Which format should I convert swf video to for video-sites?

[Bjarne Eldhuset]

I have some *.swf video files I need to upload to a video site that allows upload of videos in the following formats:

WMV
MPG
MPEG
AVI
MP4
FLV
MOV
MOOV

I want to convert the *.swf files to one of the formats above, but I don't know which format to choose.

The format chosen should satisfy the 4 criterias below, as far as possible:
1. Video resolution should be the same as in the *.swf file
2. Converted video should have the smallest file size possible
3. Converted video should be in the best quality possible
4. If the user blows up the video (KA-BOOM!) to watch full screen, it should look the best possible

Which of the formats from the above list will give the best possible quality in the smallest file size?

Warrior video experts please stand up!

Any help is appreciated, as video conversion takes a lot of time, so I'd like to get it done right from the start.

[Miguel Oliveira]

All the files you listed can have any resolution and you can set the resolution you wish in most video converters. Resolution is also responsible for the look of the video in full screen mode. Quality depends not only on resolution but also on audio quality and frame-rate, which is flexible for all formats and depends more on the converter and the original file.

So, the only problem is the smallest size. I use Xilisoft Video Converter which shows the size of the end file before starting conversion. Most video converters can do this, so you can use it as a guideline. You can't really say which is best, because depending on the file itself and the quality options, the same format will give different values (for instance, a small video may be larger in format X than format Y, but a larger video larger in format Y than format X).

I also don't like WMV, MOV and MP4 because some people don't have the necessary software installed. Most likely, however, the video site you upload to will convert any file into a specific format and use that and they limit the formats you can submit because those are the only format they currently can convert to their chosen format.

Hope this helps.

[Jason Johns]

Hi there,

Convert it to MP4 with the original settings, that should be fine. It's a small file size and most of the video directories accept it. Flash now use MP4 instead of SWF for a lot of applications.

All the best

Jason

[Bjarne Eldhuset]

Thanks for your replies!

I checked out a bit more about the video site, so I now know that the file format the video site converts the videos to is flv.

So the work flow will be:

.swf --> .? --> .flv

Does this mean I will be best of converting to flv?

Is it probable that the video site will convert "my flv" file to "their flv-file"?

Said in another way, will the file be converted 1 or 2 times?

[FrankHaywood]

Originally Posted by Bjarne Eldhuset

I checked out a bit more about the video site, so I now know that the file format the video site converts the videos to is flv.

Does this mean I will be best of converting to flv?

Is it probable that the video site will convert "my flv" file to "their flv-file"?

Said in another way, will the file be converted 1 or 2 times?

You've hit the nail on the head there. Every time a conversion to another format takes place, you lose resolution and quality.

You need to go back a step and look at the creation of your .swf file. What tool did you use to create it, and what was the orginal created format? That first format is probably the best quality copy you have and that's what you need to upload. (Unless you're a Flash coder of course, and used that to output the .swf.)

For example when I create desktop videos using Camtasia 3, the output filetype is a .camrec which is probably a proprietary avi / mpg variant and is huge as it contains the very best quality capture of my desktop.

When I run it through Camtasia studio I have a choice of output formats, and I always go for .swf as it's an ideal format for high quality and low movement. If it was a moving action type video, then I'd output it as an .flv as that format is more suitable for that kind of recording.

So to answer your question, if you could go back to the original format and it was an .mpg or .avi then you'd be laughing. All you'd need to do is upload it and let the video site re-compress it for you into their .flv format themselves.

Try a test with a small file and see what happens is the best bet.

-Frank Haywood

[Bjarne Eldhuset]

It's not a problem with the videos I make myself, but the videos in question here are various plr videos that were only delivered in swf-format.

From the content, I can tell that they've most likely been created with camtasia.

So the workflow might end up being:

1. Camtasia
2. Saved to .wsf
3. Converted by me to .?
4. Converted by video site to .flv

I guess I need to find out if the video site will re-convert my .flv files to their .flv files?

[FrankHaywood]

Originally Posted by Bjarne Eldhuset

It's not a problem with the videos I make myself, but the videos in question here are various plr videos that were only delivered in swf-format.

Hmm...

You need the source files that were used to create the .swf files - those would be the PLR as they're editable, whereas the .swf files are the finished product. A bit like the difference between a .doc file and a .pdf - if you were buying PLR to an ebook then you'd get the product as a .doc file not a .pdf so that you could edit it.

Go back to the person that supplied the .swf files and ask them for the .camrecs as they're the source files you should have received in order for them to qualify as PLR. You'll then have the highest quality product and can edit and produce them as .flvs together with any annotations you want to add.

-Frank Haywood

[Bjarne Eldhuset]

I will try to get in contact with the seller, and hopefully he will provide med with the camtasia source files.

I've also found out that the video site does not "re-convert" files if they are uploaded as .FLV.

So the conversion workflow could now be the below.

If I have camtasia source files:
1. Camtasia
2. Saved to .FLV
3. Upload to video site, where no conversion takes place.

If I only have .SWF files:
1. PLR seller used Camtasia
2. Saved to .SWF
3. Converted by me to .FLV
4. Upload to video site, where no conversion takes place.

I've learned a lot from this thread, so thank you all for taking the time to reply!

[Chris_Willow]

If you are going to upload to a video site, never upload an flv. They' ll convert it and mess it up anyways. Instead grab your source files and render out a high quality mov file with your custom high resolution settings. Then upload the mov and you' ll be cool.

If you only have swf, convert it to high resolution mov too. Even if you upload an flv, the site will probably encode it anyways to make it smaller and save them bandwidth.

That's my take on it.

Chris

[CDarklock]

Originally Posted by Chris_Willow

If you are going to upload to a video site, never upload an flv. They' ll convert it and mess it up anyways.

That's always been my experience, too. Whenever you send something to an online site, they'll muck with your settings to conserve bandwidth... so the best thing you can do is create the highest possible quality on your end. Trust me, they'll worry enough about bandwidth for both of you.

[JerryPOP]

Originally Posted by Bjarne Eldhuset

The format chosen should satisfy the 4 criterias below, as far as possible:
1. Video resolution should be the same as in the *.swf file
2. Converted video should have the smallest file size possible
3. Converted video should be in the best quality possible
4. If the user blows up the video (KA-BOOM!) to watch full screen, it should look the best possible

Which of the formats from the above list will give the best possible quality in the smallest file size?

hi Bjarne, i think the most suitable format is .flv in h.264 encoder.
1 .flv(h.264) is recommended by Youtube for uploading.
2. video in flv format gets the smallest file size, smaller than avi, mpg...

Note: i've tried to upload a .swf to Youtube, but i got an error as "Failed (unable to convert video file)", so i don't know how did other people share .swf with video site. I always convert .swf to flv for youtube sharing with iWisoft swf to video converter, it seems that there isn't any picture loss, you can try