Preferred video formats

[buck000]

OK, I've decided to have my own little corner of the web where we can put out onboard videos of our favorite TX roads.

My plan is to provide a site which can be used in conjunction with twtex.com and Ride Texas (http://www.ridetexas.com/) to further document some of the more fun roads in the state.

For example, click here (http://bitsof.info/us/tx/470-1.WMV) for a rough example of what I'm talking about. I'll eventually add titles, music, etc., but my goal is to at least get some of the cool roads video-fied.

My goal is to have short clips that download fairly quickly, to minimize frustration on a user's part, and bandwidth charges on my side. :)

If I haven't bored you to tears at this point, here's the point of this post: what format would you prefer to see the videos in? If this provokes a "HUH?" on your part, just pick the option in the poll that indicates what operating system you use.

I'll probably offer vids in various formats and sizes over time, but want to give you what you prefer, if possible, right off the bat.

Thanks for any feedback on this, or WAKE UP!!!! as the case may be. :-D

[VFRinAustin]

Wahoo,

Look, I guess everyone wants it in Windows Media, just like me!!!! Oh, but maybe its just because I was the only vote so far.

Well then,

Wahoo,

I was first to vote!!!!

(I need a life)

[scratch]

Cool idea!

Real, Windows Media or Quicktime will work for me. Can't wait to see what else you've captured on video. 8)

I'm just now getting around to buying a digital camera, so it'll be a while before I'll have the $$$ to get a video outfit and make a contribution. Probably just as well, considering that at my typically sedate pace, most folks would be wondering why everything seems to be in slo-mo. :wink:

[Rocket_Cowboy]

Windows Media is probably the easiest for the majority of users. I DivX encode alot of my video, but don't seem to get many complaints from Windows users. When I was doing videos in Quicktime, seems like everyone would complain about the file sizes or trying to get Quicktime installed on their PC.

Really just depends on who your market is. Windows Media will play on just about anything, and worst case MacOS or Linux users need to download a codec in order to watch, but if most of your users are Windows users, thats better than sending everyone searching for the right release of QuickTime or what not.

Just my $0.02 worth.

[buck000]

R_C,

I agree with your sentiments. I notice that you caught that there can be different encoding within a given file extension; I forgot about DivX, thanks.

I've been trying different schemes on my admittedly amateur system. Interestingly, Windows Movie Maker, that comes with XP, yields a pretty decent image, balancing size and quality. I'll get/buy DivX and maybe one or two other formats, if necessary, but I, too, am leaning towards .WMV files, at least to start. At least 6 people will be happy, according to the current poll. :)

Thanks again.

[Rocket_Cowboy]

I started my movie editing life on the Mac using iMovie3. After doing what I thought was some pretty good work there (albeit in QuickTime format ... thus my experience with user complaints and suggestions for better Windows formats) I started buying commercial apps. I haven't done any editing work with Windows Movie Maker, but it should be a god platform to at least get some experience as it removes alot of the complexity as you figure things out. From there you can start looking into higher end packages once you know what you want to do.

[buck000]

I've got Ulead VideoStudio 6, which is pretty cool (and easy): nice titles, transitions, etc.

The thing that's driving me nutty right now is I've downloaded Windows Media 9 and DivX 5.0.5 codecs, but can't seem to convince either ULead studio or Windows Movie Maker (2, just downloaded, nicer than WMM) to find/use them....grrrr....guess this is where conversion apps come in. I can feel the money slipping away....

Edit: spoke too soon, looks like Windows Movie Maker 2 automagically picked up Window Media v9, things are looking a bit better, crummy audio aside :)

[casimir]

Not all codecs are available for non-Windows platforms. If you do use Windows Media, please use the more portable codecs.

[buck000]

casimir, which M$ codecs are most portable? URLs are acceptable answers, too. ;)

[John Bennett]

I hate Quicktime. It doesn't load properly half the time and it tries to take over our system when you install it.

I'm a Real Media kinda guy. It loads much faster than Windoze Media player.

[Chirpy]

You like Real Media?

And you hate Quicktime?

Okay. Are those TPS reports ready?

Ditto the request for portable codecs if you go WMV.

Daryl

[TheCanuck]

Not all codecs are available for non-Windows platforms. If you do use Windows Media, please use the more portable codecs.

Or, just don't use anything propietary to M$, which is why I vote for MPEG, but that's just me. 8)

cheers,
Tom

[texas919]

How about mpegs. That way you WMV folks can play them and us Mac people can still use Quicktime to view them.

Ditto the request for portable codecs if you go WMV.

How do I really feel?


Windows Media Files :biggun:

[Kidder]

I prefer MPEG.

Quicktime sucks. :biggun:

[texas919]

point, counterpoint!

R

[Chirpy]

I prefer MPEG.

Quicktime sucks.

Hmmmm,

What do you think of MPEG4 then?

D

[HiSPL]

Windows media player is available for OS-X IIRC.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/software/Macintosh/osx/default.aspx

I like the quality of quicktime, but for innerweb videos I usually choose WMA/WMV simply because it launches and loads faster. That gets my vote for this application. BTW.......

Real Player :shooter:

[real player] Theres a new version, can I get it for you!!!
[me] no, go away
[real player] OK, just let me put this icon here and this short cut here and this menu here!!!!
[me] no, go away
[real player] Do you wanna see my balloon help bubbles!!!!
[me] no, go away!!!
[real player] Don't forget to check for updates!!!!!!!!!
[me] no, go away
[real player] I like you, can you give me a hug!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[me] What!!!!!! Go away!!!
[real player] Please let me handle all your media files!!!!!!
[me] no, go away
[real player] When you click the little red button, I won't REALLY go away. I'll always be here to help you and remind you of updates!!!
[me] no, go away Really, I mean it GO AWAY!!!
[real player] Theres a new version, can I get it for you!!!
[me] OMG.........















BTW, real player really sucks....
:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Tourmeister]

:lol: That is so true! Winbloze Media player is not much better :roll:

Adios,

[HiSPL]

I agree, however media player for mac is not bad at all. Its a very lightweight, non resource hogging code. Surprizing from M$.

BTW, How many macaddicts do we have here? I'm one. I have a 12 inch Powerbook with an airport setup, and an ancient power mac 6500/250 (still running strong). 8-)

I love 'em both. :chug:

[Chirpy]

Ahhhh, codecs and compression. The modern black arts.

The compression algorithms in iMovie are truly horrible. You can output uncompressed and then use the same settings in Media Cleaner Pro and get about 60-70% smaller file sizes with no apparent loss in image quality.

That's partially because MCP rocks hard, but it's also because the iMovie settings are optimized for low power machines. Faster equals better to the masses.

For the haterz out there, most of the content you see is mastered and manipulated in some variant of Quicktime (which is a general outline of an open spec'd file format, not just a player) and then MCP is used at the last step to output in various file formats. Reason is that QT is the only format that doesn't change the original media during the edit process, most others embed timing and such in the media, QT is all about separate tracks for all the add ons, so the media is unchanged. This allows you to "go back to the well" for additional edits.

As to it's attempting to "take over the machine" any of the modern players asks you if they can do that. Pay attention to the dialog boxes that come up on your screen, they have relavance. Answer "no" and none of them take over anything but their native formats.

Class dismissed.

Or should I have just said "QT rules, the rest drools!"

Daryl