Compression

Can someone point me to some tutorials or other info on how to compress video, as well as suggestions for free software? I'm at sea...

Thank you, clever people...

If you use a PC, you already have good free editing/compression software in Windows Movie Maker. Here is a link to my web pages with complete instructions:
http://www.thinkerer.org/VideoTech/VidtechCamEd.htm
6 pages and you are ready to post a compressed file on YouTube or Blip.tv

I use a different method.... adding strong codec at the end of rendering will get you small data rates for the stream.... but will result in one or both of the following: 1) Increased CPU cycles overheads as the system decoded high compressions on the fly, and or 2) Poor quality.

There are many ways to get both good quality and small overheads, if you balance things correctly during the editing and rendering processes.

Pixel size and shape will alter the aspect ratio of the final movie, choosing the correct shape for the chosen resolution is important to maintain quality.
Choosing the correct resolution output that suits what you want to acheive, must be done before editing stage.
Keeping inshot movements to a minimum will buy you less data stream loadings, use pan and zoom over the timeline, used correctly will enhance your movie with minimal overheads.
Use only transitions that are important to the content of the movie, not every one in the list, just because they are there.
Choose a good quality audio and video codec at rendering stage... view the output file, make any alterations and re-render.
Now, you can add a passive QuickTime codec to the final stream, this will ensure that the system does not have to work hard decompressing on the fly, while streaming.

Hi AWM,

What about when you shoot?

I'm using hypercam and can't figure out what compression or fps to use that is reasonable...I've just decided to use 30fps with no compression which is eating up hard drive space.

I know you use Hypercam too, what settings do you use?

Thinkerer,

You are recommending using what I am using and then compressing to a format. But isn't possible to shoot at a lesser fps to save hard drive space and still get a decent quality?

Hi Dnali,
I use mainly 25-30fps uncompressed at 1600x1200 resolution, and yes, it does eat HD space, thats why I installed a bank of SATA II raid config HD's (4.8tb) for capture. That way I am almost always assured of getting the best possible quality raw data to use. It's obviously not everyones choice but I do make movies for paying clients, so want to offer the best possible.

For some rare scenes, I use the 50fps at Auto Compression, this is for speed flycam scenes, like the one I did through the waterways in Shengrila http://www.wba-advertising.com/shengrila/duchess.html, then I use a tweening programme to slow it down. The drawback is that large solid colour areas become banded.

If you don't want to use large quantities of HD space, try using the Auto function, give it a try but be prepared for everything to be speeded up, which will require intervention on your part during editing.

Thanks AWM, sounds like its time for me to get some serious storage and also start learning about setting up a server (I mean who doesn't want a server or two of their own anyway!?)

Thanks for the info...that long water shot as you know is one of my favs and if it takes HD space, then so be it.