Frustrating Quicktime problem - huge file size

Hi,
We're professional film makers in RL, but pretty new to streaming media into SL, and are having some Quicktime probs which may be 'a page one' thing to you guys.

We're uploading a 5 min movie, but we're getting a file size of about 60 meg after converting from avi full frame, down to 320x240, then out of QT as a hinted movie. Is this right for Quicktime - it seems huge for five mins? If it is, that's fine, but just wanted to check as we have numerous files to stream.

FYI, the Quicktime settings we are using are:

File > Export.

>Movie to QuickTime Movie for Export
>H.264 for Compression Type.
>Current frame rate.
>Automatic for Key Frames.
>Best quality (Multi-pass),
>Restrict to 672.
>Streaming for 'Optimized for'.

>Size - Custom for Dimensions. 496 and 330
>Check - Preserve aspect ratio using Letterbox and Deinterlace Source Video

Sound. >AAC for Format, Stereo (L R) for Channels,
>48kbps for Target Bit rate

>Hinted Streaming for 'Prepare for Internet Streaming'.
>Hints For Server.

These are setting we found that give really nice quality, but comparitvely big files. That is considering though that the full frame, 5 min file is about 250 meg.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a nice 'off the peg' setting for QT movies into SL? In world beer for anyone who can help us out

Cheers,
Duder
Movix Media Studios

Hell, that's not too bad. I'm sitting here with less then 2 minutes and I can't get it down lower then 112MB before the resolution starts to really suffer. I even tried using the H.264 and MPEG-4 Compression...the H.264 seems to be the best way to go.

as for sound, why stereo? Switch it to regular mono if you pipe it through SL and Stereo if you use it on DVD or other media.

Hi Darren,
Well, maybe I'm doing ok then - still seems way to big to me though.

I'm going with stereo as it deosn't really add that much extra to the file size, compared with video. People will stand lower quality video I think, but once the sound starts to suffer, then it really ruins the movie. Just ask all the thousands of low budget movie makers who have spent too much time worrying about the image, and not spared a thought for the sound quality.

Best of luck with your movie,

Duder

It seems a little large but for QT that's not too bad. I'm getting about 14-15M per minute using H.264 at 720x576. As suggested, you can shave a little by switching to mono but it certainly looks as though you're in the ball park. I'm guessing from your reaction you don't do QT streaming in your RL work?

QUOTE: Sound. >AAC for Format, Stereo (L R) for Channels,
>48kbps for Target Bit rate

>Hinted Streaming for 'Prepare for Internet Streaming'.
>Hints For Server. UNQUOTE:

48kbps is a little high for sound to be carried into SL along with a movie track. The movie track will halt and play to sync with the music. 32kbps should be ample.

The Hinted Streaming (H.264) is primarily for RSTP protocols, so unless you are planning to use a server with say Darwin OS to deliver the stream, you are wasting your time. The bandwidth required will be expotential depending on the amount of viewers you have watching and listening to the stream and must remain constant to make it smooth.

Hopefully soon, I can get my hands on the raw footage from you and prepare it, to be hosted and 'streamed' from our dedicated servers, which offer 6.9tb bandwidth.

Hi AWM,
Thanks (again!) for your invaluable advice.
Regarding the 'raw' - still pushing some bits of paper about, and will let you know asap.

Cheers,
Duder