Putting video files on the Internet
Discussion
Hi Guys
I asked this in the P&P originally but ErnestM suggested I ask the question here as you guys know all!
Right.....so I've got the camcorder, I've made the vidoes - now what do I do with them? Happy Snapper has a web site that he uses for pictures and we're hoping to be able to put videos on the same site.
But generally I'm incredibly confused about what file formats to use - the software seems to produce a number of different formats, .avi . asf and some others but these files seem huge. Is that just how it is and we need to find a video streaming package and stick them on the web site. What about bandwidth - how does that affect the web site?
We've found a link to some software that converts .avi files to flash files and this seems to allow you to put the flash file on the website so that viewers view it from there rather than downloading it? Is this any good? www.easywebvideo.com/
I don't want to spent vast amounts of money on buying storage space but I've also got some friends and family who are still on dial up and ISDN - so downloading videos is potentially a problem.
Since I posted initially we have managed to put .wav files onto Happy Snapper's web site and I think we've worked out that there is a difference between "video streaming" in it's pure form and HTML streaming which is probably sufficient for us but we're still a bit unclear about the "best" way to deal with this stuff.
I'm waiting for Adobe Premier software to arrive and at the moment I'm using the freebie Panasonic DV Studio software for editing and MS Movie Maker to convert to .wav files, Happy Snapper uses Dreamweaver (I think?) to create his web pages.
Any help gratefully received - I need to get this stuff worked out before the race season starts again!
Cheers
I asked this in the P&P originally but ErnestM suggested I ask the question here as you guys know all!
Right.....so I've got the camcorder, I've made the vidoes - now what do I do with them? Happy Snapper has a web site that he uses for pictures and we're hoping to be able to put videos on the same site.
But generally I'm incredibly confused about what file formats to use - the software seems to produce a number of different formats, .avi . asf and some others but these files seem huge. Is that just how it is and we need to find a video streaming package and stick them on the web site. What about bandwidth - how does that affect the web site?
We've found a link to some software that converts .avi files to flash files and this seems to allow you to put the flash file on the website so that viewers view it from there rather than downloading it? Is this any good? www.easywebvideo.com/
I don't want to spent vast amounts of money on buying storage space but I've also got some friends and family who are still on dial up and ISDN - so downloading videos is potentially a problem.
Since I posted initially we have managed to put .wav files onto Happy Snapper's web site and I think we've worked out that there is a difference between "video streaming" in it's pure form and HTML streaming which is probably sufficient for us but we're still a bit unclear about the "best" way to deal with this stuff.
I'm waiting for Adobe Premier software to arrive and at the moment I'm using the freebie Panasonic DV Studio software for editing and MS Movie Maker to convert to .wav files, Happy Snapper uses Dreamweaver (I think?) to create his web pages.
Any help gratefully received - I need to get this stuff worked out before the race season starts again!
Cheers
The most common file format these days is Windows Media Video (WMV) I have to say it's compression is very good - making managable file sizes too. As you know, you have Windows Movie Maker as part of your operating system, so you can simply import vids and save as wmv.
The mac equiv is Quicktime BTW .... in case you are of that persuasion.
As for where to put them - your ISP will probably have given you some free space - if you need more, there are several who use theis forum that sell space.
If not - www.easily.co.uk is pretty good and also sells cheap domain names.
Careful though... My website is now more than 2 gb!!
Steve
>> Edited by GetCarter on Friday 30th December 12:08
The mac equiv is Quicktime BTW .... in case you are of that persuasion.
As for where to put them - your ISP will probably have given you some free space - if you need more, there are several who use theis forum that sell space.
If not - www.easily.co.uk is pretty good and also sells cheap domain names.
Careful though... My website is now more than 2 gb!!
Steve
>> Edited by GetCarter on Friday 30th December 12:08
Just re-read your post and thought I'd mention...
The best way to keep vids on the net for people to download who are not on broadband is to make a link and get them to RIGHT CLICK and SAVE TARGET AS (so that they don't stream it)
like this (try it):
www.stevecarter.com/xmas2005.wmv
Steve
>> Edited by GetCarter on Friday 30th December 12:17
The best way to keep vids on the net for people to download who are not on broadband is to make a link and get them to RIGHT CLICK and SAVE TARGET AS (so that they don't stream it)
like this (try it):
www.stevecarter.com/xmas2005.wmv
Steve
>> Edited by GetCarter on Friday 30th December 12:17
Cheers Steve, your video is good!
Presumably it's quicker to just download the file in this way rather than trying to download it and view at the same time as most media players try to do?
