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View Full Version : Compression and Format.

MrMJKnight
06-10-2006, 11:32 PM
Hi, I have just finished my first animation as a project for college.

My animation is just over 2 minutes. I was wondering whats the best compression and format for the web?

Because I have noticed that with videos I have downloaded the file size is rather small for the resolution and quality, yet mine is a smaller resolution and is quite a big file size.
Integrity
06-11-2006, 02:47 AM
I'd say either Quicktime or Windows Media. The new H.264 codec does pretty well (Quicktime), I haven't played around with Windows Media.

I would have to say that Quicktime would be the most wide-spread format to use. Using the new H.264 or MPEG-4 and QDesign Music 2 when exporting/rendering is probably the best. Some websites (most likely "most websites", I haven't been everywhere) use the compression available in Flash, so try that as well if you can/have it.
MrMJKnight
06-11-2006, 03:24 AM
Cool, thanks a lot ^_^ Helped a bunch.

Anychange you know about streaming? Do I need to do anything with the MOV file to enable it to stream if I set a direct link? Or does Quicktime sort it all out for you.
MrMJKnight
06-11-2006, 03:48 AM
Hmmm, im really cant get it any lower than around 30mb. It's only 2 minute animation, want it at 320x240.

But I see people with like 640x480 with much lower file size and the quality is decent still.
Myliobatidae
06-11-2006, 06:24 AM
I'd say either Quicktime or Windows Media. The new H.264 codec does pretty well (Quicktime), I haven't played around with Windows Media.

I would have to say that Quicktime would be the most wide-spread format to use. Using the new H.264 or MPEG-4 and QDesign Music 2 when exporting/rendering is probably the best. Some websites (most likely "most websites", I haven't been everywhere) use the compression available in Flash, so try that as well if you can/have it.

Why would you say QT would be the most wide-spread format, when probably more than 85% of the computers out there come with windows and windows media installed (you can't even avoid it, which sometimes pisses me off, nor can you uninstall it, but that's a whole other subject ...)

Anyway, why don't you give them a choice like I did on my site, its in the imagery section...

I gave them a choice of media player, QT and flash video...
scrimski
06-11-2006, 09:31 AM
It's not only the codec(I prefer sorensen3) that influences the size, try different quality settings and bitrates.
I think a bitrate between 1500 and 2000 kB/s should be enough for a website. If possible use a variable bitrate and encode in more than one pass.

Someone stated here on CGTalk, that encoding is rather black magic than rocket science which I totally agree. You will have to experiment a bit to find out what works best in what combination with other paramters/codecs.
Velk
06-11-2006, 03:37 PM
The other thing to remember is that big companies use really good, very expensive compressors to get excellent quality at a lower size.
MrMJKnight
06-11-2006, 03:45 PM
Cool, I hope I don't have to pay anything, haven't really got the money.

Any chance you can get H.264 from somewhere?

I noticed that Simon Reeves www.simonreeves.co.uk uses that same codec.
With fantastic quality and a decent size resolution, his showreel only comes up to 14mb.

He's quite a 3D artist.
Tagger
06-11-2006, 03:55 PM
afaik h.264 comes with the latest versions of Quicktime
Integrity
06-11-2006, 10:00 PM
Why would you say QT would be the most wide-spread format, when probably more than 85% of the computers out there come with windows and windows media installed (you can't even avoid it, which sometimes pisses me off, nor can you uninstall it, but that's a whole other subject ...)

Because most people as far as I know when confronted with the options (or limited options) of selecting a media application, will install Quicktime when they realize they do not have it. Which in that case I'd say that most of that 85% of Windows machines will have Quicktime installed (if it wasn't already preinstalled by the manufacturer or their Internet software). And then of course that other 15% is mostly Mac's along with the other OS's (with Mac's of course having Quicktime already installed).
Velk
06-11-2006, 10:43 PM
I filter everything through Final Cut Pro and Compressor, I've had a lot of success with H264.
Myliobatidae
06-12-2006, 05:32 AM
Because most people as far as I know when confronted with the options (or limited options) of selecting a media application, will install Quicktime when they realize they do not have it. Which in that case I'd say that most of that 85% of Windows machines will have Quicktime installed (if it wasn't already preinstalled by the manufacturer or their Internet software). And then of course that other 15% is mostly Mac's along with the other OS's (with Mac's of course having Quicktime already installed).

Well, not that I'm trying to push windows media, cause I love QT, but ALL of the windows computers have windows media player, not just MOST, making it the most wide spread format...
Tagger
06-12-2006, 08:49 AM
well, this isnt a question about what everybody "has on their computer", it's a question about what is best to put on the web. And Quicktime is crossplatform and the most used on the web for streaming so you'll have more succes with that.

And most people who are in "this buiseness" have quicktime installed, so i dont think that would be a problem.
Myliobatidae
06-12-2006, 11:40 PM
Why not give them a choice of media player, QT and flash video...

that way nobody will have a problem...
Integrity
06-13-2006, 12:11 AM
Well, not that I'm trying to push windows media, cause I love QT, but ALL of the windows computers have windows media player, not just MOST, making it the most wide spread format...

I already knew this, and I never said MOST to Windows Media, I said MOST to Quicktime. Tagger summed up what I meant to say better.
farbod
06-14-2006, 09:05 PM
the current best video codec available is x.264 ,it,s a open source version of H.264 standard , download link:
http://mirror01.x264.nl/x264/revision532/x264-532-install.exe
and you beeter to ude it with VirtualDub:
http://virtualdub.sourceforge.net/
farbod
06-14-2006, 09:07 PM
the current best video codec available is x.264 ,it,s a open source version of H.264 standard , download link:
http://mirror01.x264.nl/x264/revision532/x264-532-install.exe
and you beeter to ude it with VirtualDub:
http://virtualdub.sourceforge.net/
you can also use nero 7 or QuickTime 7 (with a little bit lower quality).
farbod
06-14-2006, 09:18 PM
the current best video codec available is x.264 ,it,s a open source version of H.264 standard , download link:
http://mirror01.x264.nl/x264/revision532/x264-532-install.exe
and you beeter to ude it with VirtualDub:
http://virtualdub.sourceforge.net/
you can also use nero 7 or QuickTime 7 (with a little bit lower quality).
Myliobatidae
06-15-2006, 02:35 AM
Alright already we get it use x.264...kidding :)
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