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TICKET ARCHIVE -> How to create mpegs?
tonbo - Dec 19, 2005 - 3:18 pm
All I want to do is to create an mpeg file just like the one at http://www.totheletter.ca/gallery/pa...20MOV00396.MPG
but I can't figure out how to do it, using any of the apps at my disposal, such as QT Pro 7.0, FCP or DVDSP. It just can't be that difficult! I tried an mpeg4, but it looked awful, and I don't even know if the average Windows user will be able to view it.
90% of viewable videos on the Net are simple mpegs . . . how can I produce one in OS X? I can't find the answer anywhere on the Web.
Thanks in advance.
but I can't figure out how to do it, using any of the apps at my disposal, such as QT Pro 7.0, FCP or DVDSP. It just can't be that difficult! I tried an mpeg4, but it looked awful, and I don't even know if the average Windows user will be able to view it.
90% of viewable videos on the Net are simple mpegs . . . how can I produce one in OS X? I can't find the answer anywhere on the Web.
Thanks in advance.
Drumhum - Dec 20, 2005 - 8:27 am
Tonbo,
You do not say what format you wish to convert from. There are a few varieties of mpeg but usually when people refer to"mpeg" they mean mpeg1. Mpeg1 is used in VCD's - which work a bit like DVD movies but of lesser quality - but the format is also used on the web. You can create Mpeg1 movies in quicktime by looking for the VCD export function in QT pro. Its a pretty old format now and you will get much higher quality by using mpeg4. The average windows user should be able to handle this fine. They can always download QT for free if they need to. If you get bad quality with mpeg 4 you need to check the encoding settings. Select one of the "broadband" presets - higher the better. for greater compatibility it might be wise to go to the options section and select the codec "Mpeg-4 basic" rather than h.264. The final product quality will depend on your original movie parameters too though.
For real compatibility with aging windows systems consider using AVI for export. this gives much reduced quality though due to the older technology of the format.
Movie file production can get pretty complex and is indeed quite an art to get perfect! You may wish to look at FFmpegx software...
http://homepage.mac.com/major4
This can convert to many different formats but like everything in life the more control you have the more complicated things can get!
make sure your movie file has the extension in the name (eg movie.avi). Windows likes that;-)
feel free to get back to me if you need further help on this
regards
tom
You do not say what format you wish to convert from. There are a few varieties of mpeg but usually when people refer to"mpeg" they mean mpeg1. Mpeg1 is used in VCD's - which work a bit like DVD movies but of lesser quality - but the format is also used on the web. You can create Mpeg1 movies in quicktime by looking for the VCD export function in QT pro. Its a pretty old format now and you will get much higher quality by using mpeg4. The average windows user should be able to handle this fine. They can always download QT for free if they need to. If you get bad quality with mpeg 4 you need to check the encoding settings. Select one of the "broadband" presets - higher the better. for greater compatibility it might be wise to go to the options section and select the codec "Mpeg-4 basic" rather than h.264. The final product quality will depend on your original movie parameters too though.
For real compatibility with aging windows systems consider using AVI for export. this gives much reduced quality though due to the older technology of the format.
Movie file production can get pretty complex and is indeed quite an art to get perfect! You may wish to look at FFmpegx software...
http://homepage.mac.com/major4
This can convert to many different formats but like everything in life the more control you have the more complicated things can get!
make sure your movie file has the extension in the name (eg movie.avi). Windows likes that;-)
feel free to get back to me if you need further help on this
regards
tom
tonbo - Dec 20, 2005 - 9:52 am
Tom,
Thanks for the detailed answer! Basically, what I'm doing is transferring from my MiniDV camcorder, using Log and Capture in FCP. Then, I have the choice to export it, so I usually choose Quicktime Movie, because there are no options to just make an mpeg. Mpeg4, huh? A Windows machine will see that just as a regular mpeg? The key has to be that they click on the link and without doing anything, the movie appears and starts playing, is not pixellated and doesn't tax their system too much.
