Youtube Upload, increase quality/control (HQ hack obsolete)

[hypnoticpimp]

any1 know another service, where they cant reencode flv files?

[zoobie]

you could just get a regular host then upload anything you wish for a few bucks a month...

[gus999]

Ok, i'm in the uk, and am experiencing the same "upgrading" of videos rendered at 640x480 as wmv files. I don't know whats going on at YT but i wish they'd stop being so darn secretive about it!
So, to all those of you questioning certain posters sanity, IT'S TRUE!!!
I can't provide examples as theyre all test vids set to private (nothing dodgey, just crap!) but the quality is good, (considering the source, not HD) and when you try to resize them smaller in the viewing window they WONT!
I use Sony Vegas Pro8, record in cockpit heli videos on a sandisc v5 with an sd card in it (640x480 25fps, pal bullet cam).

[bayme]

Ok, i'm in the uk, and am experiencing the same "upgrading" of videos rendered at 640x480 as wmv files. I don't know whats going on at YT but i wish they'd stop being so darn secretive about it!
So, to all those of you questioning certain posters sanity, IT'S TRUE!!!

Yes, we all know by now: https://forum.videohelp.com/topic346256.html

Here's what I think is going on:
They are so secretive about it, because the decision involves quite a daring move for Google/YouTube, and they're not sure if they can even handle it yet, traffic-wise, and with regards to copyright-territories. BayTSP (Viacom's agent claiming infringements at YT) is probably f*cking it all up for YT.

Also, if they now allow the videos to use up to 1 Megabit/s bandwidth, then why not also raise the 350 kbit/s limit we had to deal with in this thread? Should they allow the users to have control over what quality users would like their content to be offered in, or should they avoid lag and make connection-speed the determining factor for the version/quality they offer? They are probably discussing all this as we speak.

[reez]

they're probably reading this friggin thread trying to figure out wat da hell to do

[bayme]

,.

[diddyman4real]

2. you can still cheat duration, if you're willing to pad the stream with still images.

[/quote]



please explain what you mean by pad the stream. i want to cheat the duration of a video, tell me how please.

[wwechamp]

If you don't know how to pad a file then all is lost for you lol.
But seriously it would be easier for you if there was an example somewhere.

[benrtc]

Nevermind. The video below WAS in 480x360 but is now 320x240. Perhaps YT is experimenting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLhzqDjCs8w

[45tripp]

Perhaps YT is experimenting.

they are,
add &fmt=6 to the end of the url
https://forum.videohelp.com/topic346256.html


as for padding,
it's simply adding still images to pad the stream to the desired length.
many ways to do it,
any editor will do.

somenone actually had an example up,
but took it down...
oh well.

i'll post an example using avisynth
(you can't just copy paste this stuff)

so lets say you start with a progressive ntsc dvd clip at 4/3,
you've got a duration of 120 seconds.
first decide by how much you intend on extending the length of the clip.
50%, 100%, 200% or up to the 11 min max?

I'll go for 50%
so we want an extra 60 seconds of blank footage.
at a framerate of 23.976, thats ~ 24x60 = 1440 frames.
keep in mind the blank clip has to match the properties of your clip,
and you can add some text to your blank frame to signify the end.
so as an example in avisynth:

LoadPlugin("C:\Program Files\AviSynth 2.5\dgdecode.dll")
a = mpeg2Source("VideoFile.d2v").lanczos4resize(448,336)
b = wavsource("audio.wav")
c= BlankClip(length=1440, pixel_type="yv12", width=448, height=336, fps=24000, fps_denominator = 1001, audio_rate=48000, stereo=true).subtitle("fin", align=5, size=36)
d = audiodub(a,b)
e=d+c
return(e)

and then you encode your avs,
so that your total bitrate stays below 350k
(as an example):

mencoder videoblank.avs -o mencblank.flv -af resample=22050:0:0 -of lavf -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=flv:vpass=1:vbitrate=301:trell:v4mv:mv0:mbd=2:cbp:aic:cmp=3:subcmp=3 -oac mp3lame -lameopts abr:br=32:mode=3 

mencoder videoblank.avs -o mencblank.flv -af resample=22050:0:0 -of lavf -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=flv:vpass=3:vbitrate=301:trell:v4mv:mv0:mbd=2:cbp:aic:cmp=3:subcmp=3 -oac mp3lame -lameopts abr:br=32:mode=3

gl
tripp

[frifox]

as for padding,
it's simply adding still images to pad the stream to the desired length.
many ways to do it,
any editor will do.

somenone actually had an example up,
but took it down...
oh well.

i added black frames with white text in sony vegas, does the same job...

example taken down? well, if anybody needs another example, here is one:
--[ Duration: 2:05
--[ Video Size - 640x480
--[ Video Bitrate - 1200Kbps
--[ Video Framerate - 25fps
--[ Audio Bitrate - 128Kbps
--[ Audio Codec - VBR MP3 (LAME)
--[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwkrpCqvcR0


btw, can we add those black frames using only ffmpeg? that will reduce the whole video uploading process by removing sony vegas out of the equation...

