File size for YouTube/Vimeo uploads?

LivingTheDream wrote on 6/24/2009, 11:51 AM

While I'm not new to creating DVDs I am just now looking into uploading video to the web. As a noob, I'm not sure if the file sizes I'm generating are reasonable for uploads to services like Youtube and Vimeo. For example, following the instructions at those sites for the preferred file types, I'm creating 1280x720 files using both the Sony AVC and Mainconcept AVC codecs with their recommended bitrates of 5,000K and AAC audio at 44,100. Source files are MTS converted to Sony mxf @ 35Mbs VBR. The resulting files for video lengths of 4 -7 minutes range from 99MB to 185MB. Does this file size seem reasonable or do I need to go with something different to create much smaller files?

Comments

John_Cline wrote on 6/24/2009, 3:31 PM

File sizes are determined exclusively by the audio and video bitrate multiplied by the length of the video. Given that you are using the recommended bitrates, those file sizes are perfectly reasonable. You could reduce the bitrate in order to produce smaller files, but that would compromise the image quality. Stay with the recommended bitrates.

LivingTheDream wrote on 6/24/2009, 5:27 PM

Thanks John for you input. I actually did try a much lower bitrate yesterday and as you stated the image quality was compromised, to put it mildy. So for now I'll stick with the settings recommended on the video sites but I thought I would ask to see what others with more experience on this have been doing.

Steve

farss wrote on 6/24/2009, 6:41 PM

Depending on your content you might get the same quality into a smaller file using VBR. If you think 5Mbps is giving you good results then try say 5M Max, 2-3M Average. Just be aware that 2 Pass VBR with that codec is broken in V9.

Bob.

srode wrote on 6/24/2009, 8:08 PM

I use single pass and VBR 8,000,000 max and 5,000,000 average - get about 11 minutes in the 500mb limit for free members - you can double the max upload to 1gb I believe - maybe more - for paying members - unlimited uploads of HD instead of one per week. The price is like $50 / year last I checked.

NickHope wrote on 6/25/2009, 5:26 AM

For 720p HD uploads to YouTube I get good results at 5Mbps video and 64 Kbps audio. But I am using x264 video with Nero AAC audio (via Megui), which give better quality at that bitrate than the H.264/AAC codecs in Vegas. I also find that Xvid gives better quality than the Vegas codecs. Didn't get around to writing a guide for my Megui method yet I'm afraid.

If your upload speed is good and you're passionate about quality then I wouldn't be afraid to bump the video up higher than 5 Mbps. The Facebook video guys say give them the highest rate you can within their 1GB upload limit.