best online format

[devdev]

hi

I transfer old films. i want to place a sample of my work online so that prospective clients can simply click and view.

Essentially, i guess that im looking for a balance between the best poss quality, ease of download and availability (especially to those with macs i suppose)

I've created my master 50 sec film as an avi dv file and i guess the simplest thing to do would be to output the timeline to windows media player v8 which is the latest option available to me in my version of premiere (6.5). The option that i picked was 'windows media video broadband 700 kbps'.

A few questions:
i) If what's in premiere 6.5 is suitable for the job, did i pick the right one?
ii) Would it would benefit me to convert into another later version of windows media and indeed how to...!
iii) Finally, if anyone has any ideas as to what format and how to convert my avi files for mac online users, then that too would be really appreciated!

Thank you in advance

philip

[redwudz]

I would suggest MPEG-1 as being more universal to all computer platforms as a demo format. And you could suggest VLC Media Player as a somewhat universal player if needed.

[jman98]

I strongly agree with redwudz's suggestion to use MPEG-1. EVERYTHING can play it, including MACs and Linux/FreeBSD boxes. On my last job I even had an ancient Sun desktop that was capable of playing MPEG-1 and that was the only video format it could play.

Windows Media is a poor selection for people with Macs. They have to know to download some additional software to be able to play these files. QuickTime would be much better for both Mac and Windows users, but MPEG-1 is really your best choice for everyone.

[thecoalman]

QuickTime would be much better for both Mac and Windows users, .

Why make it tough for 90% and easy for 10%(or whatever it is), Windows users would need Quicktime player. Other than MPEG1 WMV is going to reach the widest audience and is the only codec that compresses that much that is going to reacgh such a big audience. Any windows machine can play series 9 as long as they have Windows Media player 6.4 or better and you can even install that on a Win95 machine if it isn't already.

[oldandinthe way]

Quicktime is unacceptable for many Windows users.

Installing QT interferes with many systems laden with other video programs. Sometimes restoring the O/S to regain functioanlity.

If Windows users matter to you, any format other than QT

[zoobie]

QT was voted one of the ten most annoying things about computers...definitely stay away.

[devdev]

brilliant!
thank you.

[devdev]

yes - thank you again but on reflefction ive just realised that i dont know how to create a smaller online version of mp1. but i do have have tmpg and i supposed if i played around with it for a while..!

my windows media version was around the 2mb mark