Better Compression

[Shadowblade]

I have Corel VideoStudio Pro X5 and I'd like to get better file compression without losing quality. I get files which are something like 600 MB for 5 or six minutes but when when I upload them to YouTube, for example, they end up about 200 MB at 1080p without any loss of image quality. Other people have 1080p movies that run 30 minutes and are only 300 MB when on YouTube.

I assume they YouTube uses something to compress them when they are uploaded, but how would I do this myself beforehand to save time and money? Are there codec packs which will give better compression?

Many Thanks

~

[canuck]

So why not post what settings you are using? All you have set you get files of a certain size which really tells us nothing.

[Shadowblade]

I'm asking about codecs, not settings. I am using the default codecs that came with the Corel software and I'd like to know if I can get better ones.

For example, a supra-GB, 4 minute uncompressed AVI file can be edited in a VSP project and exported as a:

431 MB mp4 file
545 MB mt2 file
659 MB wma file

and the quality looks so similar it's not worth the extra size for the WMA file. I tried exporting as a PSP H264.mp4 and the size was 0.028 MB, but the quality was like a 1992 Tandy.

But after uploading the 545 MB mt2 file, it looks exactly the same in 1080p HD on YouTube, but downloads as a 180 MB flv file.

13 year old kids on YouTube have uploaded 1080p HD videos that last 30 minutes and are 300 MB. My 4:20 video is 180.9 MB, but before I upload it it.s 545 MB.

So what are YouTube doing to it?

Similarly, are there any better codecs than the default, so I can do it as well, or will I have to get separate software like Virtualdub which can use 3rd party codecs to take my exported project and just compress it?


Cheers!

~.~

[lata]

Hi

As far as I know You Tube re-code your uploads to Flash

The PSP H264.mp4 template uses these settings.
When you select Share Create Video File the save window shows the conversion properties in the lower panel.

MPEG-4 Files
24 bits, 320 x 240, 30 fps
Frame-based
H.264 Main Profile Video: 768 Kbps
48000 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo
MPEG AAC Audio: 128 Kbps

The frame size is very small and probably only suitable for a mobile phone?

Video Studio has a Make Movie Templates Manager, here you can customise many formats creating your own templates. Changing the data rate will influence the file size.
If you need quality then you have size, yes some formats may be smaller than another.
Choose the data rate that gives you quality against size. Beauty is in the eye….

Try Upload to Web HD Mp4, or use the manager to create your own template.
This will use 1280 x 720 for widescreen.
If you want full HD 1920 x 1080

As you live in the UK take into the Pal standard using 25fps, many internet video use 30fps, converting your video from 25 to 30 will impact on quality

[Shadowblade]

Hi

As far as I know You Tube re-code your uploads to Flash

<snip>

Try Upload to Web HD Mp4, or use the manager to create your own template.
This will use 1280 x 720 for widescreen.
If you want full HD 1920 x 1080

As you live in the UK take into the Pal standard using 25fps, many internet video use 30fps, converting your video from 25 to 30 will impact on quality

Thanks, that's quite helpful, but Corel doen't seem able to render projects as flv files. This is a shame if the size is reduced by 1/3 with no real loss of quality.

Is there an mp4, mt2 or wma to Flash converter I could get?

I am not sure what the best format and settings are, but I took the video and tried what looked like the best and a few others of several formats. I still haven't tried them all but the best so far were the three I quoted. My monitor is a 16:10 1920x1200, but I video capture the movie as uncompressed, full frame AVI 1920x1080 16:9 at 45 fps and so try to use the same resolution when exporting the project, but converting from 45 to 25 fps doesn't seem to affect quality much.

If YouTube changes them to 30 fps, then I should render my projects at at least 30 fps, yes?

I haven't tried "Upload to Web HD Mp4", as I thought that it would actually Upload to the Web!

I am very new at this. But I'll try that today.


Thanks very much!

~

[lata]

Hi

Flash was supported by Corel Video Studio up to X5, it now uses WebM type files. Do a Google search regarding WebM files.

I mentioned Pal and 25 fps, if your source files use that rate then you should try to keep to 25fps, converting that to 30 simply adds duplicate frames which may be noticeable during playback as a blip.

Try the Upload to Web option, it will render the video to Mpeg4, ( one minute approx 31 MB) then opens a window prompting you to log on. simply close the window.
There is a duration limit of 15 minutes, so keep the tests short.

View the properties used for this option then use Make Movie Templates Manager to create a similar template, now you can control the bit rate (data Rate) to modify quality against file size.

The size HD 1280 x 720 is good quality but you can also try 1920 x 1080

[Shadowblade]

Cheers,

I tried that Web Upload thing (1280x720 )and it was 145 MB instead of 431 MB

I also created a Movie Manager Template at 1920x1080 with H264 and that came out at a little under 176 MB.

The quality does suffer a little, mostly with distance things, cloud and mist detail etc, so maybe I can solve the quality and size issues if I can make flv files?

I'm still not sure of the best codec to use in the custom template, but I can experiment.


Many Thanks!

~