in your iTunes library to another format. When you convert a song in iTunes it will be converted to the format that you have set to import your CDs in. Converting creates a second copy of the song in the format you have chosen which gives you the opportunity to either keep or delete the original. If you are using iTunes 8 go to Edit>Preferences>General and click on Import Settings, change your option to MP3 for example. Go back to your library and highlight the songs you want to convert and go to the Advanced menu at the top of your iTunes window and choose "Create MP3 version": iTunes: How to convert a song to a different file format

What is the best way to compress a song?

What is the best way to compress a song to bring it into IMOVIE?

I assume you are referring to compressing the file size of the resultant song, rather than compressing the audio dynamic range of the tracks in the song.
GarageBand only outputs .AIFF files which are uncompressed 16-bit, 44.1KHz stereo audio.
As far as I know, there is no point in compressing the GarageBand song before importing it into iMovie, because iMovie uses the same format for audio internally as GarageBand does.
You can open a GarageBand song in iTunes and use iTunes to convert it to an MP3, but when you import that MP3 into iMovie it's going to up-sample the MP3 back into AIFF format anyway.

Best way to transfer files from old Macbook Pro to new one?

I just got a new Macbook Pro from Apple...YEEEEAAAHHHH!
So....
What's the best way to transfer files from old Macbook Pro to new one? I know Migration assistant, but is there a recommended way? I don't want to put do a system restore or transfer everything from the old laptop, but I do want to move important things like photos, music, documents and such over. Any suggestions on best way to do this?
Another question, perhaps subquestion. If I have, say, an older version of iPhoto but a newer version of one on my new Macbook Pro, will it still transfer photos no problem?
Just looking for hints from the experts so this puppy is set up in the best way possible.

Just one comment on this:
‘If I have, say, an older version of iPhoto but a newer version of one on my new Macbook Pro, will it still transfer photos no problem?’
the problems are ALWAYS in the reverse way, when you have the newest (or a newer) version of a given app, and wish to transfer its library to an older version.
Otherwise, see the link to Pondini.
I have been using Martin Jahn’s iBackup, with which I have become accustomed and works fine. It also makes daily backups. Its advantage over other apps is that you may add whatever you wish to save, beside its default settings (which you may delete or cancel, of course, even if not recommended); it also has a friendly interface and easily customizable. Of course, this is a personal view, you may try other methods as well, or other backup apps. All are good if you are satisfied and correspond to your needs.

What is the best way to transfer files from a Power PC G4 that has NO power? Thanks.

What is the best way to transfer files from a Power PC G4 that has NO power? I have a newer iMac. Thanks.

Remove the hard drive and get one of these USB hard drive adapters. http://tinyurl.com/a5l2htj Then plug the adapter into your iMac to see/retrieve the files.
 Cheers, Tom

[vmware] Best way to share files between host and client

Good afternoon!
I have successfully installed VMware server on my machine and set up a virtual machine, powering Windows XP for study issues (emulation via wine does not do the trick for me). The virtual machine runs fast and stable but does not meet my requirements unless I have two issues faced:
First:
How to access a USB pendrive monunted by the host system properly within the client?
Second:
What is the best way to share file system space between host and client? Should I set up a Samba share which is accessible for both host and client or is it save to grant my VM access to my physical hard disc as a whole (using it as a partition)?
Thanks for answers in advance, I have still quite a lot to learn, when it comes to VMs.
Regards,
~cg

Do not setup your VMware to be able to access your physical disk as a whole. This would have you mounting the filesystem twice, corrupting it in the process.
You /can/ setup VMware with Sharing Folders that lets you share your filesystem (either / or just /home or something else) and that is what I would recommend.
As for accessing the pen drive from both operating systems at once, I'd say use the same Sharing Folders method. I always share /mnt so that I can access my cdrom/USB/etc from the vmware OS.
The sharing folders is basically the same as a samba share, but uses vmware's own method (HGFS). Samba is more secure (if you are worried about your VMware OS breaking from it's shell and attacking your real filesystem, which is unlikely). You need the vmware tools installed to make use of it.

