Video Dimensions

The 13th Man · Post by **The 13th Man** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 9:20 pm

I was lookin' over the FAQ as I was about ready to upload my first batch of AMV projects and a question occurred to me that I didn't see covered on the main FAQ.

What is the standard video dimensions that members here select when they have videos they want to be downloadable from the org? 720x480? 640x480? 320x240? etc. Also, is there a limit on file size that is seen as a common courtesy to the other members?

I finished my one video and in its original 720x480 format encoded to dixv, it is about 100 megs.

Thanks.

Maverick-Rubik · Post by **Maverick-Rubik** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 9:26 pm

When I export drafts and stuff I use 720 x 480; but I prefer compressing a version for the Org at 640 x 480.

KirinRiotCrash · Post by **KirinRiotCrash** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 9:38 pm

I usually use 640 x 480 if I used DVD sources but 512 x 384 if I'm using lower quality sources. I usually try to stick with the 4:3 ratio unless I want to play with a wide screen version of a particular anime, which is usually 16:9.

madbunny · Post by **madbunny** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:23 pm

I try to stick with the original 720x480 unless the file is too large, then I go down to 512x384.

I don't like to really watch videos that are too much smaller than that. 512x384 will still full screen and look decent, as long as your monitor isn't too large.

Corran · Post by **Corran** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:43 pm

Why do people upload a 4:3 video to the org at a resolution of 720x480? I can understand for conventions where it has to be compliant with the equipment... but an online distro version...?

badmartialarts · Post by **badmartialarts** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 10:58 pm

320x240 is usually what I make. Not so great full screen, but fairly small (usually).

The 13th Man · Post by **The 13th Man** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 11:12 pm

madbunny wrote:I try to stick with the original 720x480 unless the file is too large, then I go down to 512x384.

I don't like to really watch videos that are too much smaller than that. 512x384 will still full screen and look decent, as long as your monitor isn't too large.

What's "too large" by your definition? Would 100 megs be too big?

godix · Post by **godix** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 11:15 pm

It depends on what you consider important. If you're concerned about modem users downloading the video then 320x240 at a somewhat low bitrate is what you need. If you're concerned about quality and to hell with modem users try 720x480 or 640x480 at a somewhat high bitrate.

Another part of the answer is it depends on how you edited it and the quality of your footage. If you have crap 3rd generation captured VHS tape footage (or downloaded footage) or if you edited in 320x240 then quality isn't going to be stellar no matter what so you should probably just encode if for a small filesize. Similarly the entire point of using DVD rips is to make nice quality footage, why wouldn't you encode it to show off that quality?

File sizes are highly variable. Decent quality seems to run anywhere from 15 to 25 meg per minute (usually closer to 15 than 20 though) while small filesize tends to run around 10 meg per minute. The exact figure will vary greatly depending on what codec you're using, what effects (if any) you used, and how detailed the footage was to begin with. The org puts a limit of 100 meg on the filesize so as long as you stay under that you're fine.

madbunny · Post by **madbunny** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 11:22 pm

Corran Productions wrote:

Why do people upload a 4:3 video to the org at a resolution of 720x480? I can understand for conventions where it has to be compliant with the equipment... but an online distro version...?

easy answer there.
720x480 means making no changes whatsoever to the sizes, ratios or whatnot. Less work, and less messing with the video on the whole.

Zarxrax · Post by **Zarxrax** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 11:40 pm

madbunny wrote:
Corran Productions wrote:

Why do people upload a 4:3 video to the org at a resolution of 720x480? I can understand for conventions where it has to be compliant with the equipment... but an online distro version...?
easy answer there.
720x480 means making no changes whatsoever to the sizes, ratios or whatnot. Less work, and less messing with the video on the whole.

Except when people play it back, it displays incorrectly