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What compression software??
Hey,
A while ago I purchased Sorenson Squeeze, however I noticed that all video on output was noticeably darker than the source material, especially on mp4 & m2v files. When I contacted Sorenson about this they said that this would be fixed in a patch. The next patch was released and the output was still darker. So I’m requesting a refund off them and I’ll purchase something else.
My most common exports are m2v files and flash video (flv) files, also quicktime and mpeg 1 I output to quite regularly. I found that compressor is OK but it’s pretty limited on what you can output to (no wmv, frame sizes are fixed on a lot of output options and you can’t change it).
Can someone suggest which is the best possible quailty compression software on the market? I’ve downloaded a Cleaner demo, is there any others that I should look into? I don’t think cleaner does flv files, but that’s not the end of the world – I can use the software that comes with flash for that.
Many thanks,
Phil
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6 Replies
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You might want to take a look at Episode from the Telestream people, now part of Flip4Mac. It’s good and fast.
All the best,
Tom
Author: “Final Cut Pro 5 Editing Essentials” and “Final Cut Express 2 Editing Workshop” Class on Demand “Complete Training for FCP5” and “Final Cut Express Made Easy” DVDs
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Squeeze has a pretty extensive filter set to tweak levels right where you want them.
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I’m a bit confused by your inability to apply image correction and filtration in Squeeze. The adjustments are right there. All compression/transcoding/encoding products have them.
Cleaner blows. It was once the standard against which all encoding apps were judged. Terran, Media 100, Discreet, a few other owners and now Autodesk have all let Cleaner languish while Telestream and Sorenson have blasted ahead.
bogiesan
This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”
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Well sure, using filters for correction is pretty easy, but I woould assume that the expectation for the use of filters is to change the picture from what you have, NOT returning it to what you have.
Why buy something that does more change than requested.
We have also notived this darkening but since we mostly compress for basic client approval, we tolerate the problem.
Though this isn’t always a viable option, I have found that having just one compression suite isn’t always enough. We use compressor for some things (H.264 and DVD) and Squeeze for others (web based QT, Flash etc)
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For me, Squeeze has to many variables which require the patience to correct for them, which I find I have to do a lot less with Episode and Compressor. In tests I’ve done, Squeeze m2v files pretty much suck without a lot of tweaking, where Compressor and Episode pretty much give me exactly what I put into them. I never use Squeeze for DVDs as a result. Files have a really weird chroma gain and a darker gamma shift which I hate. Not worth the trouble when the other two work so well right out of the start gate.
Don’t under estimate the power of Compressor, it is a really good tool.
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I have tried using the controls in Squeeze to try and regain the original picture, and sometimes it has worked OK and other times it has ended up giving me a washed out picture. I spent ages perfecting a pre-comress setting that pretty much matched my original (as good as I could get it considering that I’m matching images visually as opposed to a mechanical setting ensuring that unless I apply a filter it will already look like the original), and then I went to apply it to another codec and it looked completely terrible. Therefore I would have to create settings for each separate codec!! As mentioned by RB “expectation for the use of filters is to change the picture from what you have, NOT returning it to what you have”. I’ve got better things to do with my time than waste it fixing a picture back to what it should have been to start with!! And considering the amount I paid for the software….
I agree that Cleaner blows – I tried maximum setting for an MPEG 2 compression and I had major artifacting. Not happy! However thanks for the link to Episode – really happy with the interface, custom controls and the quality of the output. I’m going to put it through further testing but it seems the best so far. Does anyone know how well it handles HDV output?
Phil
Philip Johns
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