My comparasin protocol:
Flip4Mac
Exporting directly out of Final Cut File>Export>Using QuickTime conversion
Compression Master 3
Exporting out of Final Cut File>Export>QuickTime File
Then importing that uncompressed file into Compression master and then exporting it out of the standalone software. I do actually have the option to do a two-pass in both compression master and Flip4Mac, and I tried it and it still didn’t look any better. I’ve got screen shots side by side from the exact settings, and Flip4Mac is SO much better. The compression master clip has huge squares throughout. I’ve tried adjusting the smoothness, sharpness, and no filters at all. Nothing’s helped, except when I double the bitrate. But, then it’s too high to put on my website. (2000 kbps).