Best Codec for Quicktime Movies?

[Starcrash]

I am not running the video out firewire, so I don't have to export to DV or DVCPRO. So...what is the best codec to use? I have been using Sorenson 3 (quality "best") in FCP, but the "Frame Dropping - On" when you click on "details" kinda freaks me out. Is it actually dropping entire frames to compress data? That's totally bogus. What do you guys usually ask for from the video editor?

[gerax]

I used to use Sorenson too, but I recentely tried DV: well, the file size is bigger, really big compared to the same file compressed with Sorenson, but picture quality is great, and there's almost no decompression process that eats up CPU cycles, so the playback is even smoother. You may need a dedicated hard drive to store the video files, but in the end I think it's worth it; an alternative could be Mpeg2, same quality as DVD, and lighter than DV.

Hope this helps

L.G.

[Jon_Atkinson]

Sorenson REALLY uses a lot of CPU!!
Motion JPEG A is pretty good (I actually prefer it to DV - it seems to be a sharper image, with brighter colours) It uses much less drive space than DV, is quicker to convert, and doesn't tax the computer too much.

[JKD99]

Motion JPEG-A for us as well

[jimlongo]

Yes and MP4 or h.264 is very good also, if your hardware supports it. Course a lot depends on datarate.

I agree Sorenson is one of the worst to use. Very cpu intensive.

[bearease]

Any thoughts on Photo J-PEG?

[jimlongo]

It's really the same thing. Both Motion and Photo jpeg will become cpu intensive at high datarates unless you have hardware decoding the picture.

codec central

[Starcrash]

These movies I'm wanting to compress are for a class that are working on PTLE with Mbox's on old 450MHz G4's. Yay, CSU system!! San Francisco State has a reputation for having one of the best Radio & Television programs in the country and this is what the students have to learn on. (Sorry I digress). So, I need the least CPU intensive and smallest file size at 320x240. I know those criteria are at odds with each other. I think I'll try JPEG-A. Any other suggestions?

[MusoPro]

You could also try Quicktime Video compression. I work sometimes with a composer in New York that scores on Digital Performer.
He always asks me for 320x240 and it seems to work for him well on his G4.

I agree that QT DV is the best but it doesn't sound like you can handle it.

Also I always place my movies on a seperate drive than my PT session. If you have an extra ATA drice on your Mac that would help.

Plus if you can import a movie without a soundtrack that will loosen the load.
Only problem with that is I usually import the audio from the QT to check that my mix is in sync with the scratch track they gave me.

Oh and don't worry I work with a film school that still has their students working on a Power PC 9500!!!!


Good luck,
Mitch

[Eric L]

Only problem with that is I usually import the audio from the QT to check that my mix is in sync with the scratch track they gave me.

I have found that the audio when imported from a quicktime movie can be frame out of sync either way. Always check with a 2-pop.