best flash software... at DVinfo.net

Mark Leonard · January 27th, 2007, 07:32 AM

whats the best flash encoder out there right now for my website. I have macromedia studio 8 which came with the flash encoder utility. however the max setting is 700mbs. however I dont feel like my quality is as up to par as it should be. maybe there's some more settings i can use in the flash encoder to bet better quality? or is there another encoder in the market that will give me better quality? thanks

Benjamin Hill · January 27th, 2007, 07:42 PM

Mark,

Stills or frame grabs would help illustrate what you mean by quality not being up to par...

Without knowing exactly what the problem is, I can tell you that for my money, the Flash 8 Video Encoder beats anything out there. Even with the medium 400kbps (not mbps) setting, I get great looking videos that are much better than any QuickTime or Windows Media I have seen at the same resolution- and they are much smaller files.

I use the On2 VP6 Codec and give the encoder the best quality source video possible to start with. I'm usually re-sizing to 320x240 or so for web delivery.

Josh Chesarek · January 27th, 2007, 07:47 PM

I would think that another company would have trouble beating Macromedia at their own game but I use Sorensen squeeze. I like the extra options it offers me over Premiere's encoder such as batch jobs.

Jesse Redman · January 28th, 2007, 10:19 PM

Mark,

If you are wanting to create Flash videos, Camtasia makes a great software product that was made to create videos (and Flash) from computer screen captures but does a great job of also making Flash from videos.

Here is a link to videos on my Web site produced using Camtasia:

http://www.advancedmedialab.com/Cinematography.html

Bandwidth on the Web will not quite support full size video, at full frame rates. These were done using 15 FPS and are reduced in size, but the image quality is fairly good.

BTW, I develop Flash applications on a regular basis and prefer using Camtasia for Flash video.

Denis Danatzko · February 1st, 2007, 09:49 AM

Jesse,
I'm referring to the Camtasia clips...NOT your camera work.

In "The Drive" I can even make out the license plates on the cars, but for some (e.g. "Pelicans at Alcatraz") no audio played. Might that be due to characterisitcs during recording/"production", or maybe my computer settings?

Either way, the Camtasia shots looked better than I expected. Was curious, as potential clients have been mentioning it, but no one's specifically asked for it yet. I haven't done ANY web delivery yet, and was wondering what to buy to get started in that...seems like a bandwagon I need to get on.

I run Adobe CreativeSuite/Production Editon under XP Pro on Dual Opterons at 2.21 MHz w/2 GB RAM, though I watched your clips on a Dell Pavilion 1.8 MHz machine. (I have Flash 8 but have never used it yet...still learning it) Do I need to know or be concerned about anything (conflicts, or maybe installation problems) before I buy?

Lastly, how would you rate Camtasia for ease of use?

Thanks.

Jesse Redman · February 9th, 2007, 11:16 AM

Dennis,

The "Pelicans" and some of the other videos have no audio.

I have had no conflicts between Camtasia and anyother software, in fact, the Camtasia codecs are now available in Vegas.

The learning curve for Camtasia is extremely short, yet it is extemely flexible. Camtasia will make you a pro at Web delivery overnight, and Camtasia is great for what it was originally designed for, making movies from computer screen captures.

Hope this helps.

January 27th, 2007, 07:32 AM	#1
Mark Leonard Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 166	best flash software... whats the best flash encoder out there right now for my website. I have macromedia studio 8 which came with the flash encoder utility. however the max setting is 700mbs. however I dont feel like my quality is as up to par as it should be. maybe there's some more settings i can use in the flash encoder to bet better quality? or is there another encoder in the market that will give me better quality? thanks

January 27th, 2007, 07:42 PM	#2
Benjamin Hill Major Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Iowa City, Iowa Posts: 670	Mark, Stills or frame grabs would help illustrate what you mean by quality not being up to par... Without knowing exactly what the problem is, I can tell you that for my money, the Flash 8 Video Encoder beats anything out there. Even with the medium 400kbps (not mbps) setting, I get great looking videos that are much better than any QuickTime or Windows Media I have seen at the same resolution- and they are much smaller files. I use the On2 VP6 Codec and give the encoder the best quality source video possible to start with. I'm usually re-sizing to 320x240 or so for web delivery. __________________ youtube.com/benhillmedia linkedin.com/in/benhillmedia

January 27th, 2007, 07:47 PM	#3
Josh Chesarek Major Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 978	I would think that another company would have trouble beating Macromedia at their own game but I use Sorensen squeeze. I like the extra options it offers me over Premiere's encoder such as batch jobs. __________________ Simple Thought Productions - Life @ 30,000 Words per second Last edited by Josh Chesarek; January 27th, 2007 at 08:35 PM.

January 28th, 2007, 10:19 PM	#4
Jesse Redman Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cedar Park, Texas Posts: 182	Mark, If you are wanting to create Flash videos, Camtasia makes a great software product that was made to create videos (and Flash) from computer screen captures but does a great job of also making Flash from videos. Here is a link to videos on my Web site produced using Camtasia: http://www.advancedmedialab.com/Cinematography.html Bandwidth on the Web will not quite support full size video, at full frame rates. These were done using 15 FPS and are reduced in size, but the image quality is fairly good. BTW, I develop Flash applications on a regular basis and prefer using Camtasia for Flash video. __________________ - Jesse XL2 - Vegas - DVDA - Sound Forge - Acid Pro - Cubase SX 3

February 1st, 2007, 09:49 AM	#5
Denis Danatzko Major Player Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NYC Metro area Posts: 579	Looks better than I expected. Jesse, I'm referring to the Camtasia clips...NOT your camera work. In "The Drive" I can even make out the license plates on the cars, but for some (e.g. "Pelicans at Alcatraz") no audio played. Might that be due to characterisitcs during recording/"production", or maybe my computer settings? Either way, the Camtasia shots looked better than I expected. Was curious, as potential clients have been mentioning it, but no one's specifically asked for it yet. I haven't done ANY web delivery yet, and was wondering what to buy to get started in that...seems like a bandwagon I need to get on. I run Adobe CreativeSuite/Production Editon under XP Pro on Dual Opterons at 2.21 MHz w/2 GB RAM, though I watched your clips on a Dell Pavilion 1.8 MHz machine. (I have Flash 8 but have never used it yet...still learning it) Do I need to know or be concerned about anything (conflicts, or maybe installation problems) before I buy? Lastly, how would you rate Camtasia for ease of use? Thanks. __________________ Denis ------------ Our actions are based on our own experience and knowledge. Thus, no one is ever totally right, nor totally wrong. We simply act from what we "know" to be true, based on that experience and knowledge. Beyond that, we pose questions to others.

February 9th, 2007, 11:16 AM	#6
Jesse Redman Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cedar Park, Texas Posts: 182	Dennis, The "Pelicans" and some of the other videos have no audio. I have had no conflicts between Camtasia and anyother software, in fact, the Camtasia codecs are now available in Vegas. The learning curve for Camtasia is extremely short, yet it is extemely flexible. Camtasia will make you a pro at Web delivery overnight, and Camtasia is great for what it was originally designed for, making movies from computer screen captures. Hope this helps. __________________ - Jesse XL2 - Vegas - DVDA - Sound Forge - Acid Pro - Cubase SX 3