[David Green]

Ok thanks for the help. I’m assuming this means there’s no easy way to do it, in an easy interface window where I can enter the different fields that are in the log and transfer window (for example: notes, scene, take, good checkbox). You’re saying I’ll have to rename each file individually in the browser, by then scrolling right (in list view) to the other fields to enter such info?

It all has to be done by hand now, in other words?

Thanks again.

[David Green]

Thanks Daniel.

After reading through the chapter, I gathered quite a bit of information about encoding a MPEG-4 pt. 2 mp4 file. Just for a test, I tried running an output based on the suggested settings, and found the same crispy / blocky / slightly washed out results. Just like you said, MPEG-4 pt. 2 is not what I should aim for.

But do you know how I can achieve an MPEG-4 pt. 10 file that has an mp4 file extension? Or, as you said above, an MP4 file that uses the H.263 codec? And just to clarify, why is it H.263, and not H.264 that I should be aiming for?

Sorry if I might be missing something here. Thanks again for your help and patience.

[David Green]

Thanks for your responses guys.

Long story short, I have a Quicktime file that I’m very happy with. Looks great, plays smoothly. It’s an H.264 .mov file that’s about 1500kbps bitrate. The size is 640×360. It’s hosted on my website.

After reading this article: https://provideocoalition.com/index.php/webvideo/story/encoding_web_video_in_the_age_of_the_iphone/P2/ I’ve decided that I would rather host an mp4 file on my website, instead of an mov file, because mp4 files are compatible with iPhone playback…and they are supposed to look great.

I’m using Compressor to re-encode my master HD file into a mp4.

My question is:

How do I make an MP4 file that looks just as good as my H.264 encoded, beauty of a Quicktime file that I described above? According to the article, just changing the file extension from MOV to MP4 won’t cut it.

In Compressor 3, when I change the file type to “H.264 for Apple Devices” all of my compression options change. Certain options are greyed out, certain options just don’t exist. I can set the bitrate to approximately be the same as I did with my Quicktime beauty, but other options just aren’t available.

What this means is a compromise in quality. When I compare my compressed MOV h.264 file (described above) to the “h.264 for Apple Devices” (iPod / iPhone VGA setting, with mp4 typed in as the file extension), it seems that the mp4 is brighter, shows more blocky pixel artifacts, and the color appears less smooth than with the mov file.

Just for reference, both the mov file and the mp4 file are the same size….and both are encoded with H.264.

So my question is: how do I make an mp4 that looks just as good as an mov? Or, does the mp4 format mean a slight compromise in quality?

[David Green]

I think my last question was a little confusing.

What I meant to say was, how do you create a MOV and an MP4 with the exact same compression settings? At least in Compressor, when you change the file wrapper from Quicktime to mp4, it greys out a lot of the compression settings, presenting you with a whole new group of settings.

I’ve tried to match as many of the settings as possible — but some of the same options can’t be selected. Therefore, the comparison between MP4 and MOV isn’t an equal comparison…..

Does this make sense?

Is there another program that I can use to get the same settings for both MOV and MP4?

Thanks again

Dave

[David Green]

Hi Ed,

I am viewing them both in quicktime.

Could it have something to do with Compressor 3?

When I change the wrapper type from mov to mp4, a lot of the compression settings get greyed out, and I don’t have the same control over the image as I do with the mov file….

Thanks for your help

David