workflow for h.264 /avchd files for the web

[Chris Tompkins]

If your compressing for the web. Why not make one of these file formats commonly used for web:

.wmv
.flv
.swf
.mpg

Make your frame size smaller, 15 fps

Do u have compression software other then Compressor? You’ll have much more control and options…

Chris Tompkins
Video Atlanta

[Jason Finnigan]

I’m pretty sure h.264 is pretty common for web.

I don’t think wmv is a format… it’s a wrapper (and I’m on a mac)

mpeg4 may work but it wouldn’t be hd then.. I’ll have to check the size..

no I don’t have other compression software compressor has plenty of options for me.

Thanks,
Jason

https://www.jasonfinnigan.com

[Chris Tompkins]

Ya, I’m on a MAC and most of our web deliveries are windows media.

.WMV

You can use the .264 codec with different formats.

I didn’t realize you wanted to upload HD video.
You’re going to be faced with a large file size if that’s the case.

Chris Tompkins
Video Atlanta

[Richard Keating]

264 in an .mp4 container seems to be the standard (whatever that means) at the moment, and it probably will be that way for the next little while until the HTML5 debate goes into full swing (if it already hasn’t). You are using compressor so this is not and option: Compressor only makes mp4’s with a MPEG-4 codec. But it does make mighty fine H264 files in a QuickTime (.mov) container.

As for your encode, here’s what I would do:

In Compressor apply the H264 preset (Settings>Formats>QuickTime>H264 QuickTime) to your file (I think you are already doing this). Select your file with newly applied preset and click the Inspector. Change the settings to these:

Click the Encoder Icon: Video: Settings:
Frame rate 30
Data rate: Restrict to: 2000 kbps
(This is the biggie. You want HD so you need to go large. 2000 kbps should net you a final file that’s in the neighborhood of 300MB. Drop this data rate if you want your file to be smaller, but you will sacrifice quality.)
Make it Two Pass

Audio: Settings: Target Bit Rate: 192 kbps

Click the Geometry Icon:
Dimensions:
Frame size: 1280×720
Pixel aspect: Square

That should do it. Keep in mind you have a 30 min HD video, so it’s still going to be big (As I said approx 300MB at my recommended settings – but considerably smaller than your current 10GB).

I recommend you just export 1 minute of your timeline first, and run it through compressor a few times while messing around with the video data rate. When you have found a data rate that can give you an image quality you can live with, encode the whole timeline with that setting.

Good luck.

Richard Keating
Editor, Co-Creator of ScreenLight
“Painless Video Review and Approval”
http://www.screenlight.tv

[Thomas Morter-laing]

Sounds good, and can we PLEASE STOP using the word WMV HERE!!! Tom’s campaign again the ultimately useless and old, inefficient codec/wrapper thing continues….

😀
Tom Morter-Laing
Certified Apple Product Proffessional, 2010
Degree; TV Production

iMac 27″ intel i7 2.93GHz, 12GB RAM, ATI HD5750 [1GB GDDR5], 2TB Int. SATA with 2TB External HDD; (FW800).

[Jason Finnigan]

Richard Keating, Thank you this is extactly what I was looking for..

and 300mb is nothing compared to 10GB

Thanks

Thomas Morter-Laing, my thoughts exactly!

Thanks,
Jason

https://www.jasonfinnigan.com

[Fatima Mojaddidy]

Hey Richard, thank you this is very helpful.

[Fatima Mojaddidy]

Hey Richard, thank you this is very helpful.