Dan Cook
EF5
Is it better to export HD video in avi or mpeg? I'm having problems exporting it in AVI format in Vegas; it either runs very slowly on WMP or the video is all scrunched up and the colors are off.
HD exporting video formats
- Thread starter Dan Cook
- Start date
Skip Talbot
EF5
Which codec are you using?
Dan Cook
EF5
I downloaded the Cineform codec from the Neo trial.
Scott Weberpal
EF5
What are you trying to export for? Web video? Full screen? Export to DVD?
Dan Cook
EF5
Full screen and DVD I guess.
Scott Weberpal
EF5
In Vegas I use the MainConcept AVC/AAC h.264 codec (exports as an mp4 file). It allows you to set the bitrate, frame size, etc. to fit what you are trying to do. I can be played by Quicktime Pro, but for some reason WMP doesn't like .mp4 files...at least not using the h.264 codec.
Jason Blum
EF0
I hate to bump a thread without really adding much to it, but I'm really looking for any more information which anyone may have. I bought a new HD camcorder, and am currently playing around with various formats.
I'm using a Sony HDR-CX100, and recording at 1080i.
I'm very interested to hear what rendering formats/settings others recommend for both archival purposes, and also for exporting to Youtube/Facebook type sites.
I'm playing around with mpeg-2 and Cineform right now, but am new to this, so any advice is much appreciated.
Thanks!
I'm using a Sony HDR-CX100, and recording at 1080i.
I'm very interested to hear what rendering formats/settings others recommend for both archival purposes, and also for exporting to Youtube/Facebook type sites.
I'm playing around with mpeg-2 and Cineform right now, but am new to this, so any advice is much appreciated.
Thanks!
Last edited by a moderator:
MPEG-4, h.264 is the way to go now for youtube and other web stuff. Why WMP won't play mpeg-4's is more political than technical.
From Microsoft @ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316992
MPEG-4 (.mp4)
MPEG-4 is an International Standards Organization (ISO) specification that covers many aspects of multimedia presentation including compression, authoring and delivery. Although video compression and file container definition are two separate and independent entities of the MPEG-4 specification, many people incorrectly believe that the two are interchangeable. You can implement only portions of the MPEG-4 specification and remain compliant with the standard.
The MPEG-4 file format, as defined by the MPEG-4 specification, contains MPEG-4 encoded video and Advanced Audio Coding (AAC)-encoded audio content. It typically uses the .mp4 extension. Windows Media Player does not support the playback of the .mp4 file format. You can play back .mp4 media files in Windows Media Player when you install DirectShow-compatible MPEG-4 decoder packs. DirectShow-compatible MPEG-4 decoder packs include the Ligos LSX-MPEG Player and the EnvivioTV.
For more information about the Ligos LSX-MPEG Player, visit the following Ligos Web site:http://www.ligos.com (http://www.ligos.com)
For more information about EnvivioTV , visit the following Envivio Web site:http://www.envivio.com/products/ (http://www.envivio.com/products)
Microsoft has chosen to implement the video compression portion of the MPEG-4 standard. Microsoft has currently produced the following MPEG-4-based video codecs:
-----
My own edit:
Oh, I know, let's not support an ISO standard and instead implement our own proprietary one! Yeah, that won't confuse anyone!
From Microsoft @ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316992
MPEG-4 (.mp4)
MPEG-4 is an International Standards Organization (ISO) specification that covers many aspects of multimedia presentation including compression, authoring and delivery. Although video compression and file container definition are two separate and independent entities of the MPEG-4 specification, many people incorrectly believe that the two are interchangeable. You can implement only portions of the MPEG-4 specification and remain compliant with the standard.
The MPEG-4 file format, as defined by the MPEG-4 specification, contains MPEG-4 encoded video and Advanced Audio Coding (AAC)-encoded audio content. It typically uses the .mp4 extension. Windows Media Player does not support the playback of the .mp4 file format. You can play back .mp4 media files in Windows Media Player when you install DirectShow-compatible MPEG-4 decoder packs. DirectShow-compatible MPEG-4 decoder packs include the Ligos LSX-MPEG Player and the EnvivioTV.
For more information about the Ligos LSX-MPEG Player, visit the following Ligos Web site:http://www.ligos.com (http://www.ligos.com)
For more information about EnvivioTV , visit the following Envivio Web site:http://www.envivio.com/products/ (http://www.envivio.com/products)
Microsoft has chosen to implement the video compression portion of the MPEG-4 standard. Microsoft has currently produced the following MPEG-4-based video codecs:
- Microsoft MPEG-4 v1
- Microsoft MPEG-4 v2
- Microsoft MPEG-4 v3
- ISO MPEG-4 v1
-----
My own edit:
Oh, I know, let's not support an ISO standard and instead implement our own proprietary one! Yeah, that won't confuse anyone!
Jason Blum
EF0
Thanks. I thought that I needed to render to h.264, but was having trouble doing it.
I was looking for a pull-down preset template with the h.264 1080i option, and I just needed to type it in manually under "custom". Now that i did that, it's rendering just fine.
Thanks for the help.
I was looking for a pull-down preset template with the h.264 1080i option, and I just needed to type it in manually under "custom". Now that i did that, it's rendering just fine.
Thanks for the help.
Dan Robinson
Cineform AVIs are IMO the highest in quality, however the file sizes are very large, and cannot be played back unless the viewing PC has the codec installed. Cineform is also ultimately not free if you want full import/export capability. H.264 is a good compromise between file size and quality, but watch the bitrate - going too low will really mess up lightning video. MPEG-2 is basically HDV, though you can bump up the bitrate - same problem with lightning at low bitrates.
The main benefit for Cineform is that it is the most 'lossless' codec for re-encoding, good if you want to export a production for eventual distribution via HD DVD/BluRay.
At this point I doin't think it's a good idea to re-export HD video for archiving purposes, no matter how you do it you're going to lose a little quality. Keep the source capture files, as they will always be the best version. Unlike standard-def DV, any regeneration is more detrimental to HD video. I keep all of my source captures and NLE project files (in my case Premiere) and just re-export to whatever format I need (FLV for the web, etc).
The main benefit for Cineform is that it is the most 'lossless' codec for re-encoding, good if you want to export a production for eventual distribution via HD DVD/BluRay.
At this point I doin't think it's a good idea to re-export HD video for archiving purposes, no matter how you do it you're going to lose a little quality. Keep the source capture files, as they will always be the best version. Unlike standard-def DV, any regeneration is more detrimental to HD video. I keep all of my source captures and NLE project files (in my case Premiere) and just re-export to whatever format I need (FLV for the web, etc).
Similar threads
