Help choosing format, codec, bitrate for better playability

[roboboticus]

My tech savvy doesn't extend that far into the realm of video, and I'm trying to convert some hi-def .wmv files to a format that my G4 Powerbook can handle better (choppy playback... vEry choppy playback). I'm using a program called Any Video Converter, which gives me more choices than I know what to do with. I was hoping to get some tips (format/codec choices, bitrate suggestions, etc.) in order to make playable videos without sacrificing more quality than I have to.

The choices I'm looking at:
Format: .mpg (MPEG-I, MPEG-II, NTSC, PAL), .avi, .mp4
.mp4 codecs: x264, mpeg4, xvid
.avi codecs: x264, mpeg4, xvid, plus a number of others
Video size: the originals are around 1440x1080, and the app is pretty flexible about sizing the output video
Video bitrate: as low as 64 to as high as 12000
Video framerate: as low as 8 to as high as 30

My Powerbook has a 1.67 GHz processor, 1.5 GB of DDR SDRAM, running OS X 10.4.11
The video card is ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 with 64MB VRAM

Much appreciated!

[Baldrick]

I would try mp4 with x264 video. Video size 1280x720. Bitrate around 3000-5000kbits. Framerate same as source.

And you could also try handbrake to convert if you get problems.

[roboboticus]

Thanks, Baldrick. I read somewhere that although x264 has good quality at relatively low bitrates, it can require a lot of processing power to run. I'll try it anyway - I've run vids that used x264 in the past without problems, so I guess I have enough processing power.

One thing I forgot to consider is all the sound options. Am I correct in assuming that sound will play a much smaller part in playability?

Anyway, thanks again!

[smitbret]

I've used Any Video Converter and I can't quite remember how much it forces you to use certain containers and codecs. As Baldrick mentioned, Handbrake will give you more control.

x264 will give you the best quality, but converting an hour of video from .wmv to x264 will probably take about six hours. Not only that, but for playback on that particular computer, I am willing to bet that x264 will not play smoothly, especially at that resolution.

.mp4 should be your container of choice for an HD video. I'd have to agree that a resolution of 1280x720 would be your best bet. Ideally, x264 or h264 would be your best qualitycodec, but converting on your Powerbook will probably take 5+ hours for every hour of footage. Not only that, but I'm willing to bet that playback will be choppy and unwatchable on it as well. For convenience sake, I would probably just recommend an mpeg4/ffmpeg codec with a bitrate of 5000 mb/s. It won't look as clean as an x264 conversion, but should still look pretty darn good. Conversion should take about 30 minutes and you'll be able to play it back (in HD resolution).

As far as audio. If size of the file isn't an issue, then AC3 would probably be my choice for stereo or multi-channel, otherwise (and Any Video Converter will limit you to this as well, I think) AAC codec is a good choice (160kb/s for stereo, 320kb/s for multi-channel). .mp3 would also work for stereo.