H.264 vs. MPEG-4 Export Advice

Question

Level 1

15 points

H.264 vs. MPEG-4 Export Advice

I'm using iMovie09, trying to get the best quality and lowest file size.
I keep getting conflicting advice so I've been runner a couple of tests.

Here are 2 test examples:

5:47 min movie
H.264 (high quality/2400kbps)= 104 MB; 52 min. to export
MPEG4 (best quality/2400kbps)= 102 MB; 10 min. to export
I couldn't tell the difference in the final movie quality.
Why should I go with H.264 if it takes so long...?

4 min movie (both were set at best quality w/ no data rate restriction)
H.264= 21min. at 57mb awesome quality
MP4= 7min. at 67mb very good quality

I guess the longer the movie, the more I like MPEG4.
See how I'm confused...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated?

Macbook, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Mar 9, 2009 3:19 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Serhij

Level 1

65 points

Mar 9, 2009 3:56 PM in response to mrea2

Here is details
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/technologies/h264/faq.html

Below is my IMHO
I prefer mpeg4 as my standalone hardware disk player support it.

Reply

Answer 2

mrea2 Author

Level 1

15 points

Apr 6, 2009 6:32 AM in response to mrea2

Another example from a 3 min. movie (exporting from iMovie09)
H.264 = 18 minutes to export at 248MB
MPEG-4 = 3 minutes to export at 108MB

(used 30fps and restricted
Almost no noticeable difference in quality.

Is anyone exporting with H.264 vs. MPEG-4...?

Reply

Answer 3

KBeat

Level 3

800 points

Apr 6, 2009 8:38 AM in response to mrea2

The text book answer is you get better quality video with smaller file sizes using .264 over standard MPEG-4. The reality is YMMV depending on content, settings, and other factors as you've seen. In my own tests .264 does look better. Sometimes noticeably better, others not nearly as much. Sometimes the file size is much smaller, sometimes not so much. It depends greatly on the content and how many pixels can be tossed by the compression technology.

It's a trade off, as you've seen, as .264 requires a lot of horsepower to do what it does. I'd suggest, since you've been happy with the results of your MPEG-4 exports, that you save yourself the time and go that route.

Reply