Compressing HDV for web distribution

My source material is 1080i HDV captured on Sony HD1000 (PAL) camera.
This I've imported into FCP to make a 3 min movie with additional music.
My aim - good quality movie with a small file size
My best result after countless attempts is 22MB, up to 800kbps, with 640 x 360 dimensions following suggestions (below) to get me into the general ballpark.
http://www.larryjordan.biz/articles/bkcompresshdv.html
This I did from Final Cut: File>Export>Using Quicktime Conversion - the only thing I changed from suggestions in link was to increase data rate, 300 kbps produced poor results for me.
I've tried the different presets (and with numerous adjustments) in Compressor 3.5 but so far I've not managed satisfactory results. (From Download, QT7 Folder)
So wondered if anybody had any suggestions to produce good quality movies with a small file size from HDV 1080i source?

Thanks for reply
I edited in HDV 1080/50
I've tried sending directly to Compressor but when I submit any H.264 preset I get a 'failed' message.
I've tried sample editing with a Quicktime Movie of around 600MB in Compressor - it works with this - but with unsatisfactory results (so far)
As I said my best result was to bypass compressor and go with QuickTime Conversion.
I suppose by 'small' I'm wondering if 22MB/800kbps/640x360 (3 mins) is still quite large if, for eg, the movie is delivered to a client web site - I haven't got that far yet.
I didn't actually use the term 'good looking' but not surprisingly I'm concerned with retaining as much quality as possible with such file size reduction - not sure how else to define this. I'm relatively happy with the quality at 22MB - I've just done a series of test shots so far but in future will use a tripod, manual focus and limited or no transitions to hopefully aid the compression process.

Similar Messages

Compressing video for web

My friend from Australia is trying to convert a trailer for web streaming but is having troubles with the format. We filmed the videos in Nashville and then he edited the trailer in Australia but every time he sends me a copy it's pixelated... Any suggestions on what settings he should be using on the compressor?
Thanks,
Sheyla

Quality is directly related to "bandwidth" (Data Rate). How much you need is directly dependent on video size. You can usually get very good quality with 8Mbps (8000 Kbps) for 1080/30p. Exceptional quality would be in the 20Mbps + range (FCPX exports H.264 at 40+ Mbps and some higher end DSLRs and video cameras produce H.264 in that range as well.) For 720p, you can reduce that bandwidth down to about 5-6Mbps; 480p down to about 1.2Mbps. If you have high contrast fast moving scenes, you will need more bandwidth in order to avoid jpeg artifacts (blocky images.)
If you're posting videos on a "service" like YouTube or Vimeo, you should investigate their encoding specifications. For instance, a couple years ago, the maximum bandwidth supported by YouTube for 1080 video (doesn't matter the frame rate or interlaced/progressive -- just the maximum they allowed) was 5Mbps. They increased that to 8Mbps. The trick with these services is: if you encode the video with HIGHER bandwidth than they allow, they will encode that video again downwards to the limit. You never, ever want this condition to happen. There are other encoding options that should be adhered to as well:
Key Frames: Automatic
Frame Reordering: OFF!
Optimized for Streaming (makes a difference!)
Encoding: Best Quality (always use multi-pass)
(if you use these options, then you can set the Data Rate to 9400 kbits/sec -- it will almost always come under the 8Mbps limit)
Sound: MPEG-4 AAC Low Delay 48KHz bitrate 128 - 320 kbps
Check: Prepare for Internet Streaming and select Fast Start
YouTube will leave your upload alone

Compressing file for web

Hey, can anyone please advise me about the best way/program settings ect to use when compressing a file for the web. Specifically for preview and download purposes on sites like youtube and facebook.
Thanx
Stephan

Thanx
I want the file to be about 15mb in size. I've done the project in hd, and its about 5 minutes long...
Thanx
S

Compressing HDV for youtube

Hello,
I am wondering if anyone has any experience with compressing original 1080i HDV video for youtube. What compression gives the best results?
Thank you,
Cheers

This may help: http://www.kenstone.net/fcphomepage/you_tube_reduxgary.html
-DH

Compressing movies for web use

I have just finished a movie which is now about 6 gb. I do not have a .mac or iweb account. I am looking to upload this on youtube or myspace. However, it needs to be down to about 100 mb.
How can I convert this to a wv format or anything of lower quality??
thanks.

