I'm new to web encoding. So far I've tried the export within premiere and exported two hdv projects to windows media 9 based on pre-sets with premiere (one at the 1024 setting and one at the 512). I am not stoked on the results, definitely lower quality in both video and sound than I was hoping for.

What's the best web exports for Google Video, You Tube or other online video uses? What tools do you normally use? Is the exporter within preimiere good enough? Should I create an AVI first of project then use another program??

My project is going to be heavily web instensive so I'd love to hear some feedback here.

Michael

I think I finally got a decent YouTube video using the method suggested by the producers of the Mr. Diety videos.

My best YouTube output:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GxYqIyyeW4

The method was to export a DV AVI from Premiere Pro, then follow these instructions:

"Before uploading, I convert the file with QuickTime Pro to h.264, 480x360 pixels at 24fps, better quality, and with a keyframe every 24 frames. The audio is set to AAC, VBR 96-110, 32k stereo."

I left mine at 29.97 but the rest seemed to do the trick. It still looks better when you click the button that makes it 320X240.

Intelligent Assistance has a pdf on web encoding recipes, with a special section on encoding for YouTube.

http://www.proappstips.com/EncodingRecipes/

Since I don't have access to any of the three programs they use for examples, I think I will save my $4.95 for a sandwich instead.

I'll bet that they use the same general rules I followed, since my three minute video came in at just under 50MB and a six minute video would come in just under the 100MB maximum.

so (acorcding to that link) I have have sorenson squeeze or some program to be able to make my YouTube videos look the best?

No, they just use those programs as example, I imagine.

If you try my way, and you are happy, then great. If my way does not work for you, let's figure out why.

It works for Mr. Deity, and it works for me, so I am done searching.

Well, the pdf certainly doesn't imply that you need to use one of their software choices to get optimum results. As a matter of fact, they clearly state that there are other options such as Procoder that will do just as well.

YouTube does limit the size of your source media upload, so you want to make sure you're maximizing your quality by submitting the least compressed file possible, no matter which codec you choose to send their way.

Well, yes, within reason. I doubt that I could double the data rate and get any realistically more quality out of their Flash encode. Plus, knowing that I could go from three minutes to six minutes and still use the same preset does give me some comfort.

The PDF clearly shows that they use three different programs, and I don't own any of the three.

The old adage of GIGO applies. Since you have to submit pre-compressed source media to YouTube (you're limited to 100 MB), you will likely experience better encodes to YouTube's Spark H.263 codec if you opt for maximizing your file size within their 100 MB limit. Obviously, depending on a number of factors, your particular clips may or may not see an appreciable boost in quality for pushing the file size limit. But why not give it all you got?

With proper video encoding software, you should have the option to limit your output file size by total MB. If you don't own such software, or you opt to export directly out of your editing app, the math isn't really all that complicated to come in under the 100 MB target.

Thanks for the replies, that tennis vid is actually pretty high quality, good work.

10 Minutes is pretty short, and I am shooting everything in 16x9. Does YouTube not allow wide screen?

Google Video has no limits. Anyone have experience getting stuff on Google? Is it a lot more difficult getting a 20-30 minute wide screen movie on Google for example? Anyone have ideas on best output format for google?

ERIC, As for encoding software, is the standard premiere encoder ideal? If not, what do you recommend?

Cheers,
Michael

ERIC, As for encoding software, is the standard premiere encoder ideal? If not, what do you recommend?
Honestly, I don't have enough experience with Premiere (I edit with FCP) to speak with much insight to its capabilities. However, I know that it's not a compression tool per sé. It allows some adjustments, but certainly not the level of control needed for pro compression tasks. I would point to Canopus Procoder or Sorenson Squeeze as the primary compression tools of choice on the Windows platform. In an ideal world, you would have one of those programs available. However, I realize the expense of such software isn't always justified. If you're dissatisfied with the results provided by Premiere, though, it's probably time to consider a compression tool.

As for YouTube, there is no current way to get 16:9 material properly encoded. You would have to letterbox your material in a 4:3 window.

Thanks for the response.

Curious, is Canopus Procoder also ideal for encoding HDV to SD?

Thanks,
Michael

Yes, Procoder can interpret M2T transports. I haven't used it for that job, but it is listed as a capability.

One of the least expensive ways to handle YouTube exports for Premiere Pro users is to pay for Quicktime Pro. The Quicktime export from Premiere Pro leaves a lot to be desired. Since all Macs have Quicktime as a part of their OS, they don't have to pay extra to get that quality from FCP.

Actually, QuickTime Pro is not included with the OS on a Macintosh. The reason you get QuickTime Pro functionality if you're running FCP is because you get QT Pro when you install FCP, so it's included with the Final Cut Studio suite, but not with the operating system.

I stand corrected.

I'll also be chopping some of my video as it's shot in HDV and I'll be going to 4:3

I have after effects so I am thinking that may be the best program to handle this in? Or is premiere sufficient for this? or another program ideal? Any suggestions on that?

I do it in Premiere Pro. It is simply a matter of creating a project using a smaller frame size and importing the HDV material into it. I find that the video I use for a 60" HDTV is different that the stuff I want on a video iPod for example.

Use an interview or discussion between two people. You use a 16:9 shot to capture them both, sitting facing each other. Great for the TV, but bad for the tiny screen. So you use the material in a 4:3 SD project and you find that you can isolate each person by using the full resolution of the HDV in the smaller frame. It feels like you zoomed in but you merely failed to zoom out.

I have taken this to the next level and created a 320X240 project and used HDV footage. Talk about zooming in!!!

Interesting, basically shoot with one boring angle, then play around with it and you'll have multiple angles and shots for a web video...

I would think about doing this in After Effects, since it sounds like it is more effective at resizing the video... at least if you plan on using it for SD output at some point for DVD or whatnot...

Not to change the topic, but HDV in After Effects has known issues (without Aspect HD).

http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?id=332583

More and more I hear about Aspect.. sounds pretty important.

Then again, people that are using Aspect are also using ProCoder it sounds like for their encoding... that's an extra $1k just to make premiere work properly with HDV... I wasn't expecting this when I decided to go with adobe as my suite...

This new speededit software sounds pretty cool... $400 and it's an entire NLE with the fastest transcoding available... so far extremely good reviews...

I'm determined to get a workflow here that is extremely efficient and extremely effective but not looking at throwing money at the problem if I can avoid it... the quicktime encoder may be the trick for web video... I am having severe problems getting my HDV into a format that I can back it up. Won't go back to tape (cuts out halfway through transoding), looks like it will take a 12-24 hour period to get a WM9 HDV file out for a 20 minute video which is way to time consuming for me, not to mention it very likely may stop working half way through... I am on Vista, probably going to change to XP in the next day or so and see if that helps...

Check few different settings for different encoders:
http://www.squidoo.com/youtuberight/

I try now to avoid You Tube/Google Video after discovering Brightcove - its free and growing in popularity and I have received tons of emails from people asking how I got such good quality on my vids - sure it has something to do with the way Brightcove encodes but also because I convert from HDV Cineform using Sorenson

Here is a link: http://www.brightcove.com/title.jsp?title=756022217&channel=712914570

(The music is crazy watch out! Thats the dutch for you!)