Best video format/codec

[bbbbbbb40]

I've been making videos for youtube (mpeg II 640 X 360 29 fps) but little 3 minute videos are 100-120 megabytes and I am running out of storage space for my backups! I have seen hourlong TV episodes at 700 megabytes so I know there must be better compression methods for only 3 minutes of video.

1) What is the best format/codec?
2) Does anyone know how I can change the codec in Sony Vegas, or if not do I need another program like Pinnacle? Do I need to make the videos from scratch and then rerender them in another?

Any advice would be appreciated,
Steve

[hech54]

Use H264 video with AAC audio.

[bbbbbbb40]

Ok, h264 is a compression codec, right? Does anyone know how to do that in Sony Vegas, or if I need another program to do that?
In Sony Vegas it lets me choose the media container, but not the codec.
Thanks,
Steve

[hech54]

I know nothing about Vegas...just go to YouTube and search for "H264 Sony Vegas" and you'll probably find a tutorial video you can learn from.

[Cauptain]

Ok, h264 is a compression codec, right? Does anyone know how to do that in Sony Vegas, or if I need another program to do that?
In Sony Vegas it lets me choose the media container, but not the codec.
Thanks,
Steve

YES. Vegas 10 and 11 have a H264 output (AVI or MP4 container).

[bbbbbbb40]

Thanks. I did a test with it and the results were ok but not as good as mpeg-2. Do you have any advice on settings for h264 when encoding/rendering?
--Steve

[Cauptain]

Thanks. I did a test with it and the results were ok but not as good as mpeg-2. Do you have any advice on settings for h264 when encoding/rendering?
--Steve

Which the resolution and the size of the video?

[bbbbbbb40]

640 x 360, about 3 minutes long.
Thanks in advance!
-Steve

[hech54]

That's why I use the X264vfw codec with VirtualDub to create my YouTube uploads. Just leave it at the default compression(26.0)....and I resize(under VIDEO - FILTERS) the video down (to 75%) and tick the multiples of 16 box (you may only need multiples of 4 though....can't remember). Of course you can leave it full size and change the compression to higher quality....the choice is yours....but smaller file size means less quality....no way around it....but H264 is the best compromise.