III. hand for iSquint...
have a look in its options:
1) select "for TV"… that generates an mpeg4 ("iPod" generates h264)
2) push Quality slider to the far right, max... click expert options (my user interface is German, correct?)
3) youtube.com requires 320x240
4) bitrate & fps: you reduce the final file size with that; and you set the quality.. NTSC has 30fps, but 15fps cuts the size in half... but movements aren't as smooth...
for publishing that files on your own site, 500-700 kB/s result excellent quality, 200kB/s still acceptable 8depends on content & your personal threshhold)...
my experience with youtube.com: it adds ALLWAYS compression artifacts... no sense to go beyond 300-400 kB/sec
5) you should choose deinterlace
and you can spare some MB by reducing audio quality, I do use 60kB/sec, 22050HZ, mono...
to give you an impression of resulting quality, watch both demo movies on my HowDidYouDoTHAT website (some tricks with iMovie...), in the section Filmstrip ... my demos are .mac hosted, the YouTube demo was uploaded and is on my website embedded...
30minutes... long movie.. for webuse...

Compressing video for web HTML5

When I'd create a video intro for a website, I used to export to the FLV format, but since Apple's made it clear that Flash isn't going to be supported, what is the preferred way (compression format) to deliver video that will play universally on everybody's browser/hardware? I keep hearing about HTML5, but how does one create a file format to comply with that language? Is there a Compressor preset I should be using?

H.264 is probably the codec of choice for the near future.
H.264 Is A Codec, Flash Is A Platform: One Can't Kill Off The Other
HTML5 Video

Optimizing / compressing video for web with Quicktime

I have a ~70mb (3 minutes long) m4v video that I need to get to a much more reasonable file size for playing on a site that will primarily be accessed via iPad.
I don't know if it matters, but the video will need to play automatically upon page load.
I've read through a few tutorials for doing this with Quicktime, however I think I'm missing something..
From the Export pop-up menu, there should seemingly be an option to choose "Movie to QuickTime Movie." I have only 480p and iPod/iPhone/iPad options(which I believe would result in a viewing frame that is too small).
How can I proceed with web-optimizing this file in Quicktime? (Or is there a better solution? I tried Sorenson Squeeze, but that had a large watermark..)

I have a ~70mb (3 minutes long) m4v video that I need to get to a much more reasonable file size for playing on a site that will primarily be accessed via iPad.
File size is directly proportional to the combined total data rate of your file. If you want a smaller file, then you need to reduce the audio + video data rate of the file. Unfortunately, overly reducing the data rate can adversely affect the audio/video quality of the file. Depending on the encode settings (data rate, encode matrix dimensions, display dimensions, entropy option, intra/inter frame options, number of encode passes, etc.), user tolerance for minimum quality level, the specific target ISP speeds required, application to be used, etc., the possibilities are relatively endless. Basically, the file you describe above has a combined total data rate on the order of 3.1 Mbps. Such a data rate might be considered low for a full 1080p file, adequate for a 720p file, or excessive for a VGA file depending on the graphic complexity of the file. In short, it is difficult to properly answer your question without additional information or actually seeing the file in question. (I.e., proper encoding of content is as much an art as a science.)
I don't know if it matters, but the video will need to play automatically upon page load.
It may matter depending on how the web site is coded and/or how the content is to be accessed by the target iPad device.
From the Export pop-up menu, there should seemingly be an option to choose "Movie to QuickTime Movie." I have only 480p and iPod/iPhone/iPad options(which I believe would result in a viewing frame that is too small).
The option and tutorial you reference require the use of QT 7 Pro which the option you reference sounds nore like a QT X player export option. (Once, again, what you can do will depend on the software you are trying to use to create your file and a 480p file could normally be anything from an 853x480 (16:9 aspect) file to a 640x480 (4:3 aspect) file or an anamorphic 720x480 file displaying in either the 16:9 or 4:3 aspect. So I really don't know what you consider a "small" viewing frame.
How can I proceed with web-optimizing this file in Quicktime? (Or is there a better solution? I tried Sorenson Squeeze, but that had a large watermark..)
As previously mentioned, there are many applications that can be used here—QT 7 Pro, MPEG Streamclip, QT X, HandBrake, etc. to name just a few. I personally would recommend the free HandBrake app since it offers both manual and automatic preset options, as well as, allowing you to create anamorphic or non-anamorphic encodes targeting either a fixed level of quality or a target file size depening on your needs. Unfortunately, the more options you have, the more decisions you need to make which means the more you need to critically analyze your target needs/requirements—which is frequently something many video users are trying to avoid.
Basically, if you want more specific advice, you will first have to better define your specific needs here.

