Compressing video for internet/email

[David Robertson]

I've got a fair bit of footage lying around from the past few years and I've edited some of it for little youtube clips (eg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0cICcHSSEE), but I don't have any program that can compress video to a internet-friendly file size while maintaining decent quality. I'm using Adobe Premiere 6.5, but really I'm just fumbling around in the dark in terms of settings when it comes to exporting my timelines to movies - the sizes tend to be around 20mb/min and still worse quality than I see on other, smaller files.

What programs/settings do you use to compress videos for the net?

[steve happ]

Youtube recommends mpeg4 format (divx, xvid)
at 640x480
with mp3 audio

They seem to have a data rate of about 200 kb/sec
and their frame size is about 320x240..

I used to export .avi at a multimedia setting (384x288), cinepak codec or similar.. and datarate probably about 300kb/sec..

Premiere should be able to export at that format..

or..

Youtube uses the flash video format of .flv
encode your video to .flv using the following encoder.. (give it a try )
http://rivavx.com/?encoder

if that does not work, try super software which converts just about any video format..
but use and install as a last resort... (not too sure about this software, may be a bit suss?????)

http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html

hope you understand that..

[Peter Davis]

what program are you using?

mpeg streamclip is a free program that can get you where you want.
you can download it from http://www.squared5.com
here are some good settings:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v676/ ... coding.jpg
(won't let me upload images?)

quicktime pro is also quite good i hear. i don't have it but these are some good settings apparently:
export with H.264 compression settings and the following:

Keyframe Every: 150 for NTSC, 125 for PAL
then for quality either set it from medium or high anywere in between wont really matter depending on what file size you want.
Data Rate:Automatic
Size:320-240 if you want
De-Interlace source footage

sound settings-

Format:AAC
Channels: stereo l&r
Rate 32.000

one of the better options available is sorenson squeeze. you can download a trial but it costs a bit after that.

[Nic Reeves]

good question David.
I have issues with this myself.
I make a few videos and when they get over 3 mins long the programme I use to convert my .avi file to mpeg or divx totally ruins my movies.
I'm just going to download that mpeg streamclip, see how it goes, thanks Peter

[David Robertson]

Thanks for the responses! I'll have a go with those suggestions made and see what I can get to work.