Video Encoding Software
1) What video format do you suggest for the web?
For my personal stuff I've used Real Player format. I know most of you hate it but a) you get excellent quality video in an unbelievably compact file size. It just can't be beat in qualtiy per file size. b) The encoder app is completely free as long as you don't need to resize the dimensions of the video.
But now due to paying clients who want their tv spots on their websites (320x240-ish web quality) I'm willing to actually pay a little cash for a video encoding software if it's worth it. So that means first reevaluating my format of choice. From previous discussions, I hear lots of praise from Flash Video. But I'm asking you so tell me what you think.
2) What video endoding software do you recommend?
Then I would appreciate any recommendations on actual encoding software. I don't need any features like on-the-fly encoding or live feeds. All it has to do is take huge files (from different formats) and resize/compress into the chosen format (at a good quality and small file size). I spent 10 seconds looking at Macromedia Flash MX and I ain't spending anywhere close to $600+. Nothing over $100 but I'm thinking more like $50 or so.
Any suggestions? Thanks.
bja888 (not verified) posted this at 03:05 — 13th May 2005.
They have: 5,633 posts
Joined: Jan 1970
I dont have an answer but I have a question related to yours. I hope you dont mind me piggy backing your thread.
I am getting good at a game that I play online often and I want to start posting video of my playing on a sub-domin of my website. Which video format is best (see fifeclub's question) only I have limited budget. Also should I consider playing it in a flash formt.
Dont be confused. I want play it as a .swf not through flash in a diffrent formt.
fifeclub posted this at 20:40 — 13th May 2005.
He has: 688 posts
Joined: Feb 2001
I still welcome discussion on this subject but I thought people could benefit from my investigations. I installed every x-to-flash encoder from download.com that was under $100.
Video to Flash Converter - crap
Video Master - bigger crap
Riva Encoder and Riva Producer Lite - looked very promising. Free FLV encoder works great and produced acceptable size file at descent quality. But to use FLV on web you need to use the Riva Producer Lite which is a very reasonable $30. Unfortunately I was completely unable to figure it out. So it could be a good product but I never got a usable example out of it.
Cinema Forge - Not as polished at Riva but it was intruging. My tests all cam out upside down but I assume there's a way to fix that. What's intriging is that it seems to convert to almost any concevable format too, including .asf, .mov, .ram, .wmv, and more.
But here's the surprise. Somebody posted a reply about Windows Media Encoder and then deleted their post (after I read it). So I decided to give it a try. Like the Real Producer, it is a totally free application. But that doesn't matter if the file encoding sucks so I gave it a shot. AWESOME! I got my 30 sec test to around 700K file size (320x240 15fps) and it looked great too. Better quality than any of my flash tests, especially with interlaced scanning. Quality and file size were right on par with Real Producer, however unlike the free version of Real Producer I could acually resize the dimensions too.
I still need to look in to how to integrate a .wmv file into a webpage but I'm edging in that direction, even though I was willing to spend money if I found a better product.
(yes, I hate Microsoft too, but what r u gonna do)
JESSEE007 posted this at 17:16 — 14th May 2005.
They have: 23 posts
Joined: May 2005
Is there ever a webmaster convention?
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