I know there has been a lot of discussion on this topic and many opinions offered all over the web. I am trying to find the "holy grail" best video format for YouTube uploads and have been using TMPGEnc4XP for output (converting cineform avi's). Here is a sample of a recent video I posted: YouTube - BRP Can-Am Spyder Roadster Review & Test Ride (Part 1 of 3) - Two Wheels 2 Anywhere (Episode1) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gkf3HxnADjc)

Initially I thought the quality was great, which it is in standard mode but in HD viewing I began to notice that color was slightly off here and there from my original cineform avi files and the biggest problem is the pause time while it buffers when watching in HD quality. Is this YouTube or my connection or compression technique. I don't remember it stuttering when I uploaded yesterday.

Here are the settings I am using in TMPGEnc4XP, the nice thing is I see no need for a 2 GB upload, this sample is just under 10 minutes long and came in at 368 MB.

Settings
--------

MPEG-4 AVC [1280 x 720, 29.97 fps, 2 pass Constant bitrate 6000 kb/s]
MPEG AAC(MPEG-4 (ISO/IEC 14496-3)) [44100 Hz Stereo, 192 kb/s]

VIDEO

SIZE: 1280 x 720
PIXEL: Pixel 1:1
FRAMERATE 29.97 fps (Progressive)
RATE CONTROL: 2 Pass Constant bitrate
AVERAGE BITRATE 6000 kb/s

AVC SETTINGS Use Defaults

AUDIO

ENCODE TYPE AAC Encoder
SAMPLE RATE 44100
CHANEL MODE STEREO
BITRATE 192
MPEG VERSION MPEG-4 (ISO.IEC 14496-3)
OBJECT TYPE Low Complexity
OUTPUT FORMAT Raw


If anyone has any insight into a great codec / compression algorithm I would love to know, but then again maybe it's close enough for rock'n roll, who knows.

Once you upload your video to Youtube, Youtube controls your videos final quality.

This is what works for me: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/flash-web-video/139496-i-reached-top-video-quality-youtube.html

For high motion video you will probably need to up the bitrate, but otherwise this method gives 100% satisfaction, including color issues.

I hope this helps,

Thanks Guys,
Ervin I will give that method a try ~