X2 create a video file for YouTube

[Planet Otoss]

Hey,

I am using Video Studio Pro X2 to work with standard definition 16:9 .avi files captured from a mini dv camera.
Normally when I finish a project I just create a video file using the Same As Project Settings option to create a .avi file with no compression for playback on my PC.
I tried using the youtube uploader and was shocked how poor the video quality was...In the past I have experimented with creating a video file for youtube but my video's always appeared to be jumpy and miss frames once uploaded and took a long time to load, I read somewhere once to save the video as a HD .wmv file which did improve the picture quality alot but didnt solve the missing frames or the long load time.

Does anyone know how to create a video file for youtube using Video Studio X2?

Peace
Dave

[Ron P.]

Welcome to the forums,

Are you using the Upload to YouTube in VS X2? If so that has some limitations, such as the file type, and also the duration. Since you apparently have tried using DV (avi) as the file to upload and you feel the quality was bad, I'm not sure what you may have done for the quality to suffer to that degree. YouTube does have recommendations listed for uploading. You can check YouTube's FAQ's for that.

I've used WMV as the file type, and YouTube seems to do a decent job with their conversion to FLV, and not degrade it much. If you're using SD, not HD, then up-resing your video is not going to help it. You know how the saying goes, You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear. Just try to keep the properties the same as that of your source clips. You should have a WMV profile that is close to that. You can also try rendering an MPEG-4 video file, or an MPEG-2. Then go to your YouTube page and upload the video from there.

It used to be thought that rendering to FLV would help with YouTube's processing time, but I've recently found that this is really no longer true. I've had real quick turn around using other formats such as MPEG-2 or WMV, and the quality was not really hurt.

[Black Lab]

Since YouTube is going to re-encode whatever you upload to them, I always upload the highest quality video file that will fit within their size parameters which, in my case, is usually a dv-avi file. Of course it will take a while to upload, because you are giving them the biggest file allowed.

I think the quality is good for SD video. You can see examples by clicking on my YouTube link below my signature.

EDIT: I will add that I do not use the automatic uploader. I create a video file and use YouTube to upload it.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

A little concerned that you get dropped frames when converting to WMV – HD
Maybe we shoyuld address that first?
When you create the WMV first render your project to DV-Avi
then convert this file to your youtube option.. Use the DV-Avi to convert to other formats rather than the project.
Does that cure the dropped frames?

You could simply convert Dv-Avi to Mpeg2 files
From Share Create Video File.

The options are endless, some may take longer to render, file sizes will vary,
quality should be similar, it’s the one you prefer.
Uploading times will vary with the files size, Flash may be the smallest option.
I have a few videos on Youtube using various compressions.

Use Make Movie Manager to create your own template.

Microsoft AVI files
24 bits, 1280 x 720, 25 fps
Frame-based
Microsoft MPEG-4 Video Codec V1
PCM, 48.000 kHz, 16 Bit, Stereo

FLASH Files
24 bits, 1280 x 720, 25 fps
Frame-based
22.050 KHz, 16 bits, Stereo

QuickTime Movie Files
24 bits, 1280 x 720, 25 fps
Frame-based
MPEG 4 Visual
50% Quality, 24 Key Frame Rate
None, 8.000 KHz, 8 bits, Mono

[Planet Otoss]

Hey,

I am editing with Standard Definition .avi files captured from a mini dv camcorder with an aspect ratio of 16:9.
I would like to upload these video's in the highest possible quality.

Here is a test video I uploaded using the source footage in a dv-avi format.



The video quality is very poor and jumpy compared to the original and takes a long time to load compared to other youtube videos (even HD) that i compared loading times with.
Does anyone else notice the long loading time? Ive only watched it on one pc.

I have heared that saving it as a HD video file and uploading it will give you a much sharper picture quality, so I followed this tutorial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKKI7f9tVPk to create a HD Mpeg-2 video file for youtube.

The results are a very jumpy video, in the tutorial it recomends using a Constant Bit Rate (CBR) of 10Mbps, other tutorials I have read recomend 5Mbps and use a Variable Bit Rate (VBR) with a two pass encode.
So I decided to have a play around and post the results to you tube I have done a 5Mbps CBR test, a 10Mbps CBR test and a 5Mbps VBR test, the 10Mbps VBR test wouldnt even play on my pc so I havent uploaded it.

Mpeg-2 1280x720 CBR 10Mbps (As recomended by the tutorial)


Mpeg-2 1280x720 CBR 5Mbps


Mpeg-2 1280x720 VBR 5Mbps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NZvSGFkvgI

They all play extremely jumpy on my pc...how do they play for you?

Peace
Dave

[Ron P.]

I didn't see a problem with them. Played smoothly. What sort of internet connection do you have? I have a very modest DSL broadband. When you're viewing video on the internet, your speed will play a big part of how smoothly it plays, this along with the computer you're viewing it on. It's streaming, so there is an amount buffered before it plays. If the video plays faster than it can download, there will be pauses while it downloads and fills the buffer. This is very present with the HD video. When I watch some HD video from YouTube, I allow almost all of it to download (buffer) before I play it.

[Ken Berry]

I have to agree with Ron. All videos played smoothly on my system too -- apart for the occasional shake from a hand-held camcorder.

[Trevor Andrew]

Same here, I have to agree with Ken & Ron
I have no problems viewing the videos, Full screen with HD where appropriate.

As for upload times, did you try Flash, this should produce good video with a much lower file size. Your upload time should be quicker.

This will not however improve your viewing, you have to investigate at your internet speed.

[Clevo]

I didn't spot any jumpy problems either...