Please help - Video output for Vimeo

[andyfranks]

Hello,

I'd like to post some videos on Vimeo, please help. I don't know much about videos technically...

They footage was shot in DV CAM on a Sony A1 and the footage and the project is:
PAL (25 fps), Microsoft AVI files, 24 bits, 720 x 576, 16:9, 25 fps, Lower Field First, DV Video Encoder -- type 1
DV Audio -- PAL, 48.000 kHz, 16 Bit, Stereo

Vimeo recommends the following settings:

Codec: H.264 (MP4)
Frame rate: same as shot ie 25 fps
Data rate: 2000 kbps (SD)
Choose 640×480 for 4:3 SD video, 640×360 for 16:9 SD video
If you have the option to control the pixel aspect ratio (not the display aspect ratio), make sure it's set to "1:1" or "1.00," sometimes referred to as "square pixels."
Deinterlacing: Maybe - if you are shooting on an older camera, enable the deinterlacing option. Otherwise, you may get weird-looking horizontal lines in your video. With newer camera models, deinterlacing shouldn't be an issue, so you can leave this option unchecked.

Audio
Codec: AAC (Advanced Audio Codec)
Data rate: 320 kbps
Sample rate: 44.1 kHz

When tying to create the file though the frame size for mp4 though does not seem to give an option for 640x360 on the drop down menu. 640 x 480 seems to make it look stretched? Should I choose 720 x 576 as it originally was? Any thoughts?

Also, what should I do with the box 'perform non square pixel rendering?' and how does that relate to the pixel aspect ratio info?

And what about the bit about deinterlacing - not sure what that means.

Hope you can help - many thanks, Andy F

[lata]

Hi Andy

You mention the project as having DV-Avi properties.
Are you saying that your video file is also DV-Avi

Go to Share – Upload to Web – You Tube or Vimeo HD 16:9
This will use the following properties, these were copied from the Create Video File windows properties panel.

MPEG-4 Files
24 bits, 1280 x 720, 25 fps
Frame-based
H.264 Main Profile Video: 5000 Kbps
44100 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo
MPEG AAC Audio: 128 Kbps

The process may be limited to a time duration, certainly YT is. The completed process will prompt you to upload, i simply close the window, then play the video to test qiality.
If it will not allow you to render, then use the Custom option or make Movie Manager to create a similar template. Then you can control the Data Rate that will control quality against file size, if you wish that is?

Maybe a little explanation.

Interlacing is used for TV playback, it splits the video frame into two halves, then combines them for playback. The two halves being Upper Field and Lower Field, the order that the halves are played is the field order, Upper or Lower Field first. Playing back half frames smoothed the look of the video, modern TV’s HD can handle full frames. Clear as Mud.
Video for the internet and your PC uses full frames aka Frame Based

Non Square Pixel Rendering
Some video is known as anamorphic in that the frame size/shape can be stretched.
Your video frame size shows as 720 x 576, clearly this is not 16:9 ratio, but your video shows as widescreen. (neither is it 4:3)
The pixels are not square, think of then as being rectangular.

The Mpeg 4 video uses 1280 x 720, using a calculator you will see this is 16:9 ratio, the pixels are square, no need for Non Square Rendering

Generally you can leave the option non square Pixel Rendering selected, as default.

[andyfranks]

Hi,

Thanks for this.

The footage was shot in DV CAM though not HD or HDV - how does that affect things?

Thanks, Andy F

[andyfranks]

Hi,

Sorry yes - the captured footage itself seems to be DV-AVI.

Thanks, Andy F

[lata]

Hi Andy

Mini DV camcorders record to DV-AVI, probably one of the easiest formats to work with.

Using Upload to Web HD 16 : 9 will be ok, give it a go to compare your Dv-avi to Mpeg4

[andyfranks]

Hi,

Thanks again. Yes, it was on a Mini DV camcorder.

I can't find the 'Upload to Web' option though - I've gone to Share and there is a Share Video Online option but it has only simple .wmv options.

I have ULead VideoStudio 11 - is that too old?

Thanks, Andy F

[lata]

Hi Andi

yes VS 11 is quite old, I had assumed you were using one of the later versions.

I do not have VS 11 but will look at VS 10 to see what optioms are available

[andyfranks]

Hi,

Yes please - thank you.

I could upgrade potentially if the new programme will open the .vsp files from VS 11? What is the latest?

How would I upgrade? Can I keep 11 on my PC as well?

Let me know how you get on with 10 though.

Thanks again, Andy F

[lata]

Hi Andy

VS 10---From Share Create Video File I see this options

WMV HD PAL (1280x720, 25fps)

The last option Custom will also allow me to set:-

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

So far the only two that will create a HD for YT

[andyfranks]

Hi,

I can't find the WMV HD PAL (1280x720, 25fps) on VS 11...

Am I better off upgrading? What's the latest version? I guess I can buy it from corel.com?

Can I keep 11 on my PC as well?

Will the new version open the VS 11 .vsp file?

Thanks, Andy F

[andyfranks]

Hi,

I meant to ask as well - it was shot in DV CAM but you can still create a HD video for Vimeo?

Thanks, Andy F

[lata]

Hi

Your DV-Avi uses 720 x 576 frame size, if it were square pixels it would use 1024 x 576
Increasing this to 1280 x 720 is not such a big issue and brings the frame size to standard settings. Yes it may be seenas HD but its just a larger frame size.

If you have a HD tv it may well Upscale your standard video to play in 1440 x 1080 giving an improved quality.
I guess that’s what you are doing upscaling the video.

Give it a go and view on the pc to see the quality

[andyfranks]

Hi,

Sorry - I can't find that WMV HD PAL (1280x720, 25fps) option at all.

There is a WMV HD 720 25p which is:

Windows Media Video
24 bits, 1280 x 720, 16:9, 20 fps
Frame-based
22.050 KHz, 16 bits, Stereo
Windows Media Video 8 for Color Pocket PCs (225 Kbps)

But that's a low kbps (?) and 20fps, with no options to change it.

Am I better of upgrading?

Do you know the latest version and whether it will open .vsp VS 11 file? I guess I can just ask corel sales.

[lata]

Hi Andy

The latest version ix X5, you would be best downloading the trial version. That will give you 30 days to test it out.

Project files from VS 11 should open in X5, but once you have saved them with X5 you will be unable to open in VS 11.

Your best option is to use Windows Explorer to copy the VSP files for use in X5, that way you retain the originals for use in VS 11.

[andyfranks]

Hi thanks again - I will try that.

In VS 11 I can do:
MPEG-4 Files
24 bits, 720 x 576, 25 fps
Frame-based
MPEG-4 SP Video: 4000 Kbps, 16:9
44100 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo
MPEG AAC Audio: 256 Kbps

...which looks OK but is it an issue with Vimeo to have the 720 x 576 frame size (or is it just that would it just look better with 1280 x 720)?

Thanks, Andy F