Compression Confessions

This video to marks our 20th Wedding Anniversary which we are celebrating today!   Our wedding was before the days when people created wedding blogs or wedding web sites or engagement moment sharing vlog posts  -- and even a little before video taping was common.  So, I decided to mark the Anniversary in flickr,  blog post, and this vlog post.

Since I'm learning, it's also part of learning journal.

This video is not exactly in the "moment sharing" genre or what I would define as video capture, unedited, and quickly uploaded clip that joins a series of other clips to tell a story.  I have a lot more to learn there, not technical, just developing an eye/ear for the right moment to capture.

This is what I call a lightly edited vlog post, although I don't want to slow my learning down by getting stuck on genre definitions.   I conceptualized the story, shot the clip with my cheap digital camera with one hand, and copied the one minute clip to my hard drive.  It was in avi format was about 118 MB. Crap, I need to make it smaller!  I needed to confront my ignorance and fear of compression ....   

So, I consulted all the resources. 

Steve Garfield's Learn Video About VideoBlogging
Secrets of Videoblogging Book by Ryanne Hodson and Michael Verdi
FreeVlog
Videoblogging by Jay Dedman and Joshua Paul

I am working on a Windows XP platform - so I decided to use QuickTime pro to compress the AVI file.  I found a few recipes for compression, although not a windows/quicktime pro one.  So, I improvised and used these settings. I experimented with about 8 different variations, but this was the best. It compressed the file down to 5.7 MB and didn't loose too much quality.  I uploaded it to Blip.tv and cut and pasted the code into this post.

What I learned:  I used the MPEG-4 compression because the file is compatible with both versions 6 & 7 of the QuickTime player, and it will playback on older computers.   I tried the H.264 codec and the file was even smaller, with amazing quality - but is only compatible with Version 7 of Quicktime and according to what I read some servers have problems with it. 

Some limits I put on my artistry ...

-I didn't want to record it over and over again. So, I promised that I would just go with what I had. I tripped on my words in the beginning -- but I'm letting it go.  I'm learning.
-The sound is a little tinny -- it's a function of built-in mic of my camera.  I've been told that newer versions of my camera like the SD630 have better sound quality.  But investing in equipment is not an option at the moment.

My question: 

Is this the best option for compressing an AVI file in Windows environment to get the right balance of file size and sound/video quality?

I want to move into more editing - like adding music, titles, transitions, ec.  I already know that if I use MovieMaker in Windows the file format isn't compatible with QTPro.  I would like to edit in QuickTime in a Windows environment with a cheap/free easy to use editing program.   I have Adobe Premiere ...perhaps that is next.

Comments

[Steve Sherlock]

Beth, this is impressive given the compression problems!

This will be an adventure. You're videoing already and I'm working on my first podcast.

Congrats on both counts, video and anniversary!

[Steve Garfield]

Hi Beth,
Mazel Tov!

Congratulations on your anniversary and on putting together this video blog.

It's perfect.
--Steve

[mike seyfang]

Hey Beth - good onya for having a go!! I've been editing digital video since the early days and have made every mistake there is to make. (Look for the 1992 movie of my son Jamies first steps in http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=mseyfang&search=Search )

My advice:
If you have access to premiere and or photoshop USE THEM. Be disciplined - just use the basic features at first, focus on the output. Over the years you will be rewarded with growing skills that last.

p.s. Your desire to work in Quicktime is a good one!

Fang - Mike Seyfang

[sean]

best if you just get a new mac and use imovie or even final cut! in terms of creative communication... podcasts, videos, websites, photography... apple/mac and windows are just worlds apart. and i used to be a former pc/xp/premiere evangelist.

[Lisa Canter]

congrats on your anniversary and being able to wear your wedding dress!!

I have no pearls of wisdom to add to the compression issues - hoping to get better at that myself. Using premiere should help - I need to try that myself.....

[joitske]

Just looked at it when it came through my cpsquare feed... one click away, which did not show up in my bloglines (lazy me :)).. I loved the setting of going through the pictures! with the background of the weddingdress, it makes for a very impressive video.