5D Mark II Video - Compressing Problems

[BrantG]

Hey guys,

I have taken some videos with the 5D mark II and straight out of the camera, they plan just fine (smooth video playback).

However, I tried to have a co-worker use Adobe Premier CS4 to reduces the file size. He kept the H.264 encoding, but reduced the target and max bit rates. The video after re-encoding plays EXTREMELY choppy.

He then tried to keep the default settings for an mp4 and it played the exact same way.

Are we doing something wrong in the re-encoding process which is causing a smooth playback of the original to a choppy playback?

Would it help if I uploaded the video in question and someone give it a shot at re-enconding it?

Thanks.

[timescapes.org]

First thing I would check is that your timeline is 30p, not 24p. That could cause really bad chop.

[FlyingPhotog]

AFAIK, you can't compress the native codec or you end up losing information...

If you're going to compress, spit it out as an MPEG or WMV and see if it then plays smoothly at reduced circumstances.

[BrantG]

Originally Posted by timescapes.org

First thing I would check is that your timeline is 30p, not 24p. That could cause really bad chop.

It was set at 30 (29.9x).

[BrantG]

Originally Posted by FlyingPhotog

AFAIK, you can't compress the native codec or you end up losing information...

If you're going to compress, spit it out as an MPEG or WMV and see if it then plays smoothly at reduced circumstances.

I'll give that a shot.

[timescapes.org]

Originally Posted by FlyingPhotog

AFAIK, you can't compress the native codec or you end up losing information...

If you're going to compress, spit it out as an MPEG or WMV and see if it then plays smoothly at reduced circumstances.

No I compressed H264 MOVs directly off the 5D2 clips to H264 MOVs in Premiere. They play smoothly. Here is an example...

http://www.vimeo.com/2452171

[BrantG]

Originally Posted by timescapes.org

No I compressed H264 MOVs directly off the 5D2 clips to H264 MOVs in Premiere. They play smoothly. Here is an example...

http://www.vimeo.com/2452171

Could I upload one of my videos and could you try to compress it and see if you get the same (choppy) results as I am?

If you get it to work out properly, could you provide me with the exact steps and values you used?

Thanks

[osv]

Originally Posted by FlyingPhotog

AFAIK, you can't compress the native codec or you end up losing information...

^^^^
x2

brant, if your cpu is too slow to handle h.264 playback, simply transcode to a near-lossless intermediate codec... don't try to re-compress downwards on the file size in order to help the playback, because the picture quality will take a beating.

a near-lossless codec like canopus hq creates much bigger files, but they don't have near the cpu requirements for playback.

[timescapes.org]

Originally Posted by BrantG

Could I upload one of my videos and could you try to compress it and see if you get the same (choppy) results as I am?

If you get it to work out properly, could you provide me with the exact steps and values you used?

Thanks

sure, no problem. let's do it.

[BrantG]

Originally Posted by osv

^^^^
x2

brant, if your cpu is too slow to handle h.264 playback, simply transcode to a near-lossless intermediate codec... don't try to re-compress downwards on the file size in order to help the playback, because the picture quality will take a beating.

a near-lossless codec like canopus hq creates much bigger files, but they don't have near the cpu requirements for playback.

My Computer can handle the original videos just fine. However if I want them on my website and not kill my bandwidth, I don't want them to to be over 100MB each. I'm trying to get them down to 20MB or under.

So in short, the originals play back just fine. The "compressed" versions play back choppy therefore, I think I'm doing something wrong in Premier to compress them.

Originally Posted by timescapes.org

sure, no problem. let's do it.

Uploading the video now. It's 100MB. I'll send you a PM with the link to download it.

I appreciate your help.

[timescapes.org]

Brant, I just remembered. I did all of this on CS3 about a week ago. My CS4 has limited Quicktime export settings for some reason (maybe because it's from bit torrents? ). Let me see what I can do. I might have to reinstall PP CS3.

[garyo]

Could I ask you guys what software you use for uploading video from the Mk11 onto your computer? I have the canon software provided but all it talks about is uploading 'stills'. I'm running a new iMac. Thanks

[BrantG]

Originally Posted by garyo

Could I ask you guys what software you use for uploading video from the Mk11 onto your computer? I have the canon software provided but all it talks about is uploading 'stills'. I'm running a new iMac. Thanks

I bought an external USB card reader and it is much easier. You could get a Firewire one as well.

[garyo]

Yes I can get an external reader but like Apeture (Mac photos software - for stills) I'm gonna need some software to download movies to I guess or am I missing something. The canon software supplied doesnt seem to address the movie aspect of the camera downloads. I connected the camera and Apeture and the canon software detected i had stills not movie.

[BrantG]

Originally Posted by garyo

Yes I can get an external reader but like Apeture (Mac photos software - for stills) I'm gonna need some software to download movies to I guess or am I missing something. The canon software supplied doesnt seem to address the movie aspect of the camera downloads. I connected the camera and Apeture and the canon software detected i had stills not movie.

Well I have a Windows PC and I just go to the folder from My Computer and copy them to a directory of my choosing. No need to use a software to copy files (imo of course).