Encoding and playback of .flv files in embedded player

[Steve Brame]

Some more info would be handy, like

what settings you used to encode the FLV
what version of Flash player you have
what is your internet speed
are you playing from a commercial web server – or your own

My initial WAG would be that you encoded to a variable rate file, which will dynamically alternate between resolutions depending on ‘current’ bandwidth. Be advised that your supposed internet connection speed has NOTHING to do with your current bandwidth. If you are experiencing a slow connection, the file will play the lower resolution version of the video automatically. If the video is ‘choppy’, I’ll assume you to mean that it is intermittently stopping as the buffer empties and refills. This is a classic symptom of low bandwidth.

Steve Brame
creative illusions Productions

[Øivind Jensen]

Hello Steve,

Thank you very much for your swift reply – it is truly appreciated!

Here are the answers to your questions:

1. I used the following export settings in Adobe Premiere Pro:

Format: FLV
Preset: Various settings, but aiming for 720p, half size
Frame rate: Same as source
Render at Maximum Depth
Bitrate encoding: VBR
Encoding Passes: Two
Bitrate Level: Tried various settings here. Lower values did not help.
Set Key Frame Distance: Off
Simple Profile: Off
Undershot: 90%
Quality: Various
Use Maximum Render Quality: On
Use Frame Blending: On/Off

2. I only tested playback of the file locally on my computer. That is,
I used the «Preview in browser» feature in Adobe Dreamweaver. In other words,
I did not upload the file to the server yet.

3. I used the standard .flv feature of Adobe Dreamweaver to embed a flash player: The first line of code look like this:

object classid=”clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000″ width=”960″ height=”540″ id=”FLVPlayer”

In the above code, I tested with the desired size, however I also tested with smaller sizes: Same results: Choppy, choppy, choppy.

Please note that I don’t have problems embedding any player, including uploading it to website. It is the .flv video which is failing to play back correctly in the web browser.

4. I am using commercial hosting for my website, however this should not matter as all testing of the .flv issue has been done locally.

I have already uploaded a 40 MB + embedded WMV version of the movie to the website itself. No problems with that movie other than the size (!) and that no user will wait the 10-15 minutes it takes to download…

Once again, thank you.

[Steve Brame]

Might be posted on the wrong forum, as I really doubt that it’s Premiere’s encoding that is the issue. You may get more help on the Flash forum.

However, if the video plays well in Adobe Media Player, but fails to play well via the Flash Player via your browser, I’d suspect the Flash player. Mind you, Adobe Media Player, and Flash Player(which plays videos embedded in web pages), are two separate programs.

What happens when you view the video from your web server?

[Øivind Jensen] “no user will wait the 10-15 minutes it takes to download”

They shouldn’t have to. The days of waiting for videos to fully download before playing are long gone. If you’re playing them from a web, or HTTP server, you’ll be using ‘progressive download’, the same as YouTube.

Steve Brame
creative illusions Productions

[Øivind Jensen]

Hello again Steve,

I found the reason: The problem is not related to Adobe Premiere Pro, but to the .flv-player which can be automatically added from within Adobe Dreamweaver. Using the default player will simply not play back content appropriately. Using other open source .flv players works. Problem solved!

Thank you very much for your kind help.

[Marilenis Lee]

Hello Oivind,
I am having a similar problem with playing flv videos on my website. How did you solve it? What do you mean by flv open source players?

I realize that this is an old thread but am just hoping to find an answer..

Thanks,
Marilenis