Whats the best way of sending files ?

whats the best way of sending files (mp3's) to another computer over the internet, been doing it over msn, but takes a while, is there any other way?

Have you thought of using an intermediary file server, e.g. yousendit.com, rapidshare.de, etc? Alternatively, you could do it the computer-to-computer route by enabling either 'Remote Login' or 'FTP Access' (Sharing preference pane) on one and connecting with the other.
As an aside, what you're doing isn't illegal, is it? Pardon my bluntness.
Yang

Best way to keep files on iMac and Powerbook in Sync

Best way to keep files on IMac and Macbook Pro in Sync

Hi ...
Using the Migration Assistant would be tedious and time consuming.
You can setup an iCloud account and sync your Macs since you have Lion installed on both. If you have iCloud enabled, if for example you add a bookmark in Safari, that bookmark will sync via your Wi-Fi network to the other Mac automatically.
Read here > Apple - iCloud - Learn how to set up iCloud on all your devices

Best way to move files to external drive in LR 5. Drag and drop or export, if drag and drop

Best way to move files to external drive in LR 5. Drag and drop or export, if drag and drop can I put all the dated folders into one single folder

Drag and drop should do the job. Or move the files (or folders) in your operating system and then re-link via http://www.computer-darkroom.com/lr2_find_folder/find-folder.htm
Yes, you can put all the dated folders into a single folder (but if you plan to do this, then don't try move the files using your operating system and re-link)
Export most definitely isn't the solution.

What is the best way to transfer files without iTunes?

Long story short, my computer died and I now do everything on my iPad. I am having trouble figuring out the best way of juggling files so I can print them though the school computers. I don't even know if I can email it as an attachment. Most of the files are from pages, keynote, or pictures. How do I store it so I can open it on another computer. I would like to use a flash drive but there is no USB port on the iPad.
Thanks for your help! I am new at this.

You can email the files. When you are in Pages - with the document open - tap the Wrench Icon (tools) in the upper right corner and tap on share and print - then tap email document in the next window. Your mail app will popup and you can email the file and save it to your school computer then open and print it. The process works the same in the photos app - select the photo - tap the arrow icon in the upper right - tap email photo. Keynote should work the same way - I don't have Keynote.
DropBox - as Rudegar explains would also work. You will have to download the app on the iPad and use it on the school computer as well - you can get a free account for up to 2GB from DropBox - but I don't know if the school will allow you to download the application on your computer. The application for the computer is free as well.

Best way to sync files on 2 different MacBook Pros?

i use 2 macbook pros. what is the best way to keep files - docs, pdfs, psds - synced on both computers?

An external hard drive that you move between the two computers. Keep all the active files you're working on on the external drive. At the end of each working session, save copies of them to the computer's internal drive before moving to the other computer for your next work session.

What is the best way to compress longer HD videos for the web

I am struggling with the best way to post HD, as well as SD videos to the web - Vimeo as well as YouTube sites. Some of my files are up to an hour long, and above.
I've tried mp4, H.264 compression, multi-pass, as well as ProRes in various settings. The files are either too small or too large. I have an stand-alone Flash encoder, but it seems to take an inordinate amount of time.
My computer only has a Duo Core - its the first Intel processor. Is it too slow to process these large Video files?
ANY advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Peter

as well as YouTube sites. Some of my files are up to an hour long, and above.
There are quite a few videos on YouTube that are up to 3 hours long. If you are having issues uploading long YouTube movies, have you contacted their tech support?
(10.6.3)
Use Software Update to update your os and anything else that needs to be updated.

What's the best way to move files from my old G3 to my new Intel DuoCore?

