[Craig Seeman]

Mac supported Players for .mkv
https://www.matroska.org/downloads/others.html

Windows supported Players
https://www.matroska.org/downloads/windows.html

Apparently the only tool on the Mac that can extract the file is made by them.
Look for link next to OS 10.4
https://www.bunkus.org/videotools/mkvtoolnix/downloads.html

[Craig Seeman]

[DigMeSource] “Why is it that all the video on the web is typically 320:240?”
That’s not my experience of the web these days. Just take a look at Apple’s movie trailers. Take a look at the Flash video on CNN’s site.

One chooses frame size and data rate (and codec too) based on what you want/believe the typical viewer to have as far as internet connection speed and decoding ability.

320×240 along with “appropriate” data rate because it is a reasonable size for slower DSL speeds but that’s VERY subjective.

Your “grain” is your target. I have no problem going 480×360 at about 800kbps (may depend on actual content) in my neck of the woods because DSL speeds is typically 1500-3000kbps and Cable Modem 5000-30,000kbps.

Some areas have 384kbps and 768kbps as typical lower end DSL speeds and you make frame size and data rate lower accordingly. In such areas or targets, it’s not uncommon to use 320×240 at data rates of 200-500kbps.

Many folks choosing 320×240 may also be relying on the presets in their encoding software since they don’t understand why one might set different sizes and data rates.

If you want or need broadest reach you may make several frame sizes/data rates (and codecs).

[Craig Seeman]

Ty,

I do think craigslist requires a different type of marketing and sales then one might use in other mediums, in order for it to work.

It might be worth starting another thread on how to market on craigslist. And still another thread on how craigslist has affected some portion of the industry. All this so we can learn to use craigslist as a tool (and like any tool it’s not on size fits all).

[Craig Seeman]

Start by shooting on 35mm film. Probably compressed with On2VP6 although I’m not sure at what high data rate.

[Craig Seeman]

Looks like any number of things can be wrapped in .mkv

https://www.matroska.org/technical/specs/codecid/index.html

[Craig Seeman]

Their site only shows VLC and MPlayer. Just for the heck of it I’d try MPEGStreamclip. I’ve also found MPEGStreamclip Beta to play things the previous release couldn’t. I’ve never run into an .mkv file myself. If you can play it in VLC or MPlayer maybe SnapZProX can actually capture the playback itslef.
https://www.matroska.org/downloads/others.html

[Craig Seeman]

If it’s your demo reel the first step I’d recommend is using your source material rather than an MPEG2 (already heavily compressed) source.

You’re going to get much better quality (at a given data rate) if you use On2 VP6. You’re not getting that with Visual Hub for sure. There’s On2 Flix or Squeeze and Episode with the VP6 add on also.

Just curious, but if it’s your demo and you want to sell your services/work/show the best quality, why such a file size limit? I’m usually more concerned with the data rate and appropriate frame size for it.

[Craig Seeman]

as a Mac user, you might want to consider Episode. It’ll work as a standalone or as a plugin for Compressor 3. I haven’t pushed it above 25mbps but I believe it can hit 50mbps.

[Craig Seeman]

I’m not sure I fully understand your workflow. In this case is it the After Effects work coming last? Is it edited material you’re getting? At this stage is all that done and you’re now just acting as compressionist?

As After Effects person you might want to deliver in Animation or a higher quality video codec. You might consider 8 or 10 bit Uncompressed or, if there are other limitations, even DVCPro 50.

If you’re receiving edited material to work on ask that they edit in 8 or 10 bit uncompressed or DVCPro50.

Are they taking your nice graphics work and mashing it into DVCAM? Ugh is right. Even if their source is DV/DVCAM they can work in a better quality codec to preserve the graphics and give you a better source for final encode. The only reason I can see for them working in DV/DVCAM is they either have system limitations or convenience is more important than quality. Generally though most systems that can handle DVCAM should be able to handle the bump in resources to use DVCPro50.

[Craig Seeman]

That data rate is kinda low if you’re targeting a large frame size.

IMHO the FIRST thing anybody needs to do before compressing anything to anything else is . . . KNOW YOUR TARGET.

Basically you need to know HOW the viewer will be viewing the results of your work.
From dial-up to desktop capability, you need to examine that.