Bitrate 821 kbps – Video looks terrible. Advice?

[Craig Seeman]

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]

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]

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.