How to raise quality of SL videos for YouTube?

My workflow is: Fraps (SL window size: 1024x76, Sony Vegas (640x480), render as mov (640x480) and export in Quicktime Pro to mp4 (640x480). Then upload to YouTube.

Even on HD the video in YouTube is blurry. I've tried to raise settings in Sony Vegas to 1280x960, and I've kept this ratio for mov and mp4. The video looks better on YouTube, but still blurred.

What are the best settings to make sharp videos?

I shoot at 1280x720 and process to about a 7k datarate.

Examples: http://www.youtube.com/user/OspreyTherian

hi Paulo...I find that the AVS Video Converter version 6.2 is pretty good software for rendering to mpeg4...you can use DivX/XviD compatible or H.264 AVC settings with bit rate set to or above 5000 for your final rendering to .MOV format and I am pretty sure you would get a decent HD picture on youtube.

www.avs4you.com

Why are you passing it through so many codec's?

YouTube accepts huge files (in mb) as long as they are not over 10 minutes long. They give you the specs for uploading, simply follow that. Keep any form of compression down to a minimum, let YouTube do that, otherwise you will compound the compressions.

In Sony Vegas, always, always, set your PIXEL size and SHAPE before setting a format resolution (640x480 etc etc), then when you setup your crop window templates... you will always get the best and most consistent quality.

Depending on what you are trying to acheive, start by using a square pixel, then choose the format/resolution of your choice. You output can look more blurry than your capture screen, because you are not using the correct pixel size/shape. Once you match the resolution to the pixel shape, the media will be much sharper and easier to render. Dont always accept the default.. they are great for TV screens, NOT computer screens.

Don't use the mp4 codex.. when mixed with the flv codex during YT conversion, it will become lossy, MP4 is already lossy. You can use mp4 as a format (wrapper) as opposed to say MOV. FLV is a wrapper and a codex, you cannot interchange them. MP4 is both a wrapper and a codec but, you can put a H.264 codec into a mp4 wrapper, and vice versa. They are both a protocol and a compression routine.

Hey AWM. Hehe, because I followed Torley Linden's tuts in the wiki. Also, I didn't know that file sizes are allowed to be so large for YT. Osprey also helped me a lot in setting up a new way of working. I'm not entirely there yet, but I'm working on it.

Do you mean the Pixel aspect ratio in the Porject Properties window? I've set the ratio to 1,0000 (Square).

I won't, anymore. Still it's strange that Torley recommends all these coding steps on his video wiki.

Thanks for replying again AWM. And Osprey too!

Torley is a great guy.. he does things one way to one workflow... MP4 is an agressive compressor (codec), designed to reduce the dbr. Its limited in pixel shape (square) same as the flv. When resampling the source at compression time, it will group pixels in the equation, giving the blocky appearance and artifacts quite often associated with those formats.

Aspect ratios for pixels can be a very useful tool, when mixed with the resolution of the output. For instance, set 640x480, then change the pixel ratio to the various sizes in the selector, see the effect it has on the rendering window.

You have to understand, unless your production is for RL tv, you can virtually ignore those preset templates. Your footage is captured at a non tv format, so why render your movie into a tv format? Your computer monitor is way higher quality and resolution than a tv, so why not take advantage of that?

I have made a lot of movies in portrait format, square and widescreen. My output decisions are based upon what is good for the subject matter, not 2-4 tv formats. There is no reason to stunt your creativity with machinima. If you want to 'future proof' yourself, but still want to use tv formats, just in case you become a celebrity, simply set the 'canvas' format for TV, but crop your work to fit on that.

You said 'I set up pixel to square'... that may not be the best one to use. I have yet to see a screen using square pixels. Depending on the resolution of your capture data, a more rounded size may work better, to reduce bleed.

I get asked one question 1,000's of times... how do I get my movies so sharp?.... believe me, the answer is starring you right in the face.... well and a couple of other small tricks