We've got quite a bit of web space on Happy Snapper's site at the moment - (gphotosport.com) and add adding extra doesn't appear to be a problem.
Presumably it's quicker to just download the file in this way rather than trying to download it and view at the same time as most media players try to do?
We've got quite a bit of web space on Happy Snapper's site at the moment - (gphotosport.com) and add adding extra doesn't appear to be a problem.
Piglet said:
Presumably it's quicker to just download the file in this way rather than trying to download it and view at the same time as most media players try to do?
It's better for non-broadband (it's a nightmare watching vid as it streams on dialup)- but also has the advantage for anyone, as the file is transferred to their computer to watch more than once.
When you save as a WMV it gives you the option of size and how much compression. Just arse about and you'll find which works (file size always being the trade off). I sometimes do a big version and a small version so people can choose.
Have fun
Steve
If you convert your files using Windows Media Encoder, you can actually save your profiles as you create them - so if you find one that you like, you don't have to go through the trouble of setting the profile parameters again...
ErnestM
PS: Piglet, are you getting Premier Essentials or full Premier (one is $90US the other is circa $300)?
ErnestM
PS: Piglet, are you getting Premier Essentials or full Premier (one is $90US the other is circa $300)?
ErnestM said:
If you convert your files using Windows Media Encoder, you can actually save your profiles as you create them - so if you find one that you like, you don't have to go through the trouble of setting the profile parameters again...
Stupid question - is Windows Media Encoder what I use by using Movie Maker or is it something different?
ErnestM said:
PS: Piglet, are you getting Premier Essentials or full Premier (one is $90US the other is circa $300)?
I think it's the Elements version which is the cheaper one. I'm downloading a trial version of it from Adobe at the moment (and have been for the last hour and a half!! Only 20% left to go!)
You are using the same technology when you use Movie Maker. Windows Media Encoder is a free download available from the MS site that offers a lot more flexibility.
From what I gather, Premier Elements is a great learning tool. When you want to do more, you can then jump to Premier (Full) or Premier Pro (I use it). In order to get the most out of the full version of Premier/Pro, there are some software pieces that you have to activate. Most people don't do it, initially, because they don't RTFM...
Click Here For the Windows Media Encoder Download
ErnestM
From what I gather, Premier Elements is a great learning tool. When you want to do more, you can then jump to Premier (Full) or Premier Pro (I use it). In order to get the most out of the full version of Premier/Pro, there are some software pieces that you have to activate. Most people don't do it, initially, because they don't RTFM...
Click Here For the Windows Media Encoder Download
ErnestM
Ar$e - I've just tried to install the trial version of Adobe Elements and it won't install as it says I don't have the minimum system requirement - apparently I need a cpu that supports SSE2 instruction set. I've googled this and it seems to be included from Pentium 4 upwards - I've got an AMD Athlon processor which has been dealing fine with the video so far. I have no plans to update the PC so any other suggestions?
Try Pinnacle Studio instead. It is a good tutorial into Movie editing, etc. I don't think that it has any issues with the AMD processor. My advice for learning Movie editing (in stages) is:
1. Movie Maker (free so that you can arse around and not have to spend lots of money)
2. Pinnacle/Premier Elements (good entry level price. Learn advanced basics such as DVD creation and encoding)
3. Premier Pro with Encore (Advanced techinques, 5.1 surround, Dolby Digital, etc, etc but expensive)
If you decide to get really serious, you will be able to justify the budget for a new PC. You will probably need a new one for RAM, storage and rendering issues anyway...
ErnestM
1. Movie Maker (free so that you can arse around and not have to spend lots of money)
2. Pinnacle/Premier Elements (good entry level price. Learn advanced basics such as DVD creation and encoding)
3. Premier Pro with Encore (Advanced techinques, 5.1 surround, Dolby Digital, etc, etc but expensive)
If you decide to get really serious, you will be able to justify the budget for a new PC. You will probably need a new one for RAM, storage and rendering issues anyway...
ErnestM
Thanks Ernest - I'm just looking at the Pinnacle stuff now, there are three levels the cheapest at £50, next at £70 and highest at £90 - do you have any experience of any of these?
My feeling for now is that I want to be able to edit the video and to add some relatively basic effects (most of which I can do with the free stuff) - what I do want to do that I don't think I can do with the freebie stuff is to alter the speed of the footage and to have a decent level of control for putting audio onto different sections of footage so that at some points I've got sound from the camera and at other points just a background audio track and combinations of both. Do you think the lowest level of Pinnacle will achieve this?
