I read through this thread from more than a year ago: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=85764

...but couldn't make heads or tails on h.264

Just wanted to ask about the possibility of submitting .mov films encoded using the h.264 codec instead of the listed options of sorenson3, mpeg-1, mpeg-4

I'm curious whether the h.264 codec is allowed or what current thought is on the matter?

the current thought is that we're thinking about it...

the issue is that we are trying to use universal codecs that do not require mac users to download software to view PC-favorable codecs and vice versa...people hate being forced to download things. so we have avoided it to date.

but h.264 is growing ubiquitous enough now that we are considering including it for next year (when we do our major re-think about how to improve UWOL)...but for right now, no.

we're always open to hearing discussion and debate, but we only try to make major changes once a year, so that things remain as consistent and reliable as possible.

Ok. I'm fairy familiar with the world of codecs and as far as I know, h.264 is basically in the same boat as something like Sorenson 3...you get it with most editing software...?

And to view it, it comes with a free quicktime download you'd have to make anyways to view the sorenson 3 or other encoded .mov files. So good to hear its being considered.

I do have to compliment the UWOL challenge on making everyone upload all their videos to the UWOL site. Having all submitted films archived with no broken links is really nice.

i know that the download is free, just as the .wmv player is free for mac users to download, the point is that people seem to hate being forced into downloading apps onto their machines. like i said, now that adobe has adopted an h.264 standard for flash, we may see more broader acceptance of it, and that is what is prompting us to consider it in the future (which is why h.264 is the *only* new codec currently under consideration, sorry .wmv lovers...)

That was one of the things I always liked about UWOL is that there is basically a library of films from the last nine challenges so you can see how filmmakers from around the world tackled the same subject.
I think it's also nice to see how filmmakers have grown in their craft from the first challenge they've entered.
I think the UWOL community is a very rare one. We're more of a family and encourage each other instead of trying to beat the competition. It's one of the few places I've found where egos don't get in the way.

kevin,


Here Here!!! I am on the same wave lenght/page!!!!


If we ever have a gathering we should have a session, best practices for compressing for uwol!!!!