Comments

Chienworks wrote on 12/16/2001, 6:52 AM
Here's the issue: streaming = real time download & playing
(or at least the file should come close to downloading in real time)

Therefore, if you want to stream a file, it must be encoded at a low
enough bitrate to allow being downloaded in real time. If your target
audience is modem users, you'll have to encode at around 34Kbps no
matter which file type you use. MPEG or DivX at 34Kbps will look just
plain awful. Their encoding algorithms are optimized for higher bitrates.
You'll be better off sticking with RealMedia for the slower speeds.

If you want to restrict your audience to cable/DSL users, then by all
means go for bitrates of 250Kbps and you'll get a much better quality
picture. In my opinion, RealMedia still outdoes MPEG at this bitrate
though. And if a dialup modem user does try to stream your file, they
will see it in bits and pieces as it will take much longer to download than
to play.
Chienworks wrote on 12/18/2001, 9:27 AM
Slight update.

Ligos won't even encode MPEG at less than 400Kbps. I tried Ulead Media
Studio 5 and it let me encode as low as 160Kbps, and the output was
nasty. Div-X ;) 4 let me specify 38Kbps, but the file wouldn't play back
even in their own "Playa". At 400Kbps the Div-x file played, but had a
terrible color shift. I had to encode at 600Kbps before i could get useful
output.

I'll give TMPG a try at various rates this weekend when i've got lots of
free time. Lord willing i'll also have a Vegas Video 3.0 license by then
too so i can test out the MainConcept encoder (which should be available
for Video Factory very soon).

So far it looks like RealMedia is a real winner at the lower bitrates.
Skyar wrote on 12/18/2001, 11:22 PM
Thanks for your help and the info. Let me know how
those rates turn out for you. And what about Windows
Media Video (wmv)? My web host's server is in that
format so that's what I'm going to be using. Or
MPEG-1,2,4, or DIVX. And I know "raw" AVI files are
huge, but do they stream? Depending on the bitrate?
I'm planning to do most of my online videos at 15
FPS and at 160 x 120.
SonyEPM wrote on 12/19/2001, 9:12 AM
.wmv is a great streaming format. Forget about MPEG 1 or 2 for streaming-