Compressing HDV for SD DVD

I am cutting a HDV project shot at 1080i60
I want to send it through compressor 2 to DVD studio Pro for a standard definition DVD. What is the best way to do this so I don't get a jittery picture.
Also I have been asked to output a master to MiniDV. When I convert to DVCPRO/NTSC I also get a jittery Picture. Is there a good setting for this as well?
MARK
I am using FCP 5.1.4
Compressor 2.3
DVD Studio Pro 4.1.2

Hi:
Check this site: Bonsai’s HDV to DVD page.
A lot of people reported good results with that workflow (I'm in the SD side yet!)
Hope that helps!
Alberto

Few questions on exporting out with fce 3.5 for web distribution

Hello I have been trolling here for a few months reading up on things and I know my way around a search pretty well I have gotten some of these answers from reading but id like to have my own thread so I can keep it all in one place...
First..
I run websites that need video's for surfers to be able to view.. these videos are in length from 20 min to 1 hour or longer... now I have figured out that when I render with the h.264 out sorry fce calls it export... I choose the quicktime setting of lan and it seems to be about right for what im used to in high quality from rendering out with pinnacle studio for a wmv or an mpeg.. now heres where I get confused with fce
I see there is a wmv setting to export to.. but when I do it.. it only exports a bit of it...
now these are the formats I want for video...
.mov
.wmv
.mpg
I have compressor but I have no idea on the settings in there and can't find what I need
in those formats I would like to have a
high
med
low
as far as quality go's
can someone help me out so my life is easier please... in fact I have 50 bucks via paypal if I can get someone get my settings down right maybe even in compressor so I just have to edit... this part always messes with my head when it comes down to render out...
there has to be some editors on here that know excatly what im talking about without having to say it on here... if you want to chat in private you can email me chris (at) themibcorp (dot) com I will give you my ichat name from there maybe you can help me and ill help you with some paypal
I want the video to play on all forms of computers..
our's and the other kind.. LOL

This isn't something someone can decide for you. It's up to you ti make up your mind. Either will do the job. If you want to spend the time to experiment with settings to better suit your media and you know what you're doing and want to spend the money get the more expensive version. If you'll be happy to use the basic presets based on average media and file sizes then get the cheaper version.

