Selecting Codecs and Quality Settings Exporting QuickTime Videos

Choosing Your QuickTime Video Codec

Here are some tips for selecting codecs and quality settings exporting QuickTime Videos.



If you need to export your videos out of Final Cut Pro, MPEG Streamclip, QuickTime Pro, on any QuickTime based application then here are a few codecs that you can choose from. Using DV/DVCPro, DVCPro50 and Uncompressed 8-bit 4:2:2 codecs can work out well for you. Here are some scenarios when you would use each of the codecs.

When you're finished with your video project many times you have to delivery content in a web based format, on DVD, on Mobile Devices or some other type of delivery. Having a video file that be stored or used in a compression application is important. Using the DV/DVCPro codec to export a video will allow you to keep your file size down. When space for storing all of your videos is an issue the DV/DVCPro codec is a good option.

Now if you want to double the quality of your video output for storage and encoding later in your favorite compression application, using DVCPro50 is a excellent choice. You can use DVCPro50 when you still have limited storage but can handle the ability to store a little larger file. You can double your quality if you edit your project using the DV/DVCPro codec then output using the DVCPro50 codec. DVCPro50 is twice the file size and quality of DV/DVCPro.

If file size is no issue then you can use the Uncompressed 8-bit 4:2:2 codec which will produce a very large file but you'll end up with excellent quality. Remember if you are going to later encode your content you want to make sure you have a high quality video file and using the Uncompressed 8-bit 4:2:2 Codec will give you far superior quality then that of DVCPro50.

Setting Your Quality Setting



If you're producing an output file using a QuickTime Codec for storage or for compression later then usually there's not a really good reason not to use the highest Quality setting of Best. With the Best Quality setting your video will take longer to export. However, having the higher quality video file that is produced is worth the wait. If you want your video to finish exporting quicker and are willing to take a quality hit then you can choose the High Quality setting.

Brazil’s Arycom to Resell Streambox ACT-L3 Solutions

Streambox Inc. today announced that it has formed a partnership with Arycom, a major provider of satellite telecommunications services, to resell Streambox ACT-L3 solutions in the Brazilian marketplace. Through the partnership, Arycom will leverage its expertise in turnkey satellite and IP-based solutions to broaden Streambox’s presence in key vertical markets including broadcasting, government, telecommunications, and the military.

Based in São Paulo, Brazil, Arycom is a leading provider of satellite capacity and services through the Inmarsat and Iridium satellite systems. The company’s core competencies in fixed and mobile IP technologies for land, air, and sea-based applications offer clear synergies with Streambox’s IP-centric solutions for newsgathering, video transport, and content aggregation. Based on the industry-leading ACT-L3 codec, Streambox’s software-based solutions enable broadcasters, government agencies, and enterprises to deliver high-quality live and file-based broadcast video from the field using low cost, low-data-rate IP connections.

Streambox and Arycom will be conducting a ‘road show’ in Brazil, scheduled for March 23-27, 2009. The objective for the ‘road show’ is to highlight the joint capabilities of the two companies and to do hands-on presentations of how broadcasters and other key user groups can stream high-quality, low cost SD and HD video over a variety of IP networks.

“Arycom is the ideal partner to help us expand our market presence in Brazil. The company’s deep experience in IP- and satellite-based technologies and solutions offers a natural fit with the Streambox portfolio of products,” said Bob Hildeman, chairman and CEO at Streambox. “In addition, we will be able to leverage Arycom’s established relationships with suppliers and major Brazilian broadcasters, as well as its excellent network and customer base in our traditional vertical markets.”

“The Brazilian broadcasting landscape is becoming intensely competitive as broadcasters race to become early adopters of the latest technologies. As a result, there is strong demand for turnkey ENG and IP-based video solutions,” said Svante Hjorth, CEO of Arycom. “Streambox’s software-based newsgathering and video transport solutions will give us powerful leverage as we seize this market opportunity with broadcasters as well as other key industry groups we already target.”

On2 Extends Relationship with Skype in New Strategic Agreement

On2 Technologies, a leader in video compression solutions, today announced that it has signed a new agreement with Skype, the world's leading online communications company, to extend Skype's relationship licensing On2's video codec technology.

Millions of people every day use Skype software to communicate with others through free voice and video calls. On2's technology provides encoding, scaling, pre-processing and post-processing of video on Skype. On2 supported the launch of video on Skype in 2005 with the integration of the On2 VP7 codec with Skype 2.0 for Windows. Since that time, Skype launched High Quality Video in October 2007, calling on the On2 codec, allowing users with as little as 0.5mbps available bandwidth to enjoy full screen video calls at VGA resolution. The On2 codec is also used in the recently announced Asus AiGuru SV1 Skype Certified Videophone. The new agreement is intended to pave the way for the On2 codec to migrate along with the Skype service to a diverse array of new devices such as the AiGuru SV1 videophone.

"On2 and Skype hold the same vision for video communications and through our close cooperation we have overcome the barriers keeping video calling out of reach for many," said Matt Frost, Interim CEO and Chief Operating Officer of On2 Technologies. "In the future, you can expect to see even better video quality requiring even less bandwidth, and this will help to make video calling even more commonplace."

The superior compression performance of the On2 codec makes High Quality Skype video calls possible even over data rate connections as low as 300kbps. Among the numerous quality-enhancing innovations in On2 video codecs is Golden Frames, which enables a sharp background image to be maintained with minimal data when the subject in the foreground is continually moving. This feature is also extremely beneficial for packet-loss recovery. On2 video codecs also require far less CPU power for full duplex live video than other compression formats, enabling Skype users with older and less powerful PC systems to enjoy high quality video calls, and allowing stand-alone devices like the AiGuru SV1 videophone to be produced cost effectively, using less expensive processor technology.

"Bringing a great video calling experience to the average consumer is one of Skype's key priorities, and we see On2 as a key partner in helping us deliver this," said Manrique Brenes, Skype's Director of Business Development and Product Management for Consumer Electronics. "Using On2's codecs along with extensive software development and optimization work by engineering teams at Skype, we are able to help consumers overcome bandwidth constraints and deliver best-in-class free video calling for consumers."