COMPRESSIONS
COMPRESSIONS
What is a compression?
It’s the process of taking uncompressed video and compressing/squeezing/condensing it down to a smaller, more manageable size. Learn more!
What are the benefits of a compression?
The (video, audio or photo) file is smaller once compressed, and therefore, is easier to upload, download, email, transfer, etc.. The smaller the file, the easier it is to move around.
Also, if you want to post video on the web (like for YouTube) or get a spot broadcasted via a digital delivery service (like DG or Extreme Reach), compressions are the necessary medium to do that.
(The smaller you make the compression, the more video information is lost from the original source. This loss of info can get displayed as pixelation in the video or as blurriness. But the goal in making a good compression is to get the best possible image for the required size). Learn more!
How should a person bring their material to HMS if they want it compressed?
If they want it compressed in the machine room, we would like to have a self-contained file – not an FCP project. Something of the highest quality if possible – that way when we compress the new file we are starting with the most video data possible. Learn more!
What questions should they have answered prior to coming in?
—What type of file do you need (QT, WMV, Flash, AVI, etc.)?
—Do you need a specific type of codec?
—What frame size (320x240, 640x480, etc.)
—Is there a max file size limit (under 2MB, etc.)?
—How are we delivering the file back to the client (hard drive, emailed as attachment, FTP site)?
—Slate or no slate?
—What’s the purpose of the file – to screen/approve a video? Delivering to YouTube? Client needs to edit with it? (this question sometimes answers all the other questions) Learn more!
