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Where can I find the MPEG-2 Video Codec?


MegaPixel
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I've been searching around on the Internet for the Mpeg-2 Codec so that I can create movies from MAX directly to it. So far, I have found only Mpeg Programming references and false download links. Other then DivX which not many people have yet, is this the preferred codec to use for Internet and DVD use? What do you prefer to use? Thanks guys, Mega

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Ok I have a second question for you then. Is Mpeg4 the new "Hip" codec to use or is it like DivX where not many people know of or use it yet? I'd gladly go to Mpeg4 if that is the new recommended format but it's discouraging that you have to pay for Mpeg encoding abilities. Thanks again guys, Mega

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Is Mpeg4 the new "Hip" codec to use or is it like DivX where not many people know of or use it yet?
MPEG4 is DivX. MPEG4 is also what is used these days for encoding commercial DVDs. I think the early DVDs were MPEG2. And MPEG3 is also known as MP3, a format for squeezing the life out of music.

 

I have been experimenting with various output for animations. With QT your best bet is still the Sorensen codec. Microsoft DV does not give you a codec choice, but I have found it to be a very good and fast encoder.

 

I'm still trying different MPEG options out of Premiere, no set answer there for me, yet.

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And MPEG3 is also known as MP3, a format for squeezing the life out of music.

Sorry, I don't mean to intrude, but I found some information on the history of MPEG.

 

MP3's are actually MPEG-1, Layer 3. The MPEG3 format was initial intended for HDTV, but it was discovered that MPEG-2 provided the same features, so it was dropped.

 

For for tidbits on MPEG, check out:

 

http://www.sims.berkeley.edu/courses/is224/s99/GroupG/report1.html#_Toc447982111

 

Cheers

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I tried both mpeg4 and mpeg2 outputs. For some reason, I never get the nice quality with mpeg-4 but with the mpeg-2, I got very nice quality results. I export it 720x486 without any pixelation or problem even in full screen.

 

Last time I did mpeg-2 5 min of documentary about a library which includes real vieo shots and max animation. The file size was 150 mb in 720x486 resolution. Everthing was Ok for me.

 

Another important thing is, when I export with quicktime sorenson 3 , computer can not play without stopping. I don't know because of file size or my mistake in encoding ( file size 800 mb in 720x480 5 min. lib documentary) I like the quality of Quicktime but never do it as a final result.

 

I searched for different codecs like everybody. Now I am happy with mpeg-2 encoding. I can recommend without any hesitate.

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Mega,

Premiere Pro has be best Mpeg-2 Codec I have come across in a couple years. I have tried all those free ones... not to good and I do not have the time to test every setting, or basically become a "encoding expert". I want something that works great out of the box. Premiere Pro has about every format you could want to encode to. If you choose to do so, you can burn directly to a DVD disc. You can pick it up real affordably bundled with a Pyro firewire card..

 

Hope this helps my Indiana Neighbor ;)

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Thanks Chris

 

It sounds like the moral of this story is that you can't really go wrong with Mpeg-2 and that there is no good free way to obtain the encoder without the purchase of it alone or bundled with another program or piece of hardware. I really appreciate everyones input on this topic. I'll try to let you all know what I end up with.

 

On a side note, I also noticed that there are some Avi. to Mpeg Convertors floating around out there also (Some of which are free). Not sure what kind of results they could yield but maybe it's worth looking into.

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