Best Compression of a Walkthrough

[gputhige]

Hi,

we have recently completed a 4 minute walkthrough for our customer. The resolution was 960x540 - 30fps. The file size came out to about 1 gb after Post production in AE. The format was Quicktime - MPEG4.

 

Question is which is the best compression to reduce the file size without having to lose the quality. I tried the other formats availble in AE, but find the final video lacks the quality and depth if I use anything else.

 

Rgds,

GP

[Dave Buckley]

I've been looking at things like this recently, and found the best option to be a third party compressor (i'm using Canopus Procoder).

 

My workflow is out of Max as image sequence, import into AE for post production, export from AE as premiere project, open in premiere to do titles and editing, export from premiere as fully uncompressed quicktime, open this in procoder, then use procoder to compress to different formats.

[BrianKitts]

My workflow is out of Max as image sequence, import into AE for post production, export from AE as premiere project, open in premiere to do titles and editing, export from premiere as fully uncompressed quicktime, open this in procoder, then use procoder to compress to different formats.

 

I follow the exact same sequence, except for the choice of third party compressor. I use handbrake (free) to compress files into Quicktime (H.264) format using it's presets to create .m4v download versions, as well as the built in presets for iphone, and ipad.

 

Then switch over to AVS video converter ($60) to create files in all other formats including windows media if they need to go into a powerpoint presentations.

Edited June 3, 2010 by BrianKitts

[gputhige]

Hi Dave n Brian

 

thanks for the inputs. Will try these option. Have seen a compressor application recently - Super by eRightSoft. Any idea how this compares against the options given by you?

 

Aside to Dave, in your workflow, I see you take the output from AE to Premier. If its only for edits and text, could this not be achieved in AE itself? Is one more step required? Any additional advantage in Premier? Ofcourse, I found it easier to edit the audio in Premier than AE, but any other advantage?

 

Rgds,

GP

[Dave Buckley]

for the exact reason you said really, i try and use the best tool for the job, premiere is just more comfortable for me to edit with, i use after effects as 'photoshop for videos' thats pretty much it really. hmmm, let's use a metaphor, i could bang in a nail with a chisel but instead i'd use a hammer as its the best tool for the job. what a crude explanation but it works

[gputhige]

Dave

 

get your point of view. I found several times, AE was not very good in audio, but stayed with it to avoid one more step. Thanks for the inputs.

 

Rgds,

GP