What format do people here generally prefer streaming videos to be in. Bear in mind that I'm talking short (2-10 minute) tutorials rather than films.
If there is a format that you particularly don't like, please let me know which and why.
I've listed popular formats to the poll above, if there are other formats I should be considering please let me know.
Streaming Video Tutorials - What is your Preferred Format?
-
- Banned
- 6127 posts since 1 Apr, 2004 from Et in Arcadia Ego
Anything but Real media.
-
- Mr KVR
- Topic Starter
- 1591 posts since 23 Oct, 2000 from UK
- KVR Audio
Is your objection to real media to do with the format or the bloated player? (Which I think QuickTime also suffers from).
Incidentally (anyone), are Windows Media files easily readable on Macs (via iTunes I guess)?
Incidentally (anyone), are Windows Media files easily readable on Macs (via iTunes I guess)?
-
- KVRAF
- 3345 posts since 8 Nov, 2003 from Amsterdam
I'd prefer the most compact format that still shows enough detail for the tutorial purpose. (btw I miss AVI DIVX in the list, or maybe that is not a relevant option?)
-
- KVRAF
- 2083 posts since 8 Apr, 2004
I voted mpeg.. cause that will work on many players.. but AVI or DIVX would be good too...
Ben
Ben
-
- KVRist
- 199 posts since 12 Apr, 2005
Hmm. Being a Web developer, nowadays I make online videos *only* with Macromedia Flash MX 2004. It does have advantages. It's cross-platform, and you can design any interface and controls for it, and even brand the whole thing by inserting a provider logo in the interface. You have more flexibility in positioning and formatting the video window, actually you can put it anywhere you want, as part of a website, part of a chapter-structured interface, in pop-ups, in any size and format. You can even add subtitles (text) that runs under or above the video window, for users without speakers that would not be able to hear the narrative. And for different connection speeds, it's possible to make different versions, broadband and modem. True, in some cases it takes more work to make such tuts with Flash.
The only problem (depending on a project) is that users cannot download such tuts to view them offline - this can be partly solved by offering a Flash "projector" file for download, but then it may have to be developed both in Windows and Mac format which of course requires more development work.
But if offline viewing is not required, I recommend Flash for online videos. I'm suprised it is not in the list.
The only problem (depending on a project) is that users cannot download such tuts to view them offline - this can be partly solved by offering a Flash "projector" file for download, but then it may have to be developed both in Windows and Mac format which of course requires more development work.
But if offline viewing is not required, I recommend Flash for online videos. I'm suprised it is not in the list.
Last edited by sonicsmurf on Tue May 03, 2005 4:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
- Mr KVR
- Topic Starter
- 1591 posts since 23 Oct, 2000 from UK
- KVR Audio
sonicsmurf wrote:Hmm. Being a Web developer, nowadays I make online videos *only* with Macromedia Flash MX 2004. It does have advantages. It's cross-platform, and I can design any interface and controls for it, and brand the whole thing by inserting provider logos in the interface. You can even add subtitles (text) that runs under or above the video window, for users without speakers that would not be able to hear the narrative. And for different connection speeds, it's possible to make different versions, broadband and modem.
The only problem (depending on a project) is that users cannot download such tuts to view them offline - this can be partly solved by offering a Flash "projector" file for download, but then it may have to be developed both in Windows and Mac format which of course requires more development work.
But if offline viewing is not required, I recommend Flash for online videos. I'm suprised it is not in the list.
Interesting, I didn't know SWF was a viable format for publishing video material!
-
- Banned
- 6127 posts since 1 Apr, 2004 from Et in Arcadia Ego
Both, I just hate everything about it & always have. mpeg seems a pretty safe bet. Never heard of .swf delivering video content either..Ben [KVR] wrote:Is your objection to real media to do with the format or the bloated player? (Which I think QuickTime also suffers from).
-
- KVRAF
- 3588 posts since 13 May, 2004 from montreal
Video content for .swf was introduced in Flash MX and expanded greatly in MX2004. Sonicsmurf's explanation is a good one.
-
- KVRist
- 199 posts since 12 Apr, 2005
Flash is great for video tutorials.
