Apple ProRes to Flash: best workflow

[Daniel Low]

Where did you get 480×384? It’s neither 4:3 or 16:9.
Why no deinterlace? Was it shot progressive?

If it wasn’t shot progressive then you really should deinterlace.
480×384 will distort the picture – try 448×336 (ideal) or 480×360

[Alessio Gemma]

Thanks Danny for your reply.
Well, I start from a timeline, PAL CCIR 601 720×576 25fps 4:3 and I export in a self-contained movie with Apple ProRes 422 HQ codec.
Then I add the exported clip in the Flash 8 Encoder and I apply the settings I wrote in the first post.
Well, I used 480×384 because I need a width of 480px to perfectly fit a dedicated space in a web space: when I reduce from 720 to 480 (and the “mantain aspect ratio” box is checked) it automatically set the height to 384px….
I set a bitrate of 800Kbps and a keyframe every 12 frame (the clip has very fast changements).. but I obtain an awful clip!! Instead, doing the same with H.264 encoder, I obtain a very good clip.
This’s the issue…
Regards,
Alessio

[Daniel Low]

Try the settings I first gave:

720×576 is non-square pixel material. Flash is always square pixel so if you need 480 wide Flash then the output should be 480×360 (480/1.33 = 360).

PAL is normally interlaced, so deinterlace for the output.

Try a less frequent keyframe setting – too many keyframes can hurt quality sometimes.

Make sure you are using the VP6 codec

[Alessio Gemma]

Ok, I tried your settings and.. wow! It works!
You were right, now the quality of the FLV clips it’s very good.
Just one thing: I saw th “encode alpha channel” option in the Flash 8 compressor video settings.
I know that you use alpha channel in a video clip when the colour depth is 32bit.. so, when I have to check/uncheck it?
Anyway, I really thank you Danny.
Best regards,
Alessio

[Daniel Low]

Ok, I tried your settings and.. wow! It works!

Phew, at least my job is safe, for a while! 😉

You do not need to encode the alpha channel, so uncheck the box.