All too often I've put up a QT movie only to have them say "There's nothing there" or "I can't download it" or "It won't play". I know AVIs work but then I'd alienate the Mac crowd (I personally hate them). Is the example in the link I posted an mpeg1? Apparently all they did was upload it directly from their camera to their computer and it was already in that format. But it's big, clear and it starts right away--just what I want to be able to do.
I'll try converting from Quicktime to mpeg4 and see if I can up the quality to an acceptable level.
Thanks a bunch for the reply!
--Nick
Thanks for the detailed answer! Basically, what I'm doing is transferring from my MiniDV camcorder, using Log and Capture in FCP. Then, I have the choice to export it, so I usually choose Quicktime Movie, because there are no options to just make an mpeg. Mpeg4, huh? A Windows machine will see that just as a regular mpeg? The key has to be that they click on the link and without doing anything, the movie appears and starts playing, is not pixellated and doesn't tax their system too much.
All too often I've put up a QT movie only to have them say "There's nothing there" or "I can't download it" or "It won't play". I know AVIs work but then I'd alienate the Mac crowd (I personally hate them). Is the example in the link I posted an mpeg1? Apparently all they did was upload it directly from their camera to their computer and it was already in that format. But it's big, clear and it starts right away--just what I want to be able to do.
I'll try converting from Quicktime to mpeg4 and see if I can up the quality to an acceptable level.
Thanks a bunch for the reply!
--Nick
Drumhum - Dec 20, 2005 - 12:17 pm
tonbo,
This is a pretty complex subject and when using a pro app like FCP you get access to the complex pro features of movie encoding. I strongly suggest you read the excellent FCP manual regarding all this. When you export from FCP you can create many different file types, most of which are not suitable for your particular application - many formats are only suitable for specialised use and I feel this may be tripping you up. if you want to export from FCP use the export "using quicktime conversion" menu option and you will get access to a more preset based (ie easier) facility.
You will not alienate the mac crowd if you use the AVI option as it uses the cinepak codec which is perfectly compatible with quicktime.
Understand that quicktime is really just a standards list. If a movie conforms to a standard that is included in the quicktime "list" it can be said to be a quicktime movie. the footage from your camera is in DV format. This is in the list of quicktime codecs and so is a quicktime movie. AVI's are the same but the list was created by microsoft (hence often incompatible with mac and anyone not windows)). Cinepak is a codec that is listed in the quicktime standard as well as the AVI so movies encoded with cinepak will work as both AVI and Quicktime. Mpeg1, Mpeg2, Mpeg4 (used by DVD) are also part of quicktime amongst many others (including audio formats such as WAV, MP3 etc). Matters get even more complicated when you consider that the Mpeg's are also a sort of "set of standards" - for eg an Mpeg4 can be encoded with the new codec H.264 as well as "Mpeg4 basic". There really is no "regular mpeg" technically speaking, though you will be referring to a type of Mpeg1 movie.
For even better results use the Compressor application that came with your FCP. It will provide better encoding and it also has lots of presets that are commonly used on the web.
If all this is rather overwhelming you could also export to "quicktime movie", from FCP, using "current settings". this should produce a movie in DV format (and it will be a large file at that!). Drop this into iMovie and from imovie select "Share" from the file menu. Click on quicktime and use the "web" preset. This is just a way of creating a movie, with the minimum of choices to make (!) that should work for most folk.
Just for the record, the movie you posted is pretty clunky really - its nearly 30MB in size which is far too big for a web download - especially considering the not-too-hot quality! I managed to get this movie to less than 2MB in size yet still providing "acceptable" quality. I've posted it in my webspace for you to see. there's no sound 'cos I forgot to include it! I've also stolen a clip from the Apple quicktime site for you to see how a well encoded movie looks like. This is half the size of your friends Mpeg - note if you play it in your qt player (rather than safari - control click and select download linked file to get the qt file on your desktop) and pull the corner of the movie window to double size it, or even make it full screen, it still looks terrific! I've put the stuff here...
http://www.dragalbum.com
(if that address doesn't work I'll post one that does within 24 hours;-)
Hope all that helps;-)
regards
Tom
This is a pretty complex subject and when using a pro app like FCP you get access to the complex pro features of movie encoding. I strongly suggest you read the excellent FCP manual regarding all this. When you export from FCP you can create many different file types, most of which are not suitable for your particular application - many formats are only suitable for specialised use and I feel this may be tripping you up. if you want to export from FCP use the export "using quicktime conversion" menu option and you will get access to a more preset based (ie easier) facility.
