Animated QT file

[tb582]

I have a quicktime file in Animation Codec - the actual content of the file is an animated clip - now normally when sizing this down I would go out to mp4 at about 1500k but yet with this clip the quality is terrible. I'm wondering if its because the content is "animated" and not live action?

[poisondeathray]

I have a quicktime file in Animation Codec - the actual content of the file is an animated clip - now normally when sizing this down I would go out to mp4 at about 1500k but yet with this clip the quality is terrible. I'm wondering if its because the content is "animated" and not live action?

mp4 is a container. What codec & settings are you using for compression? What are the dimensions and fps of the clip? 1500kbps might be fine for SD, but way too low for a 1080p clip. Also what is your goal? Why the arbitrary 1500kbps?

Often animated content compresses better than live action. What kind of animated content? CGI, cartoons, etc...? Also the actual type content and level of noise matters. e.g. an action sequence CGI full of explosions & colors will require a lot more bitrate than a slow moving pan sequence.

[tb582]

I have a quicktime file in Animation Codec - the actual content of the file is an animated clip - now normally when sizing this down I would go out to mp4 at about 1500k but yet with this clip the quality is terrible. I'm wondering if its because the content is "animated" and not live action?

mp4 is a container. What codec & settings are you using for compression? What are the dimensions and fps of the clip? 1500kbps might be fine for SD, but way too low for a 1080p clip

Often animated content compresses better than live action. What kind of animated content? CGI, cartoons, etc...?

AVC - 29fps 1280x720

[poisondeathray]

The content matters. An animated sequence with little motion and grain like a will take much less bitrate than a fast moving animated CGI sequence.

The settings matter. If you use better settings, you can get better compression.

Describe the content or post a clip.

1500kbps for 1280x720@29fps is probably too low, depending on what the content is

Why are you using a set bitrate? What is your end goal? e.g. streaming flash, pc viewing etc..?

[guns1inger]

I would agree. if there is any action then 1500 is too low for that resolution. H264 is good, but it isn't a replacement for good encoding practices. I am seeing a growing number of poor encodes from people who just assume that H264 is the solution to all encoding ills. It is just laziness.

If in doubt, test. Encode a few minutes at various bitrates and find the one that suits.