• Compression Techniques

  Bitrate 821 kbps – Video looks terrible. Advice?

  Posted by Jason Black on June 9, 2013 at 7:38 pm

  Hi, I have these specifications:

  VIDEO
  Codec: avc1 H.264
  Frame Size: 1280px X 720px
  Bitrate: 821kbps
  Frame Rate: 25

  AUDIO
  Codec: mp4a: MPEG-4 AAC LC
  Bitrate: 128kbps
  Channels: 2 (stereo)
  Sample Rate: 48KHz

  But the 821kbps for the video makes my movie look incredibly pixelated and practically unwatchable. I was using MPEG streamclip.

  Does anyone know how to go around this?

  I really need help ASAP!

  Craig Seeman replied 13 years, 2 months ago 2 Members · 3 Replies
• 3 Replies

• 

  Craig Seeman

  June 9, 2013 at 9:54 pm

  Data rate might be a little on the low side for that frame size depending on your content. Is there are reason you’re keeping in that low?
  Make sure both Multipass and B-Frames are selected.
  If you have x264 codec installed chose that.

  If you’re still not happy with the results and don’t have x264 installed than consider using Handbrake which does. x264 is much better at lower data rates than Apple’s H.264 which is being used by MPEGStreamclip. I may recommend using High Profile as well.
• 

  Jason Black

  June 10, 2013 at 12:47 am

  This are film festival specifications. The bitrate does seem low to me too.

  I’m downloading Handbrake. Forgive me. What does “High Profile” mean?
• 

  Craig Seeman

  June 10, 2013 at 3:06 pm

  High Profile, in layperson’s terms, is a setting that would improved the quality of an encode. Note that Apple’s encoders, Compressor, Quicktime, even MPEGStreamclip I believe which uses Apple’s H.264 (unless you have x264 installed and selected) doesn’t support this. Handbrake does support it, which uses x264.

  [Jason Black] “This are film festival specifications.”

  I’ve honestly never known any festival that had specs that low. Are you sure you’re not misinterpreting something?
  Not only is that data rate too low for live screening, it’s low for web use as well.
  Personally I’d question how “serious” a festival is presenting at that low a data rate.
  Seriously, check their specs. Check with them.

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