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Video encoding for the web: test page
This is basically a test page to demonstrate different video formats suitable for playing on the web.
The trick is to get a gallon into a pint pot! Video is very greedy, it takes up a lot of data and must be compressed. Although most internet connections are now broadband many still use dial-up networking via a 56k modem.
Video can be delivered either instantly on demand (streaming video) or saved to the hard drive. So it is usual to offer a choice of compressions from a menu.
Dial-up. For instant viewing video must be very heavily compressed resulting in small "lo-fi" pictures. Video saved to the hard drive does not need so much compression as the download is not in real time. If you are prepared to wait you can still download a better quality short video using a dial-up modem. but there still has to be a trade-off between download time and quality.
Broadband. For instant viewing video can be less compressed resulting in larger "mid-fi" pictures. Video saved to the hard drive can be less compressed still and can produce good results.
There are many video compression systems in use, and your computer must have the correct software players installed to play the video, the three most common players are- Windows Media Player, Real Player and Quicktime. You can download them on the links below.
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Technology is constantly moving on and there is increasing use of MPEG4 compression. There are many systems based on MPEG4 being developed allowing the download (using broadband) of very good quality video (some examples are DIVX and XVID).
Depending on the settings of your computer, the way the video clips open will vary. If they don't play, you may not have the latest player installed or the correct video file types activated in the player. Note- also depending on your computer set up you might get trapped in a video window after playing a video, dont panic! If there is not a close (X) button on the player just press the back button on your top toolbar.
The first two examples use Windows Media Player (.wmv files). and should work on most PC machines as Windows Media Player is usually installed as the default player.
These thirty second clips are from the same high quality source and deliberately include pans and zooms to demonstrate the visual effects of different levels of compression. (Courtesy of The Chelsea Society and are from a programme we made for them).
This method of opening video should work on most pc machines using Internet Explorer. - Click the Left mouse button to play the video clips directly, but if you are using a dial-up connection (typically a 56k modem) the first video clip may stall for a few seconds during playback while the player waits for more video data, and with a 56k modem you will not be able to play the second video clip directly.
To play the video clips smoothly you should firstly save them to your hard drive, click the Right mouse button to open a drop down menu, select - save target as and then download the video clips to a selected location on your hard drive and play them at your leisure.
Some PC machines use Firefox as the default internet browser and there is a difference in the way the video will open. Use the Left button and follow the choices offered.
MAC machines will vary in the way that they open web video please follow the prompts.
Click HERE to see the first video clip (56k modem) and look at the way the picture blurs and breaks up into blocks (pixilates) during the pans and mixes due to the very high compression used. It will be some time before we are all on Broadband! If you plan to shoot video for playing on the web via a dial-up connection, keep the video simple, avoid pans and fast movement .
Click HERE to see the second video clip (Broadband) notice the improvement (at the expense of download time).
The following 6 video examples are a 30 second extract from the same source (Courtesy of Hartnell Creative Communication Ltd. www.hartnell.com) and come from a presentation we produced for them.
Remember the rules Left to play Right to download
Click HERE to play Windows Media for 56K dial-up
Click HERE to play Windows Media for Broadband
Click HERE to play Real Media for 56K dial-up
Click HERE to play Real Media for Broadband
Click HERE to play Quick Time for 56K dial-up
Click HERE to play Quick Time for Broadband
The next two video clips are only suitable for downloading onto your hard drive
Click HERE to download the "Lighthouse" video clip compressed to MPEG-1(VHS quality). It has a file size of 7,519 KB and should take a few minutes to download using a Broadband connection but can take up to 30 minutes to download with a 56K modem.
Click HERE to download the "Chelsea" video clip, compressed to MPEG-1(VHS quality). It has a file size of 5,150 KB and should take a few minutes to download using a Broadband connection but can take up to 20 minutes to download with a 56k modem.
Click HERE for a longer Broadband test using Real Player and is a good example of the use of video on the web for promotion (Courtesy of Mayflower Designs and is a promotional video we produced for them).
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