The term for what you want to do is "Fast Start" or "Web Optimized" which places the "moov atom" at the beginning of the file, rather than the end. It is not technically streaming, but progressive download. The principle is the same whether you are using HTML5 or a Flash based solution.

Later versions of Sony AVC encoder have an option to do this, as does Handbrake. I use the free utility AoA MP4 PATCH to do the work after the encode when needed.

If you search HTML5 under user amendegw on the Pro forum, you will find lots of useful information and maybe save yourself some headaches.

Thanks Eugenia and Musicvid!

"The last time I needed that, I had to use an external utility (Freeware) that re-wraps the MP4 shell with streaming (without re-encoding)."

Can you tell me what is the name of this utility ?

Thanks

Roberto

There is AoA MP4 Patch, MP4Box, and MP4 Fast Start.
The one I mentioned first is the one I use. MP4 Fast Start doesn't work well with some players.

Thanks again

I have tried both the Sony AVC and MainConcept encoders in Studio HD 11 and the mp4s did not load progressively (would need to wait for complete file to download before it played). There were no visible settings or options in either encoder to set 'Web Optimized" or anything like it. Please let me know if you find this in either encoder. It is INTERNET Video these encoders are supposed to deliver, so I'd say this is an important issue to clarify / resolve for users.

I created a version using Handbrake with "web optimized" selected and the file played progressively in the same environment that the other encodes did not.

As explained above, you export with Vegas, and then you pass the resulted MP4 file with FastStart or any of these freeware apps mentioned. The MP4 file then becomes progressive within 1 minute (it doesn't re-encode the file, only the wrapper). So there's no reason to use Handbrake (in which cake you would have to export twice, losing quality in the meantime).

I was testing to see if either MainConcept or Sony AVC encoders were now able to support progressive download (MainConcept was referred to in a post in the Pro forum - so it is a Pro option apparently), an important setting for Internet video - which these encoders are representing. I was frankly surprised this is not supported by an encoder in Studio, hence my post.

Hi Eugenia,

one question: what does it mean that the video become progressive within 1 min? Does it mean that on the browser the video will start the playing after 1 min from the time the "start" button is pressed ?

Hi Musicvid,

I downloaded and installed the utility that you suggested.
Actually it should be a straightforward operation: just browsing the file to be patched and then apply this patch to it, but I might have done something wrong, because then the video viewing was like before.
In order to view it, I just copy-pasted the code suggested on HTML spec official
website.
In reality, I still need to check whether the host provider (aruba.it) enables the HTML5, but apparently it should, because it can recognize the <video> tag and display a video player...

Can you kindly list the steps you are doing in order to enable the video progressive viewing with the mp4 patch?

Thanks
Cheers

Roberto

The utility I have, "AoA MP4Patch", is a one-button, one-click utility.
http://www.aoamedia.com/mp4patch.htm

Your best resource on these forums for HTML5 advice is user "amendegw"
Search for HTML5 with his username.

Thanks Musicvid, I will look at his/her posts.

Cheers

Your best resource on these forums for HTML5 advice is user "amendegw"
Search for HTML5 with his username.

"The search returned no results"

I did the same search (All Forums, Last 2 years) and got 47 results.