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Avalanche

Tue Jun 06 2006, 07:54PM

Registered Member #103 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 08:16PM
Location: Derby, UK
Posts: 845

What format do you prefer, in terms of how they are linked / embedded etc

Personally I prefer a direct link to the video file itself (preferably including a description of the file size and codec, so I know what I am clicking on before I click it), as opposed to an embedded video that loads a random activex plug in or similar.

Recently though, I've noticed a lot of videos are in flash format embedded into the page, and I don't mind this. Just wondering what others thought to this. I'm currently obtaining a video to flash converter to try it out. I was asking because I'll be adding quite a few videos to my site, and wondered what people tend to prefer.

Failing flash, what else? MPEG 1, 2, WMV, or other? I quite like WMV but that's because I'm windows, but I started posting in MPEG1 recently. MPEG1 I think is a bit dated, and MPEG2 doesn't tend to play on everyones machine...

HV Enthusiast

Tue Jun 06 2006, 08:09PM

Registered Member #15 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 01:11PM
Location:
Posts: 3068

i like to be able to download the video first

Part Scavenger

Wed Jun 07 2006, 02:51AM

Registered Member #79 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 11:35AM
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 673

I really hate those websites with the vid integrated because I'm dial-up and it glitches. I really prefer a direct link to the video, so I can download it. It's the only way I can watch it mostly.

As far as format, I like to watch wmv. It's usually pretty small for quality. On my site, I use MOV, simply because my camera records it that way, and it's realtively small. You can't watch it just anywhere though. I have noticed that Quicktime is not allowed on my public libraries' computers, nor the ones at school or work, simply because they haven't been installed and they won't let you install anything.

I've never had a problem with MPEG2, but AVI for some reason I have all kinds of trouble.

I vote for MPEG2 and wmv.

...

Wed Jun 07 2006, 03:07AM

Registered Member #56 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:02AM
Location: Southern Califorina, USA
Posts: 2445

I detest embedded videos... There are times when I want to keep the video for future reference, but some people insist on embedding the file so you have to digging through the source of the page to find the link, or on some pages I have to go into temporary internet files to get it, if I don't bust out wm recorder first. Just a link please.

As to the format... I prefer something that has streaming capability (ie, once you click it the player plays it as it downloads), although not everyone can make those... It is nice to be able to play the video right when I click it, but still have the ability to save the file or if the server is going slow let it download for a while then watch the finished thing... In general I prefer .wmv since it has a really good compression (way better than .avi, similar to some .mov's and .mp4's) and just about everyone has support for it without any third party codecs... Don't say that linux doesn't support it as I got .wmv support going in a few minutes on my box

I would steer clear of .mov's sice they require quicktime installed (which is a pain in the butt)... .mp4 is a decent alternative, but then you need something a bit more than mindows movie maker to do teh compression...

joshua_

Wed Jun 07 2006, 03:15AM

Registered Member #61 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:50AM
Location: Mountain View, CA
Posts: 43

I hate embedded video since it usually doesn't play right. Flash has sound lagging behind video (thanks Macromedia's Linux department), and mplayerplugin, which handles everything else, usually doesn't get it right/at all. So, direct links.

With respect to format, I prefer some variant of MPEG4 (DivX v3, v5, XviD, FFM4, ...), which gives excellent quality for size. MPEG1 is playable, but usually massive. Windows Media is playable, but not a preferred format by any means. Real is below WMV, since you get even less bang for your byte. Quicktime is just awful -- doesn't play real well in mplayer.

If you have AVI problems, you need to download VLC. VLC can play all of the formats I just listed (or most of them, anyway) -- yay ffmpeg!

Hellmark

Wed Jun 07 2006, 04:38AM

Registered Member #189 Joined: Thu Feb 16 2006, 07:43PM
Location: Winfield, Missouri, USA
Posts: 46

Avalanche wrote ...

Failing flash, what else? MPEG 1, 2, WMV, or other? I quite like WMV but that's because I'm windows, but I started posting in MPEG1 recently. MPEG1 I think is a bit dated, and MPEG2 doesn't tend to play on everyones machine...

MPEG2 not playing on everyone machines? since when? Its typically only MPEG4 (Divx, Xvid, etc) variants that you need to worry about, but if WMV will play then the MPEG4 ones will play too. I mean, I've watched divx encoded movies on my 266mhz machine.

Personally, I'm not a fan of WMV. Its only nice if you run windows, which some of us here do not. its sometimes problematic for linux and mac users, because its a propietary format and all. My preference is divx, xvid (an opensource version of divx), quicktime's mov (which is fairly well supported outside of quicktime on all OS's), and then mpeg2 (very well supported, and very easy on resources. Thats why its used for DVD movies).

Desmogod

Wed Jun 07 2006, 05:54AM

Registered Member #139 Joined: Sat Feb 11 2006, 11:01AM
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 358

Embedded video sucks in a big way, so does WMV.
Give me MPEGs or AVI's any day.

Quantum Singularity

Wed Jun 07 2006, 03:31PM

Registered Member #158 Joined: Sun Feb 12 2006, 09:53PM
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 282

Hellmark wrote ...

...but if WMV will play then the MPEG4 ones will play too. I mean, I've watched divx encoded movies on my 266mhz machine.

I often have problems with my MPEG4 files not playing on alot of windows boxes, yet .wmv does just fine. The problem is my software doesnt let me adjust anything (resolution/quality) with wmv so its really low qual.

For example, here is a short movie clip that I designed and animated. Who can play it? Movie Its 4.37MB, mpeg4, 640x480 30fps, 4sec long. It will not play on the work computers which have XP Pro Version2002 w/SP1. But it will play on my friends computer with XP Home, although I am guessing he has downloaded additional codecs.

Avalanche

Wed Jun 07 2006, 03:51PM

Registered Member #103 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 08:16PM
Location: Derby, UK
Posts: 845

Thanks for the input, it's interesting to hear what people think. I don't think I'll bother with the embedded flash video then, or if I do I will definitely provide a download link for an MPEG based format of the same.

What i'm hoping for is the majority of internet users to be able to watch the videos, without having to 'mess about' with codecs, etc. I've posted videos before in MPEG2, and get some replies just saying 'oh, I can't see the video'.

Of course if I were to choose, I would choose MPEG4 / DiVX or xVid, but I know you have to install the codec for these formats, so it probably wouldn't be suitable for the majority of users.

I was under the impression that WMV was impossible on Linux, which is why I started using MPEG1. I guess I will go back to using WMV, simply because the majority of internet users on on windows, and it is a) probably the most common codec installed on systems (gets put on automatically by windows update) and b) in my opinion, the compression is quite good compared to MPEG1 (which would also play on most systems simply because of its age).

I know a lot of people don't like WMV though, is this simply because it's a Microsoft thing? Personally I would choose MPEG4 over WMV, but when WMV is already installed on everyones computer it just makes sense to use it

I can see the video posted above, but I have installed numerous codecs on this machine.

Quantum Singularity

Wed Jun 07 2006, 07:06PM

Registered Member #158 Joined: Sun Feb 12 2006, 09:53PM
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 282

Another issue I have with wmv is that atleast on my system it seems like it has to cache it or something, because there is always a delay when opening it up or clicking to a different time. I am not sure if this is for all wmv or if there are different versions, but when you have a long movie and your trying to find a specific point by clicking around the timeline then the lag becomes very frustrating. I do think it is good for file size and compression though, I still use it myself sometimes.

Sometimes its hard to know what will work on a common machine because if we have the option of using divx, mpg4, etc., etc. then those codecs are probably already on our systems.

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