.mp4 using H.264 codec

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Level 1

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.mp4 using H.264 codec

Hi,

I want to create .mp4 files using H.264 codec... It seems Compressor doesn't have that feature while Quicktime does (I can export to .mp4 and then choose H.264 as the codec).

Does anyone knows how to do it on Compressor?

Thanks

MacBook Pro / MacPro, Mac OS X (10.5.5)

Posted on Oct 15, 2008 4:47 AM

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Answer 1

gogiangigo

Level 6

8,035 points

Oct 15, 2008 6:37 AM in response to krlts

Krits,
welcome to the forum.
H.264 IS mp4. It is the most advanced generation of mp4s. What you choose in QT is exactly that.

H.264 require QT 7 or higher to be played by others though.

G.

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Answer 2

krlts Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 16, 2008 2:19 AM in response to gogiangigo

Hi! Thnks for the welcome!

So... if what I want are files with .mp4 extension... should I just rename the .mov files (the ones with H.264 compression)??

What I have done is using Quicktime Software, I've exported "Movie to MPEG-4" and in Options I changed:

File Format: MP4 ( Instead of MP4(ISMA) )
Video Format: H.264 ( Instead of MPEG-4 Improved)

And it worked... but the thing is that I can't find those settings within Compressor... and since I have to convert around 100 files, is not good to have to do that one by one on Quicktime...

Thanks!

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Answer 3

Jess D.

Level 1

14 points

Oct 21, 2008 2:02 PM in response to krlts

You've asked one of my burning questions. So far the only way to have an .mp4 file encoded with H.264 is to export using Quicktime Pro. Yes, H.264 is MPEG-4 (Part 10), but it'll export as a .mov file instead of .mp4 file. Yes, it's a hassle to export to a H.264 encoded .mp4 one at a time, but if you're required to deliver .mp4 files you'll get the best results exporting from Quicktime Pro instead of Compressor. Why Compressor doesn't have that setting I don't know. It sure would make the process a lot easier.

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Answer 4

Oct 21, 2008 8:51 PM in response to Jess D.

Compressor has the setting for mp4...look under your presets... If you can't find it there, look under the inspector window FILE FORMAT tab.

Personally I don't use mp4. mp4 doesn't have the same quailty as outputting to an h-264.mov. Google it and so some reading.

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Answer 5

Nov 21, 2008 3:50 PM in response to David M Brewer

Yes, David, Compressor does have the mp4 settings...but you can't do it using H.264. That's the whole crux of this thread.

And I agree with Jess D. that it's a pain that QTPro can do something Compressor can't. Same with exporting .flv without having Flash installed on your computer.

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Answer 6

Nov 21, 2008 4:44 PM in response to krlts

1. Export as H.264 .mov using Compressor
2. Open the file in QuickTime Player
3. Export to MPEG-4 (.mp4) as H.264, and choose pass-through for both video and audio

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QuickTime#Container_benefits

In QuickTime Pro's MPEG-4 Export dialog, an option called "Passthrough" allows a clean export to MP4 without affecting the audio or video streams. One recent discrepancy ushered in by QuickTime 7 is that the MOV file format now supports multichannel audio (used, for example, in the high-definition trailers on Apple's site]), while QuickTime's support for audio in the MP4 container is limited to stereo. Therefore multichannel audio must be re-encoded during MP4 export.

It sure is a bit strange that Compressor does not support exporting H.264 using an .mp4 container. I would recommend sending Apple some feedback about this: http://www.apple.com/feedback/compressor.html

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Answer 7

Nov 21, 2008 4:43 PM in response to krlts

From the Apple Technical Note TN2218:

MPEG-4 or QuickTime Movie?

*... Start by creating an MPEG-4 file with H.264 compression because the MPEG-4 exporter video settings dialog gives you the most control over the H.264 compressor settings.*

I prefer this method too. I'm running Episode Pro as well as Compressor. I have their plugin installed and it supports Episode Preset accessibility from within Compressor. The H.264 (MPEG-4) options are available in Episode with additional (advanced) settings.

Here's the link to the Apple TN:

https://developer.apple.com/technotes/tn2008/tn2218.html#EXPORTINGAMOVIE

-paul.

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