I just received my new Intel DuoCore 17" iMac. For years I have been using a much-loved G3 500 mHz iMac. The new Intel iMac is still in the box, but I believe it shipped with OS 10.4.4. The G3 runs 10.2.6. I have a dial-up connection to the Internet; currently DSL is not available in my neighborhood. What is the best way to move my files from the G3 to the Intel dc? Can I simply connect them with an Ethernet cable and transfer files directly? Or is my best bet to simply save the files I want to transfer to a disc and do it the old-fashioned way? Please forgive me in advance for my ignorance; although I have been a Mac user and supporter for many years, I am astonishingly ignorant when it comes to the best way to using both Mac hardward and software.
iMac Intel DuoCore Mac OS X (10.4.4)

There are two issues - 1. Getting the files moved over, and 2. Being able to open them on the Intel iMac.
1. This can be technically easy if you are willing to spend the time. I moved all my stuff from my old Mac to my new one by hooking the two together with an ethernet cable, directly. You would need both machines to have appropriate IP addresses. (go to the network preferences and pull down the built-in ethernet panel.) Some addresses such as 192.168.1.100 and 192.168.1.101 would work with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0) Now go to the new iMac and make sure the finder is selected (click on the desktop) and under the "GO" menu select "Connect to Server". You will need to put in the IP address of the old machine, and later it's administrative password. Then select its hard drive from the list (possibly only one choice) and it should appear as an icon on your iMac desktop. You can open this like any other drive and just drag items to the new iMac.
2. Whether you can use all the files moved over from the old G3 is difficult to answer. You may be using Classic mode sometimes on the G3 and have some stuff created with a Classic application. You are probably aware that the new Intel iMac does not support Classic mode, so some of these files may not be useable without a bit of work (or at all, perhaps.) For instance I had to purchase Appleworks to handle some of my old Clarisworks documents because Pages couldn't understand them. Once I had them converted to Appleworks documents, I could then convert them again to Pages documents.
I had some old MacDraw Pro documents that were equally problematic.
I would advise you to get the new iMac out of the box and connected to your dialup internet connection first. Do all the software updates until running software updater says there is nothing new. Then you will be at 10.4.7 with all the latest security and fixes etc. Then disconnect from the internet and use an ethernet cable to get the stuff off the old computer.
There will be lots more to do such as moving your mail, address box entries etc. later, but this is a start.

What is the best way to transfer files from Windows XP to a new MacBook Pro?

I am about to make the switch from PC to Mac, but I am not completely sure how I should transfer all of my old files (Word docs, PowerPoints, Excel Sheets, pictures, etc.) over to the new Mac. I read this article, http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4796, and it said to download Windows Migration Assistant. It says that a new user account will be created on the Mac containing all of the transferred material. I assume that I can just pull stuff from the newly created account and put it on the main or administrative account? Also, I assume that I can delete the created account after I get everything that I want off of it, but I am new to the whole Mac thing and assuming never gets anyone anywhere. One more thing, I do not want to transfer over my email accounts from Outlook because there is some kind of problem with the way they are set up. I want to just start them completely over in Mail. The article says that the program will automatically transfer over email accounts. Is there a way to avoid that or just transfer stuff manually? If anyone has transferred files this way before, I would really appreciate any insight you can give me. Thanks!

Best way would be NOT to use any sort of migration program, just copy the files over and place them in the same Music, Pictures, Documents folders on the Mac like it is on Windows.
All you need a external USB drive you can pick up at any office or computer store, I would advise powered and either the same size or larger (not too big) than your boot drive on the Mac. So later you can make a clone of OS X, as there is NO system restore on a Mac.
Most drives are formatted MBR with a FAT32 (named "MSDOS" in Apple's Disk Utility) and can be read on a Mac just as easily.
If for some reason your external drive has been already formatted by Windows into NTFS format, then a Mac can't read it without paying for more software and having to hassle with updates, it not working etc. So format the external drive FAT (FAT32) or even exFAT on the PC first (exFAT needs a free download from Microsoft on XP machines)
When you connect the drive, simply drag and drop your files right into the same folders, this way you can control what comes over and what stays.
If you want a free program that can open your Office files without having to pay for OfficeMac, then the free LibreOffice is available and works great.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16276201#16276201

Best way to compress files?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for