Compression of Video - 9MB too large fo 3 minute video at DVinfo.net

John Hewat · May 23rd, 2011, 11:45 PM

Hi all,

I've done a job for a real estate company and they have asked us to shrink the video file size of a 3 minute ad to less than what it currently is: 9MB.

They want to host it on their own website as well as YouTube.

I have told them that I will attempt to do so but to understand that quality loss is the way video is shrunk.

The footage originated as EX1 1080p25 footage and I am wondering what is the best/smallest output format to select from Premiere?

Most of my jobs involve maintaining the quality - this is the first one where I've had to think the other way and I have no idea.

Thanks for your help,

-- John

Richard Lucas · June 5th, 2011, 08:10 AM

Wow. 9MB seems pretty stinking small already. I do a lot of web videos about 2 minutes in length and they generally end up just under 100MB (Flash or h.264, 720p).

If I was posed this challenge I'd ask why the size is an issue. It might expose a problem they are having that is actually unrelated to size but tied to something else.

If you really need to cut to the bone you can do a bunch of things like shrinking the video resolutions (320x240), drop frame rate to 10fps or even 5 fps and lower the audio data rate, even reverting to mono.

Sareesh Sudhakaran · June 7th, 2011, 09:53 PM

If you really have to crunch video the best thing to do is lower the resolution to an NTSC/PAL ratio (or lower); but don't compromise on the bit rate or you will lose quality. H.264 offers the best option here.

Also, compress from the original master or timeline if possible. Hope this helps.

May 23rd, 2011, 11:45 PM	#1
John Hewat Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Melbourne, AUSTRALIA Posts: 735	Compression of Video - 9MB too large fo 3 minute video Hi all, I've done a job for a real estate company and they have asked us to shrink the video file size of a 3 minute ad to less than what it currently is: 9MB. They want to host it on their own website as well as YouTube. I have told them that I will attempt to do so but to understand that quality loss is the way video is shrunk. The footage originated as EX1 1080p25 footage and I am wondering what is the best/smallest output format to select from Premiere? Most of my jobs involve maintaining the quality - this is the first one where I've had to think the other way and I have no idea. Thanks for your help, -- John __________________ John Hewat Mammoth Media Productions

June 5th, 2011, 08:10 AM	#2
Richard Lucas Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Sarasota, FL Posts: 55	Re: Compression of Video - 9MB too large fo 3 minute video Wow. 9MB seems pretty stinking small already. I do a lot of web videos about 2 minutes in length and they generally end up just under 100MB (Flash or h.264, 720p). If I was posed this challenge I'd ask why the size is an issue. It might expose a problem they are having that is actually unrelated to size but tied to something else. If you really need to cut to the bone you can do a bunch of things like shrinking the video resolutions (320x240), drop frame rate to 10fps or even 5 fps and lower the audio data rate, even reverting to mono.

June 7th, 2011, 09:53 PM	#3
Sareesh Sudhakaran Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 1,385	Re: Compression of Video - 9MB too large fo 3 minute video If you really have to crunch video the best thing to do is lower the resolution to an NTSC/PAL ratio (or lower); but don't compromise on the bit rate or you will lose quality. H.264 offers the best option here. Also, compress from the original master or timeline if possible. Hope this helps. __________________ Get the Free Comprehensive Guide to Rigging ANY Camera - one guide to rig them all - DSLRs to the Arri Alexa.