Best video format for Vimeo and Youtube

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Best video format for Vimeo and Youtube

Hi there experts:

I'm been trying to figure out the best format for uploading quicktime videos to Video and Yoututbe. Vimeo acepts .mp4, .mov and other formats but not the format generated by quicktime when video exported as "Full Quality", so, I'm trying to figure out what is that "full quality" in a forrmat generaly accepted for vimeo and others like .mp4 and .mov. I'm been exporting as "Expert Setting", then export Quicktime movie, then save as MPEG-4, and then under setting I'm basicly putting everything automatic. The quality is good but I think it can be much better. In fact I need it to be very close to the quality of "Full Quality" because vimeo converst the file to Flash 8 and the quality is reduced in the convertion, not to mention youtube that uses Flash 7. ... any thoughts out there? thnaks for any help.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Jul 13, 2006 10:38 PM

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Answer 1

Jul 13, 2006 11:10 PM in response to macarroni

From what I have read in a few forums. Making your video into a flv (Flash Video) is the best rout to go. Youtube will take accept a mpg4 but they will convert your video to a flv to display on their web site. Your video will go through 2 compressions, meaning a great lost in video quality.

Best bet is the flv rout.........

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Answer 2

macarroni Author

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Jul 15, 2006 10:20 AM in response to David M Brewer

flv format was great help. now what is the recomended tool for doind that. i'm with a macbook pro with the latest Quicktime (not quicktime pro) and imovie. What is the best application for converting from imovie directly to flv? in this forum there were a couple of messages about this but it answer was not very clear. best answer i think is from someone experience with the suggested application to use and its competitors. also indicate the price for this tool. Thanks in advance for any help!

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Answer 3

macarroni Author

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Jul 15, 2006 10:33 AM in response to macarroni

I should clarify that what I'm asking now is for the best application for compresing iMovie directly to FLash (flv file) ??

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Answer 4

Jul 15, 2006 11:31 AM in response to macarroni

I don't export to .flv any longer as the tools I used to use are no longer supported by Macromedia (now Adobe) and I'm not going to fight to make my own.
They used to offer a free QuickTime Pro to .flv exporter but I haven't seen any updates in a few years.
Most (probably all) of anything you upload to their servers will be converted by them (not you) to the .flv formats used. I doubt you'd have any control over the quality of your upload and the server would modify your file to meet their specs anyway.
Upload a decent quality MPEG-4 sized to what you would like to view and hope for the best.
Since they are now "serving" your file the bandwidth restrictions you place on the file would probably be overruled in the new .flv file anyway.

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Answer 5

macarroni Author

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Jul 15, 2006 8:39 PM in response to David M Brewer

David,

if you are there, iniatialy i though .flv was the way to go as i sated in my previos reply to your input, but now i think for youtube MPEG4 is preferedover .FLV because you tube states their prefered is MPEG4. This is from their website:
We specifically recommend the MPEG4 (Divx, Xvid)

if you have new thought please share.. it helps.

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Answer 6

Jul 15, 2006 9:45 PM in response to macarroni

Read this from the compressor forum...

Mid-way down you will see that one of the poster's contacted a few people who had sent flv's to youtube...

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Answer 7

macarroni Author

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Jul 15, 2006 10:10 PM in response to David M Brewer

David, thanks but I think you didn't send me the link to the forum you mention ...

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Answer 8

Jul 15, 2006 10:44 PM in response to macarroni

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=542337&tstart=0

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Answer 9

macarroni Author

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Jul 15, 2006 10:47 PM in response to macarroni

Ok, David, finaly found in the Compressor forum the threath youtube.com ..... good information. funny that I saw the threat is relying on you!!! This threat is now closed.

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Answer 10

Jul 15, 2006 11:05 PM in response to macarroni

Bed time now...I've got a few flvs in the works...trying to get them to up-load...I got one to upload...Didn't look to bad......

I'll try in the morning again......

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Answer 11

Jul 16, 2006 8:21 PM in response to macarroni

I a made a test with sending both a mpg-4 and a flv to youtube. Both were compressed at a high bit rate. I found no difference in either video on youtube.

Just send them a good quality mpg-4. You can make a mpg-4 faster than making a flv. Youtube is still going to step on a flv. So there really no need in sending a flv.

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Answer 12

macarroni Author

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Jul 17, 2006 11:10 PM in response to David M Brewer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoymqALhjUw

David, if you are there, the link above is waht your posted in the other forum. The quality of that video is good enought for me ... is that a regular MPEG4 (looks like a hollywood movie). I created the MPEG4 per your instructions and looks really good in QT but in youtube is not even close to the link you provided.

Anyway, my question is that youtube's website suggests not only MPEG4 but types Divx, Xvid ... are you using those?

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