Converting HD (1280x720) to lower resolution for YouTube

[arjanpublishing]

Hi Video Pro's,

Just bought a Canon HD Camera HF200 and to convert the *.MTS files to a proper video format I bought "4Videosoft MTS Converter". (the standard software that Canon delivers with Camcorder sucks and keeps giving error messages)

Now I want to upload some video's to YouTube and Viddler. My Question:
- How can I convert the MP4 files with a resolution of 1280x720 to a lower resolution, like 720x405 or 640x360, so I can upload them ? (these MP4 files were created with 4Videosoft)

- Are there any other ways to convert the MTS files from my Canon Cam to a regular video format in a LOW Resolution ?

Thanks,
Arjan.

[Baldrick]

You can upload 1280x720 mp4s to youtube. Or are they too big in file size?

Several FREE converters supports both mp4 and mts like format factory, any video converter, handbrake, xvid4psp, xmedia recode. Convert to mp4 with h264 video or avi with xvid video.

[arjanpublishing]

Thanks, Baldrick !

Your assumption is right, a file of 800MB is way to big to upload. With Any Video Converter I managed to create nice video's of 480x272 pixels of about 80MB. (I used the 1280x720 m4p outfile of 4videosoft)

It's even possible to convert the MTS files directly to mp4, 480x272, the only problem is that in this case the clipping function doesn't work properly. So it's impossible to cut for example the first or last few seconds of my recordings. (it looks like a bug in the program)

Do you know if any of the other programs you advised do support straight conversion from MTS to low res (e.g. 480x272) mp4 format?

[eteune]

wow, any video converter rocks, I'm trying different outputs now from MTS to upload to Youtube, thanks for the info Baldrick, a truely "cunning plan"

[eteune]

I think I have found the magic combo
divx, AVI
1280x720
video bitrate 4000
video framerate auto
the rest left defaults
about 1/5th the size of original MTS file
and, it looks awesome on Youtube
maybe it's the Jameson's talking, but I have just fallen in love with this forum
cheers!

[MOVIEGEEK]

I suggest 856x480, it looks better on YouTube.

[eteune]

I will give that a shot, moviegeek, thanks

[MOVIEGEEK]

I will give that a shot, moviegeek, thanks

Sorry I was referring to arjanpublishing using 480x272, 1280x720 is fine.

[creamyhorror]

Youtube messes around with vertical resolution so it's a good idea to upload in a larger resolution than the one you're aiming for. Don't know if this has been fixed, but it was the case for most of this year and last.

Also, avoid multiple conversions, because that destroys video quality. MTS can be remuxed to MP4 (no quality loss) and uploaded directly. If your MTS requires deinterlacing, as is common, then deinterlace it and upload the result directly. Don't convert/re-encode it yet another time.

[eteune]

"remuxed to MP4"
how is that accomplished, can it be done in any video converter or Vegas Pro?
thanks,

Ed

[creamyhorror]

"remuxed to MP4"
how is that accomplished, can it be done in any video converter or Vegas Pro?

You need an MP4 muxer, a program called YAMB. It takes video and audio streams (e.g. the ones from your MTS files) and puts them in a new MP4 file.

If your camera records interlaced video, you'll have to deinterlace first. In that scenario, you'll have to use your program to deinterlace and re-encode it like you were doing.

[arjanpublishing]

I tried to remux my MTS video file, but the result is faulty. It probably has to do with this 'interlacing'. How can I do so?

[aedipuss]

if the hf200 can shoot 30p i'd start using it. otherwise you need to de-interlace to 30p anyway. most encoders/converters have the option to set de-interlacing. all youtube video is progressive, not interlaced.