Video advice needed - best format mp4?

Hi Treece

When I click on the link, the page comes up and I am prompted to download a plugin. From your post, I'm guessing that if I accept the Plugin, it will try to install QuickTime. Unfortunately, I loathe and detest QuickTime, so I won't even try to install it. (Sorry about my views on QuickTime - it's purely personal and I can't give any logical reason for it).

I would recommend that you upload your videos in flv or swf Flash formats. Flash is viewable on >98% of the worlds computers without the need for additional plugins. I would also recommend that your first output is created in an uncompressed high quality format (I'm not a MAC user, but I imagine it would be an MOV file). You can compress for web viewing afterwards, but start with a good quality file.

A good product to convert your original video file (e.g. MOV file) to swf or flv for Flash, is the Flix encoder. Flix Std is only $39 and comes in MAC and Windows versions. Here's a link (not an affiliate link) to the On2 website for Flix

I have used iMovie and found it to be pretty good. It would probably be a good editing program to start with and then upgrade if you feel the need.

Good Luck

Kate

Final Cut Express is the best option as it is loaded with features and is an industry standard. iMovie is a little thin on effects, and Final Cut Pro is very expensive and you will never use 95% of its features (really its a Television/High-End video producer).

I'd have to agree that Final Cut Express is a good choice but if you want to use a windows based program such as Vegas you could always utilize the Bootcamp feature of your MAC.

I also agree to convert/encode to the FLV format.

That is a really good video especially for a first try. Give your husband kudos for a job real done.

What kind of camera are you looking to get and what type of future projects do you want to do?

Kevin

I'll throw my vote in for Flix too for converting to FLV and SWF, I've tried a few and this certainly is the best. IMO!

Basically, the main reason mp4 (using H.264 codec) is so popular is because it's a universal format for ipod, itunes, high quality with low file size, can stream with some of the new players, is easy for desktop viewing, used for video sharing sites, etc.

There are many different ways to get the most optimized settings with .mp4 for these different applications, but the reason above is why many people use it in general terms.

Best,

Scott

Yes, grab the Canon. You'll be happy with your purchase!

Treece,
If you are going to go for Final Cut Express, there should be an option when exporting the video for ipods. When you export for ipod, the files are mp4 but will show as m4v. These are MUCH higher quality than regular mp4 files. They are also larger files, but I have not had a problem using them before. Of course flv files are nice, but m4v files are, in my opinion are the way to go. I hope this helps!

Matt

I hope nobody minds me tagging onto the end of this thread...

I've just created a video WSO that demonstrates a certain kind of software app. Although I'm a Mac user, I've recorded screencasts of the Windows version of this type of app (using VMWare Fusion), since it means a bigger audience of potential buyers.

I've edited the videos together in iMovie and exported using the MP4 file format because I thought it was a universal standard that any customer would be able to play with just a double-click.

However, it seems that Windows Media Player cannot play MP4s: Information about the Multimedia file types that Windows Media Player supports

This is disappointing as I've tweaked the export settings to produce good, clear videos in a compact file size.

What should I do? Sell the videos to Windows users as MP4 files and hope that customers are happy to install VLC Media Player? Or should I find a way to convert them into WMVs? :confused:

Any advice would be much appreciated,
John.

Hi John

Yes, it probably is wise, now, but it really depends how you intend to distribute them. Whatever you do DON'T convert them to wmv.

Sorry to answer your question with a question, but how do you plan to sell them? Are they for download or for viewing online?

If you want them to be viewable online, then there are several options now (more so than when the thread was first launched 2 years ago).

I can advise you, but if they are to be viewed online then it would also be useful to know whether you host your own website, whether it's an html website or built in Wordpress or Joomla or some other content management system. Were you thinking of using YouTube (not necessarily recommended but good for some purposes). Are they to be in a paid content area?

Give me a bit more information and I'm sure I can help you come up with the best solution.

Kate