video quality testing

[spaceboy]

Here is are two quick videos of the same original content but converted into two diff file types for uploading.  Please comment on their quality.  It appears you have to click the little HQ in the lower bar of the youtube embed to watch the higher quality (and it's a big difference) - it doesn't seem to stay set.  Thanks for your help.

a)
[smg id=16 type=av]

b)
[smg id=17 type=av]

[spearhead_22]

Hi spaceboy, the first video format looks better compared to the second one.

Video a) is more clear.

[spaceboy]

Thanks spearhead, I was thinking that too.  I had to change my output to 4:3 from 16:9, record as an MPG file (they're huge) then use xilisoft to convert to MOV.  The second was the same except converted to MP4.  The diff with turning on the HQ is very large for these, but yours seemed to be just as good without the HQ???  I wish I could set it to play in HQ by default...

[PZ]

Fantastic quality upgade spaceboy!  I agree with both of your assessments - the first is definitely better.  I too wish that HQ could be turned on by default, especially so the end user does not need to click the HQ button and restart the video.  Man, there is a difference in quality...

Excellent video w@&k both of you...

[JRD]

Great videos spaceboy...
a) looks great in normal quality and is excellent in HQ, although it takes longer to load (obviously)
b) very good image in both NQ and HQ.
Think you found a way to create very high quality videos.
Since they are so good, you should consider uploading those that load faster (less MB) so users won't have to wait for too long to watch.

I'm learning a lot with you and spearhead_22.. soon will be posting my own videos too...

[spaceboy]

Thanks jrderntl.  You bring up a good point, having the option for NQ or HQ is good for those that have differing connection speeds.  It looks like I have no choice really, as opposed to the originals I posted that did not have the HQ option, these give the user the choice.

[spearhead_22]

I was wondering if there's a better free video-hosting site apart from youtube which won't degrade the quality of the uploaded original video. Will have to search a little tonight. Does any of you know of such a site?

PZ, in the media section, does only youtube videos w@&k, or can it support videos from other sites as well?

[PZ]

I don't know, but I am very interested in other media sites - I'll also keep looking.  As to links other than YouTube, we might try adding a post from another hosting site as if it were a YouTube and see what happens.

[Art Blade]

just checked out those vids. I don't notice much of a difference but I too think a) was, if only slightly, better.

Man, I want a bike too! Made me burst out in a laugh when you hit that cactus and it sounded like you hit a tank LOL silly really, those "soft targets" to be that solid. That was cool in crysis where you could just crack stuff like that.

[spaceboy]

Art Blade, I never played crysis, but I'm a huge fan of Battlefield Bad Company which has crazy destructible environments.  It is a blast and I hope more games incorporate that in the future. 

You'd think the cactus would give seeing as though the fence posts mostly do.  It's another "far crying" moment where you just have to laugh.