You can even make it interactive. Think of several chapter-buttons and the ability for users to easily "jump" from tutorial chapter 1 to chapter 7, for example? Cannot do that with QT.
You can combine video - and animation. And put voice-overs on top of everyhing.
And: In several languages. Selectable by button. Cannot do that with... you know
According to mediacollege, Flash is indeed one of the *streaming video* formats:
http://www.mediacollege.com/video/strea ... rview.html
In the UK, streamcity offers Flash video streaming:
http://streamcity.co.uk/
and et cetera and so forth. It's not really so dumb. I guess
You can even make it interactive. Think of several chapter-buttons and the ability for users to easily "jump" from tutorial chapter 1 to chapter 7, for example? Cannot do that with QT.
You can combine video - and animation. And put voice-overs on top of everyhing.
And: In several languages. Selectable by button. Cannot do that with... you know
According to mediacollege, Flash is indeed one of the *streaming video* formats:
http://www.mediacollege.com/video/strea ... rview.html
In the UK, streamcity offers Flash video streaming:
http://streamcity.co.uk/
and et cetera and so forth. It's not really so dumb. I guess
-
- KVRAF
- 7217 posts since 21 Aug, 2004 from Trondheim, Norway
Yeah, I refuse to install anything from real. Come to think of it, I can't see MOVs either, because I can't install Quick Time without getting itunes.Sicklecell666 wrote:Both, I just hate everything about it & always have. mpeg seems a pretty safe bet. Never heard of .swf delivering video content either..Ben [KVR] wrote:Is your objection to real media to do with the format or the bloated player? (Which I think QuickTime also suffers from).
Flash is good, you can get free no-BS integrated players for all platforms.
Rakkervoksen
-
- KVRist
- 199 posts since 12 Apr, 2005
Here's an example of a Flash tutorial for a software package.
I think you can do so much more in terms of user interactivity. Imagine a video with intergrated clickable hyperlinks leading to online shops, PDF's or in-depth information.
Adobe aquired Macromedia and their video format will be used much more in future, probably even more than the other formats. With the new Flash version 8 that's soon to be released, video streaming will be even faster and there will be exciting new possibilities for truly interactive tutorials. The streaming is already fast now and will be even faster in the new version. But yes, it takes more work to make tuts in Flash!
I think you can do so much more in terms of user interactivity. Imagine a video with intergrated clickable hyperlinks leading to online shops, PDF's or in-depth information.
Adobe aquired Macromedia and their video format will be used much more in future, probably even more than the other formats. With the new Flash version 8 that's soon to be released, video streaming will be even faster and there will be exciting new possibilities for truly interactive tutorials. The streaming is already fast now and will be even faster in the new version. But yes, it takes more work to make tuts in Flash!
-
- KVRAF
- 12235 posts since 18 Aug, 2003
My vote goes for mpeg. It's cross-platform and not tied to a specific player.
I generally prefer non-embedded video, as I usually view offline. This allows two benefits: 1) you can resize the video, and 2) Windows Media Player never seems to register properly as a plugin in Firefox, so I generally have to download the embedded file any way.
Flash is acceptable I suppose, especially if it looks like that example sonicsmurf linked to, but Real is not. I am now Real-free, I am happy to stay that way. Bloated piece of crap, and useless for instructional video as it is always buffering poorly, even on fast connections. Quicktime also sucks, enjoy avoiding it as much as possible.
I generally prefer non-embedded video, as I usually view offline. This allows two benefits: 1) you can resize the video, and 2) Windows Media Player never seems to register properly as a plugin in Firefox, so I generally have to download the embedded file any way.
Flash is acceptable I suppose, especially if it looks like that example sonicsmurf linked to, but Real is not. I am now Real-free, I am happy to stay that way. Bloated piece of crap, and useless for instructional video as it is always buffering poorly, even on fast connections. Quicktime also sucks, enjoy avoiding it as much as possible.
-
- KVRAF
- 3588 posts since 13 May, 2004 from montreal
This publicity site for Saab is a good example of the kind of interactivity possible.
http://www.lowetesch.com/infinitedrive/
(let it load completely)
http://www.lowetesch.com/infinitedrive/
(let it load completely)