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Best format for high quality streaming video
Hi Everyone,
I’m finally getting my business website up and running and trying to decide what’s the best format to present my work on the web. I think I’d like to stick to quicktime (rather than flash) just because I think it will be higher quality (and alot easier to deal with) but I want to be sure that my windows-based corporate (potential) clients will be able to view the work without having to download quicktime.So my question is:
What compression should I employ to get decent quality and good compatibility?
Am I right to not do it flash?Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Bob -
14 Replies
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Personally I have not seen a windows computer in years that did not have quicktime on it. Because iTunes comes with quicktime everyone has it now.
Use H264
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I have had lots of clients that can’t read quicktimes.
Its still too soon to assume anyone can read quicktime with H.264.
If you want true compatability without question, encode it with Flash.
If you do it properly with a clean source it will look great
and nobody will have a problem getting it to play. -
True not everyone has quicktime, maybe it is just he type of people that I do work for. My Clients tend to be younger, and into music themselves, hence they all have iTunes & quicktime.
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Thanks borjis and zrb. My issue is that the people I’m trying to reach are corporate types who have wintel machines that have been set up by IT drones who don’t care about quicktime. Or at least that’s what I think they have. I’ve always sent clients crappy wmvs for review since I’m so concerned with not frustrating them with movies they can’t play. Do you guys know of any resource that can tell us what the installed base is like out there? Kind of a census…
Bob -
[BobP] “Do you guys know of any resource that can tell us what the installed base is like out there? Kind of a census…
Bob
“The only figure that isn’t a lie is Adobe’s: Everyone has Flash. Everyone.
Encoding for Flash is not a cakewalk, though. There are many products to do the job. google flash encoder. Get the free trial versions, try to figure out what roduct you want to use. Some will drop into QT, some are stand-alones, some enhance Adobe’s Flash own encoder products.
bogiesan
This is my standard sigfile so do not take it personally: “For crying out loud, read the freakin’ manual.”
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Flash penetration is over 98%. Check out Sorenson’s Squeeze for Flash. I think the current version is 4.5.
John
Dual 2.5 G5 4 gigs RAM OS 10.4.8 QT7.1.3
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Bob,
Not only do I direct and produce broadcast TV spots but I also host and produce a weekly video podcast about all the cool things to do in Indy. We have thought about going with a streaming server to use QT because the quality is so great. However, we deal with the exact same issues as you.
Our solution was to making it a “no-brainer” for everyone to watch our podcast. We have been using Sorenson Squeeze for the last year and a half. We output a large QT file usually anywhere from 1-2.5gb file and bring it into Squeeze. We have changed some of the standard settings and output as a .FLV. If you want to see the quality of the .FLV go to http://www.doingindy.com and check out our weekly videos. You will see that Squeeze does an incredible job and is worth the investment.
I hope that helps.
Seth
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
Thomas A. Edison -
Go with Flash! Squeeze does a great job. If your client don’t have the flash player it installs in less than a minute with no restart.
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We’ve found that the only thing that 100% of our corporate clients can play back with 100% reliability is MPEG1. Old horrible MPEG1.
The real problem is speakers… Dunno how many times we’ve had a client phone and say – “there’s no sound!” only to discover that there aren’t actually speakers connected to the machine they’re using.
And windows Vista Business edition which doesn’t come with a media player. That’s going to become a pain.
-Simmie
2 G5 – Kona LH
3 G4s – Cinewave
1 xbox360, 1 PSP, 1 PS2 & a Gamecube
https://www.speak.co.uk -
Thanks Guys,
Yeah, I’ve got squeeze and have used it a bit. I think I’ve got my answer, though I don’t know if I like it! Quality doesn’t always win, I guess…
Bob
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