My HDV Ecode for You Tube Look Terrible

Eric Gulbransen · July 19th, 2007, 07:14 PM

Hey Jon, did you ever find a way to get your HDV videos looking better on Youtube? I have the exact same problem as you, still. And just like you, I've searched this forum and others, read every post, googled my pants off, and sent a boat load of HDV clips up there in all sorts of different formats and settings. I've even downloaded special compression settings for Compressor which were specifically made for Youtube by some web video genius. Nothing doing - they all look terrible.

Emre Safak · July 19th, 2007, 09:37 PM

Have you ever seen anything on Youtube that does not look terrible?

Eric Gulbransen · July 19th, 2007, 11:16 PM

That's good. I like that comment ; )

When I say terrible though, I mean compared to the crap that's already up there. For some reason it seems that the higher quality HDV content looks worse than SD. For me at least.. and possibly Jon

Jon Jaschob · July 20th, 2007, 11:06 AM

No, I found no way to get anything I've done to look "good" on uTube. Seems one must serve ones own flv's if you want quality. Otherwise your at the mercy of whatever crazy compression these video server people think up. I can just see it, some project manager who knows nothing about anything saying....
"No goddamnit, it must work with dialup!"
Jon

Eric Gulbransen · July 20th, 2007, 11:21 AM

I hear you Jon, but what pisses me off is that I DO find videos on Youtube that look far better than what I can get up there when the video comes from HDV. That's the part that I especially don't get. I have seen vids up there that look decent. Even some that come from this forum. So somebody knows something that I don't - which is pretty much the way my days go all the time. SOS...

Jon Jaschob · July 20th, 2007, 11:34 AM

I think the main difference is movement within the video.
Here is a video that "moves" on uTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK8HNVYPIhE
Here is the same video on my server:
http://www.fotgfilms.com/video/woof.html
BTW this was shot SDDV
Now, here is a slower paced video shot in HD
uTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Bst3nmQVqE
My server:
http://www.fotgfilms.com/video/holidays.html

So maybe with just the right content and lucky duck transcoding someone might get a video to look ok on uTube. But I bet if I sent them this, they couldn't get it to look good, no matter what they tried....
uTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd-NfNhWgY4
my server:
http://www.fotgfilms.com/video/agogo.html

Ok, enough of my shameless self promotion, but I think you'll get the idea.
Jon

Chris Hocking · July 20th, 2007, 07:26 PM

Eric, did you try my suggestion?

Here's two samples that used the settings I suggested:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=74j5WzW-6j4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQyha30nm6k

Jon Jaschob · July 20th, 2007, 08:04 PM

And Chris's videos pretty much support my post above...locked camera, not too much motion. The dance part turned out really good btw. My Happy Holidays video came out fine and is 720p to 320x240@ 24fps (letter box). What leaves me scratching my head tho, why the hell do we need to upload 100mb+ files when a final files size using mpeg4 can be 20mb or less. Makes no sense, and is a huge waste of time. I'm sticking with my project manager story, it's the only logic I can find in this whole mess.
Jon

PS if you have Compressor, looks like Chris has the answer!

Chris Hocking · July 20th, 2007, 08:09 PM

I'll upload something with some camera movement and lots of motion shortly to see how that goes.

Also, you don't need Compressor to do the conversion. I've just been using Quicktime Pro to compress my files.

Eric Gulbransen · July 20th, 2007, 08:15 PM

Chris, how do you check to see what size your export video will be? I never knew you could do that. Man would knowing this have saved me time in the past...

Chris Hocking · July 20th, 2007, 08:17 PM

As far as I know - you can't.

Jon Jaschob · July 20th, 2007, 10:22 PM

Let us know how it goes Chris.
Thanks,
Jon

Eric Gulbransen · July 20th, 2007, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Hocking

As far as I know - you can't.

I guess I misunderstood your instructions then "Check to see if you're export is under 300MB." Too bad, that would be one cool trick!

I'm trying your settings now. I'll let you know how this works out. Thanks for offering the extra help. I feel like I'm back in 9th grade algebra with a tutor again...

Eric Gulbransen · July 20th, 2007, 10:41 PM

Chris,

No kidding. I just followed your process to a "T". You're a genius. COMPLETELY different results.

Aside from everything else I have tried, I almost gave slamming my head in the doorway a go. Now, no need.

Thank you very much Chris.

Chris Hocking · July 22nd, 2007, 12:32 AM

Here's something with a lot of motion:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03RljmnUv8E

It doesn't look nearly as good as a "static camera shoot", but it's still watchable. The main thing that looks "bad" is the transitions/dissolves - they really stand out.

