Flash Encoding Tips

Each and every day, I teach my new subscribers how to use the tools in iPlayer. Those "tutorials" as I like to call them, are all part of the fanatical support iPlayer subscribers receive. I make it a point in every conversation to ask the subscriber about the software tool they use to create their Flash content. Typical answers include several brands but the most common are ON2 Flix, Sorenson, and Adobe Premiere. Regardless of the brand you use, there are certain settings I consistently and successfully use. In today's Blog entry, I'm going to pass those on to you.

To begin, most encoders offer various FLV codecs - always use FLV for streaming video, never SWF. No room here to detail why but rest assured, FLV is the preferred choice. Of the various codecs offered, the most common is VP6 and it is the only one I recommend. When Adobe delivered Flash Player 8, they did so to accommodate the VP6 codec. Invented by ON2, the codec was and is terrific. Used properly, this codec will make your video stand out.

If your encoder offers two-pass encoding and single-pass encoding, always choose the two-pass option. If your encoder does not offer two-pass, I strongly recommend you purchase a two-pass upgrade if available. If not, there is only one two-pass encoder worthy of a new purchase and that is ON2 Flix Pro. There is a PC and Mac version and at $249, this software does it all and does it well. You've spent oodles of money on camera and editing equipment. You're on the finish line. This is not the time to go cheap. Click on the Flix Affiliate button located on the bottom of the iPlayerHD home page and then again on the Flix Pro Mac or PC version. On that page, you can download a free trial version.

If you plan on true streaming, and not progressive download of your video, be sure to choose the Constant Bitrate (CBR) mode. The other option, Variable Bitrate mode (VBR), does not stream as well as CBR.

Before you encode, you'll need to know the maximum size of the web page in which the video will be embedded. The only size you are likely to need is the width, which will determine the vertical lines of resolution when you encode. iPlayer subscribers can use almost any width that works on their web pages because the quality of the video will look terrific at every size. The width of the page will determine the height of the video - this equates to the horizontal lines of resolution. In many encoders, if you choose to "maintain aspect ratio", the encoder will automatically change the horizontal lines to match the vertical lines when the aspect ratio is being maintained.

By the way, before your video is ready for the encoder, be sure you use non-drop frame when you output your timeline from your editing system and be sure the video is progressive and non-interlaced.

Bit rates. iPlayer subscribers, I recommend three different kb rates per second for each video: 500, 1,000 and 1,500. Make your video look exceptional! Everyone else - you'll probably need to max out at 500kbps because if your streaming provider does not offer bandwidth detection, any higher than that and you take the risk that your website visitors will never see your video.

Finally, you'll want to choose a key frame rate. The encoder will set a key frame whenever you require. The more often a frame is set as key, the better the quality of the video. The videos you see at iPlayer have a key frame set every 5 seconds or approximately every 150 frames. That is more than adequate for most video. Good encoders, like Flix Pro, will set additional key frames between those you require when it detects significant changes between frames.

Well, there you have it. If you follow those simple recommendations, you'll be rewarded with exceptional Flash content.