Video bit rates for members?

[furrygirl]

As both a Mac user and a software cheapskate, I've been doing my video slips for the last two and a half years in .mov format made in Quicktime Pro. Many people seem to hate Quicktime with a passion, although I can't understand why. I personally hate Real Player and WMV, and WMV videos only work half the time for me anyhow. (Likely the plugin for Macs issue.)

I figure the most universal thing to do is to switch over to MPEG, so I'm hiring a friend who does videoediting to re-do all my clips. Quicktime Pro doesn't seem to tell you the bit rate, and I'm wondering, what's a good bit rate for members videos? (The clips aren't big, shot with my older digital camera at 320x240.)

[Rocco]

windows media 9 (wmv) is the best current encoding I know, but when you want to make sure that the movies play on most of the machines mpegs is the way to go. about the bitrates you have to try out with which one you get the highest quality/size ratio

[Surfn]

Originally Posted by furrygirl

As both a Mac user and a software cheapskate, I've been doing my video slips for the last two and a half years in .mov format made in Quicktime Pro. Many people seem to hate Quicktime with a passion, although I can't understand why. I personally hate Real Player and WMV, and WMV videos only work half the time for me anyhow. (Likely the plugin for Macs issue.)

I figure the most universal thing to do is to switch over to MPEG, so I'm hiring a friend who does videoediting to re-do all my clips. Quicktime Pro doesn't seem to tell you the bit rate, and I'm wondering, what's a good bit rate for members videos? (The clips aren't big, shot with my older digital camera at 320x240.)

I loathe Real Player that's an instant decline. I do like Quicktime I prefer it over anything else, however most of my surfers don't use it.

When I review if it doesn't load in my WMP then I don't list it.

[Surfn]

So much for posting when I'm hurried

You are asking about your members area. I would take a poll to see what most members use and go with that. To please 90+% you will need to have at least 2 formats.

[Wazza]

Seeing as you have the ability to - I would watch them at full screen and see what is lowest bit rate which gives perfect quality and then use that.

As for the format - mpeg

[Cleo]

We have been doing mpeg-1 at a bit rate of around 800 and for the most part everyone has been happy.

[SirMoby]

Make sure that they use MPEG-1 since that's the format everyone can use. 600 to 800 should be a good bit rate. The thing that most of my members seem to want is large video sizes that look good at full screen and that's bigger then 320.

[Cleo]

We just switched over to a 16:1 video camera and had a lot of problems with our old compression software as it wouldn't do a widescreen mpeg-1 so we had to find new compression software.

This is the test clip that we had everyone try and what is the settings we settled on.
http://cleoslinks.com/crap/test5.mpg

We are now using Compression Master 3 to encode stuff. (We were using Compressor which is part of Final Cut Pro)
http://www.popwire.com/product_info.php?products_id=2

[Halfdeck]

I personally prefer DivX/XviD videos or WMV because usually the resulting file size is much smaller compared with MPG and the video quality is better overall.

I understand WMV sucks for mac users and AVI for people without codes is a pain. RM is usually a problem for most people.

Like Surfn said, most paysites have multiple video formats available, not just MPG or WMV. No matter how much I personally might love MPG, there'll be someone that hates it with a passion, and vice versa.

Bitrate depends on each video, but just make sure you use VBR instead of CBR... As Wazza said, if the video doesn't pixellate at full screen and if the video plays smoothly (29 FPS) then that's what you want to go for.

I would not decide on a bitrate first then adjust resolution/fps around it

There's one highly-acclaimed video site with 480x360 res and ~1500kbps WMV videos but their framerate is 23.9 and as a result, their videos are pretty much unwatchable.

[GunnCat]

Furry, take a look at this page: http://www.bizzoporn.com/moviedetails.php?MovieID=99
We like to offer our members a variety of sizes/file types to choose from.

HalfDeck, I would like to comment about your opinion of RM. I think that it's horrible, and most people seem to agree. I think a lot of users stay away from it. I think that's more a client issue though.

There are RM and QT alternatives out there that uses WMP7(or6 can't remember). I think you would have more luck with your .mov files if you offered a link to that client.

http://www.free-codecs.com/download/...lternative.htm

[juggernaut]

Mpeg1 is surly the way to go for compatibilty, with a small video like that, most can double size it ok with some loss to the quality, But with video that small you might even be able to squeze a little less on the bit rat if you are concerned about BW. I would not go lower then 350 to 400. But still should come down really nicly. I have seen camshows stream at 200 on WM9 and look like tv quality but thats a whole other animal.

[furrygirl]

Thanks for all the input!

I don't really want to do two formats, because unless I'm mistaken, doesn't MPEG work for everyone? It seems to be the obvious choice for saving on server space and saving time when it comes to paying someone to do the work.

I've added the question for my members to my message board, and so far, they're all chiming in to say that MPEG works for them.

[GunnCat]

Yes mpg1 is a fine solution.

[Surfn]

Originally Posted by furrygirl

Thanks for all the input!

I don't really want to do two formats, because unless I'm mistaken, doesn't MPEG work for everyone? It seems to be the obvious choice for saving on server space and saving time when it comes to paying someone to do the work.

I've added the question for my members to my message board, and so far, they're all chiming in to say that MPEG works for them.

There ya go

[LindaMight]

I use MPEG1 with 750 and everyone seems happy with it. I have tried every format out there...MOV, AVI, RM, etc. and the best by far is the MPEG1. Everything else stirs up complaints that they can't view them.

[DonPaul]

use MPEG1 and/or WMV, that seems to be the best for the members. We're doing both, one 1300kbits MPEG1 version, one 1024kbits WMV version and also another "version" of the last one chopped into 1minute clips.

Tried divx/xvid etc a few years ago but stopped doing it very quickly...... got TONS of emails from pissed off members that couldnt see the vids.... remember the guys/girls signing up aint always the brightest so keep it simple!

[SirMoby]

One thing to keep in mind with videos is that the technology is changing VERY fast. In the last 2 years bandwidth speeds have increased drastically, monitors are far better and cheaper and you will soon be competing more heavily with your cable company when they make buying pron from them a bit cheaper.

You can always recode everything in 12 to 18 months but do you really want to?

[RawAlex]

I would suggest where possible, offer an MPEG1 and a WMV option. Windows people will go to the smaller file and save you bandwidth and get them a good product. MPEG will keep everyone else out there happy (including the people who have windows but don't like the player).

Be careful not to use the latest and greatest. Aim too far ahead of your members, and they will be pissed off, not able to see the videos.

Real is a virus in disguise (my opinion) that attemps to load all sorts of stuff on your machine and wants to take control of a whole pile of stuff not directly related to real media files. DIVX is nice but not popular and NOT very standard it seems.

The options are limited.

Alex

[LindaMight]

Originally Posted by DonPaul

.... remember the guys/girls signing up aint always the brightest so keep it simple!

I SECOND THAT COMMENT!

[Hunter_ST]

I have played WMVs well on Macs running OS X, using the Microsoft player.

That said, I keep my bitrates capped around 1.8 megabit for 640x480 member videos.

Promo vids at 320x240 capped at 800 kilobit.

I've been putting out WMVs without complaints yet, but as suggested by RawAlex, having both MPG and WMV options encoded using an older encoder works best.

Dittos, on staying away from the latest and greatest (like Windows Media Encoder 10).