You will not alienate the mac crowd if you use the AVI option as it uses the cinepak codec which is perfectly compatible with quicktime.
Understand that quicktime is really just a standards list. If a movie conforms to a standard that is included in the quicktime "list" it can be said to be a quicktime movie. the footage from your camera is in DV format. This is in the list of quicktime codecs and so is a quicktime movie. AVI's are the same but the list was created by microsoft (hence often incompatible with mac and anyone not windows)). Cinepak is a codec that is listed in the quicktime standard as well as the AVI so movies encoded with cinepak will work as both AVI and Quicktime. Mpeg1, Mpeg2, Mpeg4 (used by DVD) are also part of quicktime amongst many others (including audio formats such as WAV, MP3 etc). Matters get even more complicated when you consider that the Mpeg's are also a sort of "set of standards" - for eg an Mpeg4 can be encoded with the new codec H.264 as well as "Mpeg4 basic". There really is no "regular mpeg" technically speaking, though you will be referring to a type of Mpeg1 movie.
For even better results use the Compressor application that came with your FCP. It will provide better encoding and it also has lots of presets that are commonly used on the web.
If all this is rather overwhelming you could also export to "quicktime movie", from FCP, using "current settings". this should produce a movie in DV format (and it will be a large file at that!). Drop this into iMovie and from imovie select "Share" from the file menu. Click on quicktime and use the "web" preset. This is just a way of creating a movie, with the minimum of choices to make (!) that should work for most folk.
Just for the record, the movie you posted is pretty clunky really - its nearly 30MB in size which is far too big for a web download - especially considering the not-too-hot quality! I managed to get this movie to less than 2MB in size yet still providing "acceptable" quality. I've posted it in my webspace for you to see. there's no sound 'cos I forgot to include it! I've also stolen a clip from the Apple quicktime site for you to see how a well encoded movie looks like. This is half the size of your friends Mpeg - note if you play it in your qt player (rather than safari - control click and select download linked file to get the qt file on your desktop) and pull the corner of the movie window to double size it, or even make it full screen, it still looks terrific! I've put the stuff here...
http://www.dragalbum.com
(if that address doesn't work I'll post one that does within 24 hours;-)
Hope all that helps;-)
regards
Tom
Drumhum - Jan 3, 2006 - 7:41 am
I see from the logs you never read my reply. I have provided further info you may find useful. The files I created and then posted on the web for you, will have to be removed shortly.
regards
Tom
regards
Tom
tonbo - Jan 3, 2006 - 3:14 pm
Hi Tom,
Thanks for the reply! I think I just missed the email telling me you had replied, which was why I hadn't read it. Hmm. It just seems unnecessarily complicated to just produce a quick and nicely-viewable movie on the Web. How do all these Windows people do it so effortlessly? One can assume that they don't have FCP or something similar, or even something of the caliber of iMovie.
I tried making an mp4, the results of which can be seen at www.montrealfood.com/coffeesnow.mov, but even that is plagued with artefacts and is just not that good quality.
I guess the answer is, there isn't a quick and uncomplicated solution--now that I know that, I'll explore the options you've mentioned.
Happy New Year and many more!
--Nick
Thanks for the reply! I think I just missed the email telling me you had replied, which was why I hadn't read it. Hmm. It just seems unnecessarily complicated to just produce a quick and nicely-viewable movie on the Web. How do all these Windows people do it so effortlessly? One can assume that they don't have FCP or something similar, or even something of the caliber of iMovie.
I tried making an mp4, the results of which can be seen at www.montrealfood.com/coffeesnow.mov, but even that is plagued with artefacts and is just not that good quality.
I guess the answer is, there isn't a quick and uncomplicated solution--now that I know that, I'll explore the options you've mentioned.
Happy New Year and many more!
--Nick
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