How to convert dv to swf

[Redi@VideoHelp]

I'm creating short videos using iMovie
generally producing .mov files then converting to swf
using Video2swf.

But, if I want my swf file to be a larger screen than the
CD quality conversion, I think there's some quality loss.

I'd like to go iMove -> dv -> swf.
Or maybe QTPro goes direct?

Can anyone recommend a coverter?
The ffmpegx software might work, but I could not find verification on their site
and their forum link led me here -- which I think will prove a very good find.

Any and all suggestions appreciated.

[terryj]

why swf? (Shockwave Flash?)
Why not simply flv ( Flash Video)?

if you do FLV, then you could do larger ( screen/resolution)
using VisualHub, ffmpegx, etc.

[web_maven]

There are two video encoders available for Flash the First is the "Sorenson Spark" which is a good encoder and is good for video over the Web or CD-ROM the second video encoder is the On2 VP6 which I would use for everything, Web, CD-ROM, VOD, etc... In addition it also supports the Alpha Channel for "Green Screen" the On2 video encoder comes with the Adobe Flash video encoder, the On2 video encoder is excellent for producing videos and is the only Flash video encoder I use. The Adobe Flash Video Encoder does produce FLV files but you can import them into Flash. The Video2SWF web site does not say it supports the On2 Video encoder (Rule of thumb - "If it does not say it, it does not do it")

Going from your IMove -> DV -> SWF would not give you any additional quality. If the quality from your IMovie is garbage then that would just be transferred to DV which would be even more compressed in Flash creating more garbage and you are just adding additional encoding time by adding the DV step. You want to go from IMovie (.MOV) -> SWF or FLV. Your IMovie settings is where it can make or break your final result. So when you save from IMovie make sure the settings are for high quality/DVD or better. (Sorry I am a PC guy so I don't know the correct settings for this)

Using the Video2swf maybe the problem from the start, looking at the site I was not impressed.

Good Luck;
Raymond

[Redi@VideoHelp]

To answer TerryJ's question: swf because that is what Video2swf creates and I've found a way that works for me to post the swf to the web.

Raymond, you've provide much interesting information and leads.
I'm not entirely displeased with the Video2swf results, but felt that I was losing some quality if I was producing a say 360x240 size .mov file and then converting to a 480x360 swf file.

Anyway, I'll be looking at the leads you both suggested, and perhaps upgrading or updating my software and technique.

Here is an early example of a smaller window size (just learning to use my Canon S3 Si):

http://www.thecriticalcrab.net/Kladnik/Segway.html

and here's a more recent larger window effort:

http://www.thecriticalcrab.net/miTube/worrywater.html

As always, comments, criticism, and suggestions appreciated.

Cliff

[Huxley]

Try ffmpegx
Make an avi from your DV in quicktime.
Then make the avi into flv via ffmpegx.
Read the flv guide on the ffmpegx site to get it working in your web page if needed.

[web_maven]

Redi;

You will lose quality if you go from 360x240 up to 480x360, you are going to create pixels that just do not exist in order to get the image to that size (It's not a big jump but it could cause blurry/soft images).

The best thing to do is save your MOV or any video file at the 480x360 resolution. Then convert that video to SWF format at the same resolution or smaller if need be. Think of it this way get any image at 320x240 then scale that image to 1600x1200(this is extreme but an example), the image would look very poor, even if you use Photoshop. The software is going to add pixels to the image to fit the size you need. In most case if not all; the image will be blocky and blurry/soft. The same idea holds true for your video you can make a larger video smaller but you should never make a small video larger. Always in video or photos start with a higher or equal resolution to your finished product. Also each time you convert to a different format you will be re-compressing video that has already been compress which could result in a bad image. A good example of quality loss from multiple compressions is with JPEG images, open a JPG file then save it, then open the one you just saved and re-save it at the same compression levels, keep doing this a few times and you will see your image slowly degrade.

There are tricks for using lower resolution video/images but that was before hard drive storage got so cheep.

Good Luck
Raymond

[Redi@VideoHelp]

Thank you Raymond for your detailed response.

I understand the enlarging issue.
This is the crux of my problem and source of the question.
iMovie seems only to allow exporting to CD quality which is 360x240 .mov
OR "full quality" which is .dv.

My Video2swf will not convert .dv

So, I thought maybe a .dv->.swf or .flv converter might allow me to
compress from the "full quality" (which is whatever size it is, I'm not sure)
to 480x360 without the problems you elucidate.

I haven't yet checked into the suggestions made.
One solution is to be happy with 360x240 but sometimes it's nice to have bigger screen.
I posted the two example urls to illustrate my preferences.

Thank you.
Cliff

[web_maven]

Cliff;

Look into other programs that will allow you to export to higher resolutions. Maybe it might be as simple as getting an update for iMovie.

Good Luck

[Redi@VideoHelp]

I have latest iMovie.
Thinking of upgrading to QuickTime Pro.
That might do it.

Thanks for the suggestion