Sorry for all the questions!
My feeling for now is that I want to be able to edit the video and to add some relatively basic effects (most of which I can do with the free stuff) - what I do want to do that I don't think I can do with the freebie stuff is to alter the speed of the footage and to have a decent level of control for putting audio onto different sections of footage so that at some points I've got sound from the camera and at other points just a background audio track and combinations of both. Do you think the lowest level of Pinnacle will achieve this?
Sorry for all the questions!
Yes - lowest level of Pinnacle will do the audio. For more precise control of audio (5.1 surround, etc) and better effects you will have to jump to Premier Pro.
Just remember - baby steps - do things slowly and read all of the documentation. Unfortunately trial and error is the easiest way to learn all of the aspects of motion media.
I am in Photo & Video almost daily - so if you get stuck - post back. I have been doing video for about 6 years (started with a VHS-C camera. Fun fun - NOT!) and have probably made every mistake in the book.
1 hint to get you started - don't capture and re-encode in the same step. Do all of your editing in DV-AVI. It is just easier...
ErnestM
Just remember - baby steps - do things slowly and read all of the documentation. Unfortunately trial and error is the easiest way to learn all of the aspects of motion media.
I am in Photo & Video almost daily - so if you get stuck - post back. I have been doing video for about 6 years (started with a VHS-C camera. Fun fun - NOT!) and have probably made every mistake in the book.
1 hint to get you started - don't capture and re-encode in the same step. Do all of your editing in DV-AVI. It is just easier...
ErnestM
What a result, Happy Snapper has just found version 8 "SE" of Pinnacle which he thinks came free with something a while ago. I've loaded that and will try to see if I can get an upgrade price - otherwise it's off to Maplins tomorrow as they've got the basic version at £39.99.
Thanks very much for your help Ernest (and GetCarter) - I think my friends and family are going to be VERY bored with me very soon!
Thanks very much for your help Ernest (and GetCarter) - I think my friends and family are going to be VERY bored with me very soon!
OK - this is starting to get expensive!!
I've bought the Studio 10 software - got it home and installed it to discover that I don't really have enough memory in my PC to run it - that was fairly easily solved we had some more memory lying around, plugged it in and it works......
Then.....the software doesn't like my graphics card - my pc was built for me by my ex two years ago and at this point I got this nasty recollection of a conversation where I said I wasn't shelling out for anything expensive as I didn't play video games so what did it matter.....soooo we pop the cover on the PC to discover that I don't have a graphics card - just the onboard graphics chip!! Well I guess that explains the problem!!
Soooo I've now got to shell out for a new graphics card as well - that'll teach me for inheriting some of my father's eternal optimism "of course it'll work - I don't need to read the spec"
Still gives me something to moan about I suppose
I've bought the Studio 10 software - got it home and installed it to discover that I don't really have enough memory in my PC to run it - that was fairly easily solved we had some more memory lying around, plugged it in and it works......
Then.....the software doesn't like my graphics card - my pc was built for me by my ex two years ago and at this point I got this nasty recollection of a conversation where I said I wasn't shelling out for anything expensive as I didn't play video games so what did it matter.....soooo we pop the cover on the PC to discover that I don't have a graphics card - just the onboard graphics chip!! Well I guess that explains the problem!!
Soooo I've now got to shell out for a new graphics card as well - that'll teach me for inheriting some of my father's eternal optimism "of course it'll work - I don't need to read the spec"
Still gives me something to moan about I suppose
Nvidia and ATI are the preferred graphics card types for studio. Any idea what chipset your motherboard is? What kind of slots do you have open? I'm thinking it will have an AGP slot open, so you will have to limit your search to AGP cards (which - as luck would have it - are available rather cheap-ish)
ErnestM
ErnestM
Hi Ernest - I'm not sure what chipset it is but we've done some research and spoken to the ex that built it and it needs to be an AGP card. The pc is a shuttle so it's a little small cube so space might be an issue. There's a good store close to us and we're heading off there next weekend as they've got no stock at the moment!
A card based on Nvidia's 6200 chip would be good. One example:
www.pny.com/products/verto/mainstream/6200agp256mb.asp
Or one based on ATI's 9800 series.
I tend to use Nvidias cards because, while ATI may awesome pieces of kit, their drivers are usually problematic.
Good luck
ErnestM
www.pny.com/products/verto/mainstream/6200agp256mb.asp
Or one based on ATI's 9800 series.
I tend to use Nvidias cards because, while ATI may awesome pieces of kit, their drivers are usually problematic.
Good luck
ErnestM
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