Google Videos
 

If you have not seen this, Google has a new "lab" in their beta version and can host videos, and apparently converts them to Flash Video.

A music video I shot (edited in Vegas 6C) was uploaded by the artist from Vegas' new .mp4 render option, and despite some compression issues and the need to resize to "original size" (320x240) I thought it actually looked decent. As far as I know, there was no charge to host the video, and the artist is inserting a link to the video from his homepage.

The example may be seen at http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...rue&pr=goog-sl

If you take a look, be sure to crank up the sound and tell me what you think. (and no, I do not know what the vocals are saying).

Brian

that's the first time i've heard of google using the flash player... thanks for the info, do you have any links for further info?

google video has always used basic mpeg4 video, which is pretty lousy... it is possible that they are still using that format, but putting it up with a flash player... the reason i say that is because the hot ticket right now is to use wmv9 video inside of a flash player wrapper, because it gives you things like a clickable layer on top of the video, which the wmv player will not do.

even if google is really converting the uploaded video to flash 7, it's still going to be better quality than the mpeg4 garbage that they have been using all along.

Dan,

Here is the video homepage. http://video.google.com/

An FAQ may be found at https://upload.video.google.com/vide...html#overview2

As I did not submit the music video, I wasn't sure how it was uploaded, but an interesting test would be to upload the original .avi file (in this case, 1.2 gigs) and see how it comes out.

What's cool from my standpoint is how fast it loads and plays, something I've always like about Flash files.

Google also (per the FAQ) allows you to set a price to view a given video. This could potentially be HUGE, and opens up some amazing possibilities.

Brian

If this is not Flash based, please let me know.

When you right click on the video, it brings up "About Macromedia Flash Player 7....".

Brian

Flash 7 uses On2's VP6.2 codec, which is on par with MPEG-4 & WM9. I wonder if it is possible to submit a video such that it will not be recompressed? The FAQ does not directly answer the question.

flash 8 uses the vp6 codec, not flash 7.

i am also unable to tell what is going on here with these codecs, but there is an official usenet group for google video, maybe there is an answer there?:

http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Labs-Google-Video

Google this
 

This looks like a very exciting program. I think it has great potential.

One thing that bothers me is it says it prefers MPG4 Video with MPG3 Audio. Maybe I've missed something, but I don't see how to do that in Vegas 6... I don't even see how you do an MPG 3 Audio with an MPG2 Video, which Google says it will alternatively accept.

Of course, I'm basically computer stupid. Maybe it's the altitude here (8,500').

Charles, they mean MPEG-1 Layer III when they say MP3. As far as I know, there is no MPEG-3 standard. To create a compliant video in Vegas, do the following:

• Install an MPEG-4 codec such as DivX or Xvid.
• Render your project as "Video for Windows"
• Press Custom, then Video.
• Select xvid or xvid from the Video tab's "Video Format" drop-down list.
• Press Audio, then select "MPEG Layer-3" from the drop-down list.

Selecting the optimal parameters for each is something of an art, and you can obtain detailed information at forum.doom9.org, if you are interested.

On the issue of charging a fee to view a video, it looks like this program is not yet in place, and its unclear if Google accepts the payment, takes out their fee and then pays the content provider, but I would assume this is how it will work once this feature comes online.

Between Google allowing pay for play videos, and the new video IPOD with the ability to download a video for a fee from Itunes, its a perfect time to be in the business of creating content.

Brian

Google this
 

Emre:

Thanks very much! If I can return the favor in any way... some nice shots from the Rocky Mountains, maybe?

I've got a piece I did for CBS News' Early Show last weekend... about a young blind girl who runs on the cross country team... I might put that on the Google thing after CBS broadcasts it.

Charles

charles, xvid and divx are not legal mpeg4 formats... google will not accept either one of 'em... you have to use the real open-source mpeg4 video format, period... or else mpeg2.

Picky... picky...picky
 

Okay. But Vegas 6 doesn't do MPG4 out of the box. I'm guessing, then, there's an after-market something I need to buy, somewhere? Vegas does MPG2 (and 1); but Google seemed quite insistent they'd rather have 4.

In advance, domo arrigato for your time.

Vegas 6.0c does MPEG4. Make sure you're on the most current version.

What do you mean, Dan? Are you talking about H.264? xvid is open source.

Aha!
 

Okay, Edward... I downloaded 6.0 (c). I just bought Vegas 6 (upgrade from V5) in August. I don't have Internet on my workstation (intentionally), so Vegas doesn't check for upgrades, and I didn't think there'd be one so soon. Silly me.

Thangyew, Thagyewurymuch.

Your Tips & Tricks articles are awesome, by the way.