Mac compression programs

schrizo · Post by **schrizo** » Sun Aug 10, 2003 11:34 pm

What's the best way to compress a vid for the internet on a Mac? I've tried multiple codecs and programs and the best I can seem to find is into mpeg1, which just doesn't look that great. My avi files always end up looking like sh!t. Anybody know? I've searched the guides the best solution from that is for mpeg1. The guides describe how to do compression several ways on a PC, but not Mac. By the way, I've got a Powerbook G4, so shouldn't be an issue with processor speed or memory.

Lonley Driver · Post by **Lonley Driver** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 7:23 am

You can dish out 600 bucks for Cleaner. I'd suggest burning your master to CD or something and encoding it on a PC.

-David

milatchi · Post by **milatchi** » Fri Aug 15, 2003 10:55 pm

I heard that Cleaner was as slow as hell. I use QuickTime Pro and I downloaded Sorenson Video 3, *I mean legitimately bought* Sorenson Video 3 and is has great compression on .mov. As for .mpg, the Toast VCD component is pretty much what everyone uses on the mac. I think it yields a pretty good .mpg myself.
If you are exporting with iMovie clicking the "Prepare for Internet option" usually takes off a megabyte or 2. My best results in iMovie have been to export "full quality large" usually taking up close to a Gigabyte (on a 4 to 4 and a half minute AMV) then converting to .mpg VIA the Toast .mpeg component. This usually brings the AMV down anywhere from 39-40MB (depending on time).
Don't export as a small .mov and then compress with with .mpg. That will simply add additional information to the already compressed .mov and make it bigger! When you compress a .mov really small; you've compressed more than ".mpg" can and are simply adding unneeded mpeg info to the file.

As for Final Cut Pro exporting; that's a different bridge that we will cross later (metaphorically)

milatchi · Post by **milatchi** » Fri Aug 15, 2003 11:06 pm

Oh and don't use ".avi".
"AVI files do not provide the resolution or speed available from MPEG, QuickTime and other audio-video formats."
AVI is seldomly used in high-quality multimedia products but is commonly found on Web sites and low-end products where video is not as important."--Peter Norton: Introduction to Computers, Fourth Edition

Also mac .avi's and windows' .avi's are different and its a bitch to try to convert one for viewing on the opposing platform. (although it can be done)

Tab. · Post by **Tab.** » Fri Aug 15, 2003 11:58 pm

milatchi wrote:Oh and don't use ".avi".
"AVI files do not provide the resolution or speed available from MPEG, QuickTime and other audio-video formats."
AVI is seldomly used in high-quality multimedia products but is commonly found on Web sites and low-end products where video is not as important."--Peter Norton: Introduction to Computers, Fourth Edition

Peter is a regular comedian

schrizo · Post by **schrizo** » Sat Aug 16, 2003 4:50 pm

I do mpeg comressions with Toast- this sucks. The video quality is mediocre. There has to be something better for us Mac users. The quality of mpeg1 is just not good enough anymore.

I have Final Cut Pro 3 by the way. Does this change anything? The best I've found is to export to mpeg1 from FCP using Toast plug-in.

AbsoluteDestiny · Post by **AbsoluteDestiny** » Sat Aug 16, 2003 4:56 pm

milatchi wrote:--Peter Norton: Introduction to Computers, Fourth Edition

Jesus christ... how can someone who doesn't know that avi is only a container and has NO bearing on resolution or compression SELL A BOOK!?!?!??!!!

trythil · Post by **trythil** » Sun Aug 17, 2003 12:19 am

AbsoluteDestiny wrote:
milatchi wrote:--Peter Norton: Introduction to Computers, Fourth Edition
Jesus christ... how can someone who doesn't know that avi is only a container and has NO bearing on resolution or compression SELL A BOOK!?!?!??!!!

I dunno, but I guess milatchi bought into it

milatchi · Post by **milatchi** » Sun Aug 17, 2003 1:07 pm

The only thing I'm buying into is your mom on the street corner.

.

Yes I am fully aware that AVI is a container but I personally do not like AVI.
I to questioned what Norton wrote but hey he is the owner of Symantec, I'm not.

Also a Windows AVI is a bitch to convert on a Mac so that it will be a "Mac AVI" and I would imagine the same applies the other way (if their even is a program to convert a Windows AVI to Mac AVI)

AbsoluteDestiny · Post by **AbsoluteDestiny** » Sun Aug 17, 2003 2:06 pm

milatchi wrote:Also a Windows AVI is a bitch to convert on a Mac

Of course, I don't recommend use of avi's on a mac - I'd use a quicktime mov container.... but that wasn't the debate.

It's pretty easy to make mov containers on a pc, just like the mac. It's the mac which has the format issues