A Question about Video Compression in C8.5P

Turk_WLF

I’m just wondering what other users use for Video Compression in Carrara 8.5 Pro while saving animations in .avi? I have Microsoft Video 1, Intel IYUK codec, Logitech Video (V420), Full Frame (uncompressed). Let me know if you do something different. I’m planning either saving it to a flash drive, or youtube (in time), or even a DVD.

I’m using Carrara 8.5 Pro Build 243.

Thanks,

WendyLuvsCatz

mostly I do not bother and render to image series instead, less risky too

cdordoni

Saving as uncompressed frames gives you more options later, if you need to make changes or do compositing. Additionally, if your system crashes while saving a lengthy animation you could lose the whole thing. Thats what Wendy is referring to by risky.

There are other codecs in addition the ones you listed. Some are free, some must be purchased. I think the choice depends on what the end use is.

evilproducer

I agree with Wendy about the advantages to rendering to an image sequence. Also, if the final render is intended to be edited or composited, you either want an use a lossless compression for the video or image sequence or no compression, otherwise you risk artifacts from trans-encoding. Compressing the video should be don after all the post production work is done, and will depend on intended platform.

Now to muddy the waters a little. ;-) Most (consumer) digital video cameras these days use h.264 if I recall. Probably a two pass encode for better quality, unless there's an option for longer recording time, in which case it is probably a single pass. This goes for HD as well as standard def. When digital video cameras recorded to digital tape such as MiniDV and Digital 8, they used a lossy compression called Streaming DV or DVC Pro. If you use alphas though, then the compression used for your rendered scene needs to support it.