I need to import a dvd to compressor to re encode for web distribution HELP

When I tried, only the video as the audio seems to be embedded. How can I encode a DVD to and Mpeg4 file with the audio?
Thank you all in advance.
I also have FCP HD

Try using Handbrake. It's a free download app that works well. It will allow you to convert the dvd to an mpg file.
k

Exporting for Web VS exporting for DVD

So here's the story:
I am pretty familiar with exporting my movies for the web and stuff like compression, etc but I was just asked to burn some of my movies for DVD distribution. As stupid as I am, I sent those guys the files that I use for web distribution and of course I get a reply that goes something like this: "This isn't DVD quality. We need the full movie file, highest quality/bit rate, frame rate, de-interlaced versions of the movie."
Can someone help me understand what that means??
If I were to export the movie uncompressed I might as well give up right now. It's all HD. I won't be able to fit even one of my movie files on the biggest hard drive.
Does anyone know what "the highest quality/bit rate, frame rate" etc. means? I feel like a retard right now.
Thanks for your help!

Assuming you are using Final Cut Express, your best bet is to create a master DVD and have a good service provider duplicate the disk.
In FCE, do the following:
Make sure everything is rendered:
*Sequence > Render All > Both*
*Sequence > Render Only > Mixdown*
Then save your project.
Export to QuickTime Movie (not QuickTime Conversion)
UNcheck the option called "Make Movie Self-Contained"
Check the option to Include chapter markers (if you have chapter markers in your sequence)
Save
Then import the resulting QT reference movie into iDVD and build your DVD project. Burn the finished project to disk and give it to the duplicators.
If that's not acceptable to them then you should
1) find another duplication house that will do the work or
2) get the exact specifications from them as to what they require; if this is the case you will probably need to get an external hard drive that you can use to save the project for them.
What is the exact nature of your source video? HDV? AVCHD? Something else? Do you have mixed formats in your sequence?

Is there a way to "center" video for DVD distribution?

This may be a long story so hear me out...
For the past year or so, after every great sports win by my alma mater Michigan State University I make a highlight video for web distribution. My workflow for doing so goes like this:
1. Record straight to DVD from Tivo or live TV using Panasonic ES10 recorder
2. Extract clips using Cinematize (uncompressed full quality setting, automatic adjustment 640x480)
3. Import clips into Final Cut Pro and edit
4. Export full quality uncompressed Quicktime
5. Export H.264 for web viewing
Well this work has found the attention of someone in the East Lansing (where MSU is) city council. They would like me to throw together a short little video to be played at bars in East Lansing after the MSU mens basketball tournament games.
I have done a few tests simply taking the uncompressed Final Cut exports and making a DVD in iDVD out of them. The results, while OK, aren't the best. I'm thinking there isn't much I can do there because I'm not working with the best source material (going through a number of compressions - Tivo, DVD recorder, iDVD, etc).
But one thing I did notice though is my fancy iDVD created menu looked pretty slick with the video scaled down. The video was crisp and clear.
Is there a way to scale my video down so that it doesn't play full screen? Almost doing a 4-sided letterbox. I'm envisioning the video scaled down, centered on the TV.

Yes, I think I understand what you want to do...
You can scale the video down or up to pretty much any size you would want to use;
When your video is in the timeline, double click it, and it will open in one of the video preview windows (I belive its called the "viewer" window), for me on my dual screen, its the one on the left;
A few tabs will appear at the top of the the Viewer window, Video, Filters and Motion; Click on the motion Tab...
When there the video will disappear a time line where keyframes live will appear, since you have not used key frames in this clip for motion, there will not be any there;
You will see to the left of this a few pull downs, Basic Motion, Crop, Distort, Opacity, Drop Shadow and Time Remap;
When you have the basic Motion twisty selected, you will see, Scale, Rotation, Center and Anchor Point;
The one your interested in for what I belive you wan to do is Scale. You can click in the box that defaults to 100 (meaning 100 percent) and change this to anything you want.
By changing it this once it will make the entire clip play at that new scale. You can get creative and keyframe it over time using the little diamond shape button with the right and left arrow on each side. You can add a key frame at any point int he time line; and it will scale (in this case) to each setting you have set a key for. It interpolates the scale at each point in the time line when you set different scales etc... you can fiddle with this and get some good ideas for other projects if you want;
For what I belive you asked for, no key frame is required as you want it to start and finish att he same reduced scale.
I trust this helps you out, and hopefully I read your question correctly;
p.s. if you leave the Center at 0, and 0 it will be centred, but its important to note you can use that to chance the position of the video in the video frame, again not needed for your request - but handy to know....
tk

