-= Video =-

[Bruce]

What is the BEST program/codac (that spelled right?) /process to convert video to a 320x240 flash movie. Quality must be first rate.

[longedge]

I've not used it myself but I guess that Sorenson Squeeze will be in the running there from what I've heard.

I just use the flash video encoder but my requirements aren't very stringent. I stick with the highest resolution and bit rate that I can while editing and only re-size at the last moment.

I use Adobe Premiere Elements to edit and output the result and then re-encode with flash which I guess is really a 'no-no' but I don't have a way to edit and then encode directly to flv.

[eric_darling]

The best quality you can achieve in Flash as of today is H.264. So, you really need the best H.264 encoder, if quality is the predominant concern.

However, On2 has just recently announced a 40% improvement (http://flashspeaksactionscript.com/expect-up-to-40-improvements-with-on2-vp6/) in their VP6 professional codec's performance, which is much more applicable on older computers due to its backwards compatibility with Flash 8 as well as its lighter demand on the client's processor. In fact, with this news, I'm likely to continue using On2 for the foreseeable future, until processors catch up with the cycle demand that H.264 requires for smooth playback.

The VP6 professional codec plugs in to various compression/video programs, and Longedge is right about Sorenson Squeeze being one of them. However, it's overkill if all you want to do is smush your video into FLV files.

Check out On2's Flix range of products (http://flix.on2.com/). They have an exporter version for QuickTime enabled apps for $199 USD.

Bear in mind that you also should be focused on acquiring the highest possible quality images in the first place, and using the best transfer method/codec into your computer. You'll never be able to achieve great results if you don't start with great quality before attempting to compress your video.

[Bruce]

The best quality you can achieve in Flash as of today is H.264. So, you really need the best H.264 encoder, if quality is the predominant concern.

However, On2 has just recently announced a 40% improvement (http://flashspeaksactionscript.com/expect-up-to-40-improvements-with-on2-vp6/) in their VP6 professional codec's performance, which is much more applicable on older computers due to its backwards compatibility with Flash 8 as well as its lighter demand on the client's processor. In fact, with this news, I'm likely to continue using On2 for the foreseeable future, until processors catch up with the cycle demand that H.264 requires for smooth playback.

The VP6 professional codec plugs in to various compression/video programs, and Longedge is right about Sorenson Squeeze being one of them. However, it's overkill if all you want to do is smush your video into FLV files.

Check out On2's Flix range of products (http://flix.on2.com/). They have an exporter version for QuickTime enabled apps for $199 USD.

Bear in mind that you also should be focused on acquiring the highest possible quality images in the first place, and using the best transfer method/codec into your computer. You'll never be able to achieve great results if you don't start with great quality before attempting to compress your video.

Just the man I was waiting for! What would you suggest for the acquiring prosess? I am using Premeire Pro CS3 at the moment, alot of $ but...

[eric_darling]

Premiere Pro CS3 is great. What's your camera?

[yosik]

Jumping in...

Lighting conditions (bright, sometimes even flat).
Frame composition (as little details as possible)
Camera movements (as little as possible)

All these influence the quality of the compressed video.

Yossi

[Bruce]

Premiere Pro CS3 is great. What's your camera?

Sony HDR FX-1 (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=11038608)

[eric_darling]

That's good, Bruce. You'll be pleased to know that On2 VP6, in the latest update, now supports true HD resolutions (so shoot HD - you can always easily downconvert to SD if you need to!).

This is only the second codec (after H.264) to do that in any kind of reasonable quality at web-appropriate bitrates.

Of course, Yossi is absolutely right. It still takes a certain skill set to make video look right. You can hand anyone a computer with a word processor, but only a few out of a hundred folks can write their way out of a paper bag.

[AGRO]

Eric,
What would you recommend for a mac?

[Bruce]

Jumping in...

Lighting conditions (bright, sometimes even flat).
Frame composition (as little details as possible)
Camera movements (as little as possible)

All these influence the quality of the compressed video.

Yossi

Thanks bro, I can ALWAYS count you guys "the originals" here to have the insight. Gotta love this family. :yes

[eric_darling]

You can use anything that will recognize the On2 codec - just make sure you're using the newest version of the On2 VP6 Professional codec. That will open up 2-pass VBR options for FLV output, which are necessary to maximize quality at lower bitrates. I personally use Squeeze, but the upgrade to version 5 is looking steep for what it offers. I'm tempted to look at On2's own Flix Pro product for Mac myself ($299).

I've also considered Episode, but it's just out of my comfort zone price-wise.

[AGRO]

I am using Squeeze 4.5 now. I was going to ask you about upgrading to v5, but you answered that. I use the On2 codec. I need to make sure it is the newest one.

Thanks!