July 20th, 2007, 11:06 AM	#19
Jon Jaschob Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 232	no way no how No, I found no way to get anything I've done to look "good" on uTube. Seems one must serve ones own flv's if you want quality. Otherwise your at the mercy of whatever crazy compression these video server people think up. I can just see it, some project manager who knows nothing about anything saying.... "No goddamnit, it must work with dialup!" Jon

July 20th, 2007, 11:34 AM	#21
Jon Jaschob Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 232	Depends on the content... I think the main difference is movement within the video. Here is a video that "moves" on uTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK8HNVYPIhE Here is the same video on my server: http://www.fotgfilms.com/video/woof.html BTW this was shot SDDV Now, here is a slower paced video shot in HD uTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Bst3nmQVqE My server: http://www.fotgfilms.com/video/holidays.html So maybe with just the right content and lucky duck transcoding someone might get a video to look ok on uTube. But I bet if I sent them this, they couldn't get it to look good, no matter what they tried.... uTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd-NfNhWgY4 my server: http://www.fotgfilms.com/video/agogo.html Ok, enough of my shameless self promotion, but I think you'll get the idea. Jon

July 19th, 2007, 07:14 PM	#16
Eric Gulbransen Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Palo Alto, California Posts: 520	Hey Jon, did you ever find a way to get your HDV videos looking better on Youtube? I have the exact same problem as you, still. And just like you, I've searched this forum and others, read every post, googled my pants off, and sent a boat load of HDV clips up there in all sorts of different formats and settings. I've even downloaded special compression settings for Compressor which were specifically made for Youtube by some web video genius. Nothing doing - they all look terrible.

July 19th, 2007, 09:37 PM	#17
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	Have you ever seen anything on Youtube that does not look terrible?

July 19th, 2007, 11:16 PM	#18
Eric Gulbransen Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Palo Alto, California Posts: 520	That's good. I like that comment ; ) When I say terrible though, I mean compared to the crap that's already up there. For some reason it seems that the higher quality HDV content looks worse than SD. For me at least.. and possibly Jon

July 20th, 2007, 11:21 AM	#20
Eric Gulbransen Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Palo Alto, California Posts: 520	I hear you Jon, but what pisses me off is that I DO find videos on Youtube that look far better than what I can get up there when the video comes from HDV. That's the part that I especially don't get. I have seen vids up there that look decent. Even some that come from this forum. So somebody knows something that I don't - which is pretty much the way my days go all the time. SOS...

July 20th, 2007, 07:26 PM	#22
Chris Hocking Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 595	Eric, did you try my suggestion? Here's two samples that used the settings I suggested: http://youtube.com/watch?v=74j5WzW-6j4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQyha30nm6k

July 20th, 2007, 08:04 PM	#23
Jon Jaschob Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 232	And Chris's videos pretty much support my post above...locked camera, not too much motion. The dance part turned out really good btw. My Happy Holidays video came out fine and is 720p to 320x240@ 24fps (letter box). What leaves me scratching my head tho, why the hell do we need to upload 100mb+ files when a final files size using mpeg4 can be 20mb or less. Makes no sense, and is a huge waste of time. I'm sticking with my project manager story, it's the only logic I can find in this whole mess. Jon PS if you have Compressor, looks like Chris has the answer!

July 20th, 2007, 08:09 PM	#24
Chris Hocking Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 595	I'll upload something with some camera movement and lots of motion shortly to see how that goes. Also, you don't need Compressor to do the conversion. I've just been using Quicktime Pro to compress my files.

July 20th, 2007, 08:15 PM	#25
Eric Gulbransen Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Palo Alto, California Posts: 520	Chris, how do you check to see what size your export video will be? I never knew you could do that. Man would knowing this have saved me time in the past...

July 20th, 2007, 08:17 PM	#26
Chris Hocking Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 595	As far as I know - you can't.

July 20th, 2007, 10:22 PM	#27
Jon Jaschob Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 232	Let us know how it goes Chris. Thanks, Jon

July 20th, 2007, 10:41 PM	#29
Eric Gulbransen Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Palo Alto, California Posts: 520	Chris, No kidding. I just followed your process to a "T". You're a genius. COMPLETELY different results. Aside from everything else I have tried, I almost gave slamming my head in the doorway a go. Now, no need. Thank you very much Chris.

July 22nd, 2007, 12:32 AM	#30
Chris Hocking Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 595	Here's something with a lot of motion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03RljmnUv8E It doesn't look nearly as good as a "static camera shoot", but it's still watchable. The main thing that looks "bad" is the transitions/dissolves - they really stand out.