Converting to h264 before uploading to SmugMug

[ziggy53]

I have merged this thread into the "The SmugMug Video Help Thread"

ziggy

[papajay]

I have merged this thread into the "The SmugMug Video Help Thread"

ziggy

I gather that it would be preferable, but not required, to convert video to h.264 format prior to uploading to SmugMug, correct??

When I upload movie clips from my DSLR to my computer, the files show up as .mov file format. This has always confused me because I thought .mov files are QuickTime files and that QuickTime is an Apple/Mac product (yet I own a PC).

So now I have QuickTime on my PC....I also have Windows Movie Maker on my PC, and probably some other video creation software formats I downloaded off the internet and forgot I had. It's a ball of string that drives me a little crazy.

What's the "smart" thing to do now? Get QuickTime Pro for my PC to convert .mov files to h.264 before uploading to SM?

[docwalker]

Papajay,

.mov, .avi, mp4 are all supported file types. They are also container files with many different codecs possibly inside. The problem is not with the filetype/format. It is those codecs that cause the problem.

You can save your video in any of the supported file types and it still may not upload as the codec inside could be a problem.

If your video file codec is not supported, you can either resave the video using a different codec, or run it through a converter. I have had great luck using MPEG StreamClip from www.squared5.com

The problem with the codecs is that different camera manufacturers and software developers come up with their own "better system" We cannot support them all and some require special licensing.

h.264 does normally work great for uploading. That is what I use for my movies. Just watch the data rates and the audio settings. Those can cause h.264 to fail.

[papajay]

Papajay,

.mov, .avi, mp4 are all supported file types. They are also container files with many different codecs possibly inside. The problem is not with the filetype/format. It is those codecs that cause the problem.

You can save your video in any of the supported file types and it still may not upload as the codec inside could be a problem.

If your video file codec is not supported, you can either resave the video using a different codec, or run it through a converter. I have had great luck using MPEG StreamClip from www.squared5.com (http://www.squared5.com)

The problem with the codecs is that different camera manufacturers and software developers come up with their own "better system" We cannot support them all and some require special licensing.

h.264 does normally work great for uploading. That is what I use for my movies. Just watch the data rates and the audio settings. Those can cause h.264 to fail.

Thanks Doc...I get it (sorta).

I was able to upload .mov files from my camera and 1.) play the video back from the SmugMug site on my computer and at least one other computer, but 2.) unfortunately, not on a third computer (as noted in another thread).

A.) Does 1.) above absolutely mean that the codec inside my camera's .mov file is "compatible" with SmugMug??
B.) Could the codec inside my camera's .mov file have anything to do with why 2.) above occurs??

I'm guessing "Not" because a "Yes" answer in B.) would suggest that a "Yes" to A.) could not be true.

(I may have just confused myself :scratch ). At least I'm trying to understand!

[retrato]

Papajay,

h.264 does normally work great for uploading. That is what I use for my movies. Just watch the data rates and the audio settings. Those can cause h.264 to fail.
I just bought QuickTime Pro. It's easy to use if one uses File>Export for Web, however, this creates a small video. The other option is to "File>Export>Movie to MPEG4" which gives me many options. In order to create a SmugMug Hidef or Mid-Def movie, what would be the value for the following parameters:
FRAME SIZE (1920x1080? or 1280x720?)
DATA RATE (I guess this depends on the frame size?)Thanks. I'm new to this.

[docwalker]

Thanks Doc...I get it (sorta).

I was able to upload .mov files from my camera and 1.) play the video back from the SmugMug site on my computer and at least one other computer, but 2.) unfortunately, not on a third computer (as noted in another thread).

A.) Does 1.) above absolutely mean that the codec inside my camera's .mov file is "compatible" with SmugMug??
B.) Could the codec inside my camera's .mov file have anything to do with why 2.) above occurs??

I'm guessing "Not" because a "Yes" answer in B.) would suggest that a "Yes" to A.) could not be true.

(I may have just confused myself :scratch ). At least I'm trying to understand!

The third computer probably has an older version of Flash installed, something in the browser blocking it, or internet security settings that are blocking it. Chack to make sure that the latest version of Flash is installed. Then check to see what internet security and firewall are installed. They may be blocking the flash player from loading. Adblockers can also effect this.

Loading the videos and playing them are seperate issues. All videos that are uploaded get converted to h.264. If the video plays on one computer after upload and not another, the problem is with the computer. Check the settings...

[docwalker]

I just bought QuickTime Pro. It's easy to use if one uses File>Export for Web, however, this creates a small video. The other option is to "File>Export>Movie to MPEG4" which gives me many options. In order to create a SmugMug Hidef or Mid-Def movie, what would be the value for the following parameters:
FRAME SIZE (1920x1080? or 1280x720?)
DATA RATE (I guess this depends on the frame size?)Thanks. I'm new to this.

Frame size is up to you. Our playback settings are listed here:
http://wiki.smugmug.com/display/SmugMug/Video+Formats

I would recommend using the 1280X720 as it has worked well for me.


Data rate of the uploaded file is usually a setting in the editing software or it could be defaults. Videos saved for playback on the local computer hardware can have really high data rates. For some reason these higher data rates cause problems during the upload. 3.2 Mbps is the highest playback we offer so loading a data rate much higher than that would be overkill.

[retrato]

Frame size is up to you. Our playback settings are listed here:
http://wiki.smugmug.com/display/SmugMug/Video+Formats

I would recommend using the 1280X720 as it has worked well for me.

The list of playback settings is what I'm looking for. Thanks for giving me the URL.:lust

[papajay]

... All videos that are uploaded get converted to h.264. If the video plays on one computer after upload and not another, the problem is with the computer. Check the settings...

Thanks much, Doc....that certainly clarifies it a bunch. The problem (when I get notified by a recipient that they can't view my video) is: I can tell them to "check the settings", at which point they'll likely respond by asking, "Check them for what?". Unfortunately, my answer has to be "I don't know...just check them!"

I'm guessing the "help desk" deals with this exact situation time and time again. I'm wondering if there isn't a "suggested settings" matrix for the most frequently occurring combos of the major OS and Anit-Virus sofware programs. Is this a possibility?...perhaps one that could actually be posted in SmugMug's help pages.

[retrato]

The problem (when I get notified by a recipient that they can't view my video) is: I can tell them to "check the settings", at which point they'll likely respond by asking, "Check them for what?". Unfortunately, my answer has to be "I don't know...just check them!"

I frequently get this feedback from viewers of my video in SmugMug. Usually, it's because they do not have the Adobe Flash Player. So, I put the following in the description: "You will need Adobe Flash Player to view the videos". After they install the latest Flash Player software, they are able to view the videos. Is this the usual solution?

[docwalker]

I am working on some wiki help pages for this. The problem is that every single computer is different and has "different settings" Finding the right combination can be trial and error. Some people install software either due to friends recommendations, or it was "seen on the internet". Sadly, they have no idea the negative impact that this stuff can have. We ask if they are running particular programs and often they have no idea.

I am working on this, but it will take some time. ie. a work in progress.

[SamirD]

I frequently get this feedback from viewers of my video in SmugMug. Usually, it's because they do not have the Adobe Flash Player. So, I put the following in the description: "You will need Adobe Flash Player to view the videos". After they install the latest Flash Player software, they are able to view the videos. Is this the usual solution?I initially had problems with videos playing even with Flash installed. I found out that it must be Flash 9. I upgraded to that and am loving the new video feature.

Maybe they can add a piece of code that checks to see if flash 9 is installed before attempting to play, like some of the other video sites like youtube.