[45tripp]

i added black frames with white text in sony vegas, does the same job...

many ways to do it,
any editor will do.

example taken down?

an example of methodology,
not of uploaded content.

[frifox]

oh, then pardon me for misunderstanding

[stsin]

YT's HQ conversion is too sporadic to rely on for now. None of my huge test videos have been converted. Even if they do, it will be Mono and quality still won't be as good as from us using similar bitrate. That is for those who can see the HQ version. Plus we lack control, other than attempting to filter it so YT may compress it better. If look at YT's 750+ Kbps conversions, I still see artifacts and such. So I'll look back on YT's HQ version when they get it finalized, and allow users to set an option to force video to HQ when exists, because their 320x240 version looks like total poop.

Been trying to convert videos under 350Kbps with no padding. Now even playing with avisynth (and yes, it is awesome). Correct time and all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A47MeRCW1Qs
I have slower paced vids which look even better and are quite acceptable to stay under 350Kbps with no padding.

But with some videos I sure missed the HQ version from a month ago, so I too started to pad the ends, even though it may be annoying to some.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3KxpVo7PAE

When padding, I add 75% of the original in extra frames with avisynth, so the streaming won't stutter for most people. Going all the way to 10:59 for short videos is way too much, not quite as enjoyable for that extra quality.

I still use ffmpeg with Avanti as the GUI. Now feeding it with avisynth scripts. The type of filters to use is something I'm still figuring out. Any suggestions for favorite filters to help compressability are welcomed. To get even more bitrate for the video, I started to use VBR audio. Avanti GUI doesn't have a VBR option for Lame, so I just demux and use lame.exe. Sometimes the -aq option is still huge and force -abr which gives acceptable quality...depends on video. Then mux it to the final with Avanti.

[45tripp]

Now feeding it with avisynth scripts. The type of filters to use is something I'm still figuring out. Any suggestions for favorite filters to help compressability are welcomed.

there are some filtering suggestions in the general youtube discussion thread,
linked to in my first post of this guide.
i think most of it was vdub filtering, but still you could frameserve from vdub to avanti.
Also there's an avisynth example script somewhere in this thread from me too.
basically strip noise/detail.

Avanti GUI doesn't have a VBR option for Lame

because ffmpeg has no option for it.


gl

[bayme]

mv0:mbd=2:cbp:aic:cmp=3:subcmp=3

Hey, just some hints from users in the mencoder list I've seen on those filters/commands:
http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.comp.video.mencoder.user/7898/focus=7902
I have removed mv0 and the cmp from my mencoder batch-files, they don't do much for quality, except when you encode cartoons.

The filters I currently have left in, and know are compatible with the YouTube player, are:
mbd=2:trell:v4mv:aic:cbp:last_pred=3redia=4:dia=4reme=2:vratetol=900

Maybe useful to some..

[acid_burn]

Hey guys! I found some dude who manage to get his video with the right dimensions and duration.
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=6TL4SllcWD0

[acid_burn]

oops looks like the video is before feb4th. Try this one and check the date.
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=JbbPtZbI9ZI
no idea how he did it, anyone care to explain?

[dtfinch]

Avanti GUI doesn't have a VBR option for Lame

because ffmpeg has no option for it.

They just never got around to documenting it well. Use -aq instead of -ab and give it the VBR level (1-9 for mp3). The range changes from one audio format to another.


acid_burn: I think they've started serving you 480x360 videos by default.

[MisterH]

Now that stage6 has gone south, we might see more HD experimenting from youtube.
Either that or they'd take them as an example of why hosting HD content isn't such a great idea.

[45tripp]

They just never got around to documenting it well. Use -aq instead of -ab and give it the VBR level (1-9 for mp3). The range changes from one audio format to another.

yes...
ffmpeg documentation is horrendous!

