macromedia flash flashcom: 1.Encoding

I am trying to find out the best way to encode FLV's. For both quality and
cost.

I have already come across:
Sorenson Squeeze(the most expensive)
Wild form Flix pro
Flix Lite (cheapest so far)

I have been playing with Flash Video exporter (free), for After Effects but
the results I get are jumpy and not as good as with Squeeze.

Can you use Flash itself to encode FLV's? If so How does the quality compare
to Squeeze?

2.Streaming

Do you HAVE to use Flash Communication server, to stream FLV's from within a
purely flash site?

Are there any other ways of truly streaming flash FLV'S?

I dont want to progressivly download.I want to stream.

3. BACKGROUND
I am working for a 3d visualisation company and am remaking our website.(using
flash mx 2004 pro)

We want to include some of our, 3D Studio Max, Animations on our site.
So I am trying to get the best Quality I can from 3D studio max to Streaming
on the web, within a purely flash site.
:confused;

Everything you need to know is here: http://www.flvplayer.com/questions.php

1.Encoding

PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO USE:
a) Sorenson Squeeze 4

b) Riva flv encoder(free) http://download.rivavx.de/RivaEncoderSetup.exe

c) Flix pro/LE

d) Flash video update 1.2(free) - lets you export directly from After effects,
quicktime pro and a few others

e) flash mx 2004 pro

f) Macromedia video kit(includes Sorenson Squeeze 4 Lite) - Get your FREE
Macromedia Video Kit (a $99 value) when you buy or upgrade to Dreamweaver or
Studio and register it online by December 31*. After registering online, you
will receive an email with a link to your free video kit.

WHATS THE BEST TO USE:
Sorenson squeeze 4 has by far the most features, but is the most
expensive.(but it does batch processing the best)

Riva is great because its free and the quality is almost identical to Squeeze,
slightly bigger file sizes but only a few k.

I have not used flix pro or LE

Flash video update is great but does not have the ability to resize your movie
from after effects (greyed out)

I havent tried exporting from mx pro, too much hassle so if anyone has done it
let us know if it is any good.

SETTINGS TO USE
Audio:96k stereo fraunhofer mp3
Video:
Method= 2 pass vbr

Data Rate= 600-800 (combined with audio)
(small clips 0-2 min) What you should really do is take your target audience
max data rate, double it then preload 50% of the movie.
that way they will never catch up with it and you can double the data rate.

Frame rate= keep the same as your original clip, and keep it 1:1

Key frames= double your frame rate should be a good guide for smaller clips


HOW TO GET GOOD QUALITY
a) You can NEVER get better quality than your original source footage, so what
you should aim to do is lose as little quality as possible. So start with the
best footage you can!!!!

b)try to use raw(uncompressed) footage and convert straight to FLV.
If it is too big eg. 900mb you might experience problems encoding straight to
flv.(i have) so you might have to compress it first.
I use after effects for this and encode to sorenson 1 or motion jpeg A. I
found sorenson 1 to be best as it added a little extra contrast.

C)NO FADES!!!!!!!!!
FLV does not like fast motion and hates fades wipes etc.... So use clean
footage with direct cuts and dont use hi motion clips.



2.Streaming

You HAVE to use Flash Communication server, to truly stream FLV's from within
a flash site.

or use a flash comm server, if you cant afford your own.

However with MX 2004 PRO: You can progressively download flv's which is as
good as streaming for smaller clips (0- 2 mins)and is FREE.
(this is what I do)


3.IMPLIMENTING INTO FLASH:
mx 2004 pro only: you can use media components if you dont know what your
doing.
or netstream etc if you do

Regards, Joe

try this:
open your browser in two or more windows connected with the same URI (a .html
file with a .swf playing a .flv video )
case a)progressive downloading =>the video stops and goes
case b)streaming=>the video plays properly

actually I don't know if case b) is true cause it is very very difficult (for
me naturally) to install a damned trial version of FCS
in my pc.


I Hope MM could publish some tutorial or something else? may be using
streaming video??

I'm very disappointed with MM!!