FLV videos are suddenly low quality

[Becky_Video]

I recently upgraded both my computer (to an Intel i7 processor) and editing program from VideoStudio X3 to X4. Suddenly, the FLV videos I convert are appalling quality. Just two weeks ago, I was converting videos to FLV on X3 and the quality was fine. If I use any of the standard options for FLV conversion, the video is such bad quality that it's almost smeared. Even when I increase the bitrate to 1000 (the maximum), it's incredibly pixellated, but less smeary.

Has anyone else had this issue? I've tried several different options under Custom, and haven't been able to figure it out.

[teknisyan]

Does the same thing happens when you try to create your own movie template via the MAKE MOVIE TEMPLATE MANAGER? I did create my own template and the video looks fine.

[Ron P.]

Welcome to the forums Becky,

To figure out why we need to know what. Right-click on your video clip in the timeline or library, select properties and post them. Then post the settings you used for rendering to FLV.

Last night after reading your post, I done a few test renders from MPEG-2, 720 x 480, 16:9 video clips to FLV, 720 X 480. I did not get the smearing or pixelating.

[Becky_Video]

I tried Abiel's suggestion of making my own template and entered in an incredibly large file size and that finally created a useable video.

I still can't figure out why the default, and even my custom rendering settings are such awful quality. I've tried what seems like every setting available. I used two different source videos. The first was the original edit which was this:
File format: NTSC HDMV
File Size: 1,128,402 KB
Duration: 455.822 seconds
Video type: H.264 Video
Total frames: 13, 661 frames
Attributes: 24 bits, 1280x720, 16:9
Frame rate: 29.970 frames/sec
Data rate: variable bit rate (Max. 20899 kbps)

Another version I tried was a high-quality MP4 version of the same video
File format: MPEG-4 File
File size: 583,379
Duration: 350.367 seconds
Video type: H.264 Main Profile Video
Total frames: 10,511 frames
Attribules: 24 bits, 1920x1080
Data rate: 15000 Kbps

I tried all 3 standard FLV renderings that Corel provide plus these different custom settings:
-with and without SmartRender
-with and without non-square pixel rendering
-only 30 frames/sec
-various frame sizes, including some standard settings and some user-defined
-I've tried two quality levels (both Lev0 and Lev2)
-tried 300, 600, 900 and 1000 kbps

While I was able to get the video to render to decent quality by making my own template, I don't see why I should have to make a template for each video I need to create that requires different settings. And I have no choice but to create most of my videos as an FLV because my work uses an embeddable player that only accepts .flv.

Let me know if you need any more info to figure this out. I'll be trying a few more combinations of settings but at least I can get through a few projects by doing my own template.

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

As far as I know the default FLV option uses a standard video size not HD.
When I select Share Create Video File –Flash I see two options, you seem to indicate 3 options, is that correct?
The best I see is 640 x 480

Your original files are HD the lowest being 1280 x 720

Please right click a Flash file in the library and select Properties, take note of the size when using the default template.

What quality do you get if you use 1280 x 720 as the flash frame size?

And how big is “an incredibly large file size”??????

Create your own template using Make Movie Templates Manager then they will be available from Share Create Video File.

[Becky_Video]

Hi Trevor. I have three default FLV sizes (320x240, 640x480 and 512x384). Are you working in X4? It's fine that FLV files would be standard, not HD. From what I remember, when I created FLVs in X3, they weren't in HD either yet were far better quality than what I'm getting now. The source video I've been using is better quality than the source video I had been using in previous projects, so I can't see that being the issue.

When I was creating the template, I told it to create a video that was 580,000K, so definitely huge for a 5 minute video. It wouldn't even render that large of an FLV file so I ended up with a 70,000K video or so.

For now, I'll be creating templates, since the way I used to do these doesn't seem to be working...

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Becky

There is something strange here.

Your original video files are using 1280 x 720 and 1920 x 1080, both of these sizes are 16:9 aspect ratio.

You are creating another video files (Flash) using these sizes (320x240, 640x480 and 512x384).
Now these sizes are 4:3 aspect ratio.

Either the frame size will be distorted or a border will be produced around the frame.

Either way you are reducing 1920 and 1280 by a long way, this is going to cause a huge drop in quality.

I would suggest that you use 1280 x 720 frame size when creating the Flash template, leave all other settings as default would give you properties of:-
FLASH Files
24 bits, 1280 x 720, 30 fps
Frame-based
22.050 KHz, 16 bits, Stereo

This should produce a file of approx 15 Mb per minute
-----------------------------------------
If you need a smaller frame size for your flash file then try 512 x 288 (16:9 ratio)
Approx 3 Mb per minute, the quality will be poor.
-----------------------------------------
If your Flash files are being created with a black border then uncheck Non –Square Pixel Rendering from the Options button
-----------------------------------------
Do not use the Create Video File with Specific Size option.