@acid_burn, MisterH

is you wish to follow youtube experimentations, developments,
they're keeping track here:
https://forum.videohelp.com/topic346256.html

[StreamHunter]

Nevermind. The video below WAS in 480x360 but is now 320x240. Perhaps YT is experimenting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLhzqDjCs8w

Try to add &fmt=18 at the end of your link...this is YT's HD experiment...

[hypnoticpimp]

Can someone please tell me how i convert this to flash hi quality. So i can upload on a server. I tried mencoder but i got alot of skipping frames, When converting this .mov file

Heres the stats

File type - Quicktime (.MOV)

Video -

mp4v - ISO MPEG- 4

status - codec status undetermined
Frames 23.976

Display - 720 x 480


Audio

Codec - mp4a Mpeg-4 AAC LC
Info - 48000Hz 128 kb/s tot Stereo (2/0)

Status Undetermined

[ricardouk]

...or should they avoid lag and make connection-speed the determining factor for the version/quality they offer?...

That is the only way to go... what is the point of having high quality videos if most people will experience lag when playing them, i would stop using youtube

raising the limit is not the answer in my opinion, providing the link to the High quality version and let the user decide like they are doing now is the right decision.

[olibi]

Hello. Changing the duration doesn't affect the bitrate... I still can't upload without it being re encoded... Any help on how to fix?

[bayme]

Hello. Changing the duration doesn't affect the bitrate... I still can't upload without it being re encoded... Any help on how to fix?

Check frifox's channel and info: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UnQWdPhU8Y

[crazymonk848]

never mind... :\ great guide, but i don't think i will ever understand it. Do you have any suggestions to get good quality a much simpler way? I've tried everything i could find but the video I've been working on still looks horrible...i worked on it for 2 weeks just to have youtube trash the quality...and its been about 3 days that i've tried to improve it, but nothing has helped.

[bayme]

never mind... :\ great guide, but i don't think i will ever understand it. Do you have any suggestions to get good quality a much simpler way? I've tried everything i could find but the video I've been working on still looks horrible...i worked on it for 2 weeks just to have youtube trash the quality...and its been about 3 days that i've tried to improve it, but nothing has helped.

What have you "tried",
what are the properties of your source video (everything you know about it),
what quality do you want it to be,
can you show us an example upload?

Either way, have you read the words in the subject of this thread?

[crazymonk848]

well, tbh i can't remember everything i've tried so far i've rendered it at least 15 times in different formats that were supposedly supposed to give great quality >.> but htey didnt...and i remmoved/deleted them. this is what i had the very first upload tho (a wmv file)

duration:4:25
bit rate: 5837kbps
dimenstion: 720x480
size:67.9 MB
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v1ehZG6Ybw

and i know those are nothing like youtube suggests...i've never changed the settings before i've alwasy used default and the quality is reduced but never this badly.

another thing i tried was to convert it to flv or watever with total video converter and the results were the same... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLNg8QDxz30

right now i'm uploading a avi file to see if that changes it at all :\

and i saw on another thread about using SUPER to convert it to flv instead of total video converter but i havnt tried taht yet :\

i dont mind if the quality isnt the greatest i just want something that is decent....i spent 2 weeks editing that and put in alot of time and effort and you can harldy tell with that crappy quality

and yes... i have read through this..its just too much for me tho, those programs are way above anything i could do right now. i'd like to learn...someday i guess...but i really just want to be able to watch my video without being so disapointed in it.

[bayme]

But do you want to have good looking video with the high quality settings of YouTube (&fmt=6 or &fmt=18), or do you want the low quality Flash video to be good enough already?

If you want the low quality to look OK, try this: https://forum.videohelp.com/topic345987.html
or the mencoder settings mentioned further on in that thread.

Be sure to check the total bitrate of the FLV file you want to upload, use Mediainfo for that. It needs to be 349 kbit/s, maximum.

Don't upload anything other than 640x480, 480x360, 448x336 or 320x240 pixels resolution, and use square pixel Aspect Ratio 4:3.
If your source is anything other than that, letterbox it before uploading. You can use VirtualDub for that by adding a filter under the Video menu. Add the "resize" filter, set the right values, like "Maintain aspect ratio", and then resize to (for example) 448 w 336 h. with letterboxing.
You can also add a Sharpen filter below that and preview and set it to what looks good, etc.
You can add the x264 video for Windows encoder to use within vdub, and then use x264's "singlepass lossless" for Compression under the Video menu in vdub,
then save your avi and make your FLV out of that avi.

I'd use mencoder for that myself, but you can try Any Video Converter instead, if a batch file is too difficult for you.