more “universal” file format out of FCP?

[Ed Dooley]

But you run into the IT departments’ that don’t allow anyone to install anything on their computers. The only way
I use Flash is with the ON2VP6 codec, which requires Flash 8 to play it. Anything earlier looks like crap. I agree that h.264 looks better than even
the latest Flash.
Ed

[Bret Williams] “IMHO h.264 blows any flash codec away, but I find that too many people don’t have QT 7. And all a web browser can do is check for QT, but not a specific version. Whereas it’s easy to have a browser check the flash plugin and send the viewer there and install.”

[Bret Williams]

Yeah, I use Sorensen 3 on client sites all the time. Never had anyone not have the right qt for that. IF they don’t, they’re NOT your audience because there’s nothing on the web they can view. Sorensen 3 looks great if you know what you’re doing.

And guess what. Pretty much any of these codecs look roughly the same at 500kbps or more. (320×240) it’s when you are trying to do something silly like 300 (why do that?) or less with full stereo audio at 30 fps that they look junky. That may be a lot of folks issue. Are people trying to do 30fps? With 500kbps 15fps 320×240 just about anything looks good. And there’s no download delay either. I don’t wait for videos and I don’t expect anyone else to wait either. If it doesn’t start within 1 or 2 seconds, I’m gone.

[Bob Flood]

Hey

using compressor, do an mpeg 1 at 2.00 (or 1.75, whatever the highest bitrate is) make sure its 320 x240 and it will look great!

of course yu can do QT, but everyone we work with 1. has a pc Without QT, 2. doesnt have the saavy to download the right version, nor should they have to. and 3. has their machine behind some firewall that prevents downloads.

you can also do WMV, but now you need to have the right verions of that player.

same with flash.

we do our clients a service by getting them a clip that they can play with a minimum of fuss hence mpeg1.

and FWIW MPEG1 is fine quality for the average consumer ie client. its only we industry professionals who bemoan its low quality.

THis does not mean we do not provide assets in other flavors, we just use mpeg1 as a universal fallback.

our current preference for best quality is flash via squeeze (the ON2 compressor)

hope this helps

bee eph