Can i batch process/save for web various images to the same exact KB size? not just the quality perc

Hello,
I have a batch of 500 jpg images all in different sizes 732 KB, 634 KB, 664 KB etc... I need to compress / save for web down to 130 KB the entire batch.
I've managed to create an action which compresses them lower than 130 KB at different sizes depending on how light or dark the images are, but still not to an exact number. Is there a way to create such an action or script?
I'm working off of Photoshop CS5, iMac 10.5.8
thank you for time,

Thank you for your response eartho, I have a client which needs them at that size for their site.
I figure i'll compress them as close as possible to 130 KB, but when I automate the batch resize certain images don't fall under 130 KB which is forcing me to go through the entire batch and look for those, and thus compress them individually.

Low quality QT movie when compressing for web

I am exporting HDV footage from FCP and trying to compress it for the web. However, have not found settings that give me similar quality to what you see on say the Apple Trailers. Any suggested settings to give a high quality compression?
Mark

Apple trailers are usually done by experts using H.264.It's not complicated but getting excellent compression is a dark art. You make uncomfortable tradeoffs by sacrificing one element, such as frame rate, for image size. This often requires carefully planning the trailer's content to take full advantage of the codec's abilities.
Start by investigating the codec in the manuals for FCP and searching Apple's site for more info on H.264. The results can be unexpectedly stunning. But you also must consider your audience's online accessibility to the clip. It can be very large.
bogiesan

HDV converting for web

For the last year I've shot HDV downconverted to Anamorphic 16:9 SD in camera in FCP and then output the files for iphones/ipad. The resolution output is 480x270 in M4v (ipod format). This has looked pretty good.
Now, I've got FCP 7 and a new Power mac and I finally want to edit and export in HD!
The website i'm uploading to currently has the space for QT files @ 480x270.
Question is: If I capture and edit in HDV at the 1080i, If I export the file out @ 480x270 will the file still be HD? In other words, will the file have HD quality (twice pixels) in the limited space? I'd like my videos to utilize the better pixel count but don't know if that's possible while restricting the output size.
Any comments or suggestions to take advantage of HD for web videos? I've seen smaller HD videos on sites like youtube, just not sure how they went about exporting.
Thanks a million guys!
-Mike
Ok, I'm still learning and I'd love some comments from you experts out there!

There are a lot of factors that come to play with HD. It's not just frame size, it's frame rate, GOP formats, compression schemes, color space, the list goes on.
When it comes to SD, DV is a cheap, highly compressed, bottom of the barrel format. It can look pretty decent if you just edit it. But as soon as you start adding any filters, transitions, effects, graphics, etc., the quality starts to crumble and fall apart.
HDV is the HD equivalent of DV, only worse. Think about it this way. If you capture 60 minutes of 720x480 DV, the file will be about 13GB. If you capture 60 minutes of 1440x1080 HDV, the file will be about 13GB. What? How are they the same size when there is supposedly 4x the resolution? The compression and GOP format throw that information out before it even hits the tape.
FCP will allow you to convert HDV to ProRes on the fly as you capture via FW. You can't Log & Capture, it's Capture Now only, but it's worth it.
Now, onto the other stuff. The effects, filters, graphics. Why do these look worse in an HDV sequence than a ProRes sequence? Because of the color space of HDV. There's a bare minimum of color and luminance information in the HDV format. So when you start playing with it, there's no room to breath and it just falls apart.
Your footage itself will not improve in quality by using ProRes. The things you add to it will. Same goes for your DV sequences. If you work in an SD ProRes sequence, your graphics and effects will look better there, too.

Compressing HDV for web distribution

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for