YouTube HD - Is That Possible?
YouTube has just announced that users now have the option of watching some videos in higher quality. These streams are available on certain videos, depending on the source file uploaded to YouTube.
The ability to upload higher quality videos means improved sharpness and visual clarity for some YouTube videos. It's very noticeable in videos that contain text or fast movement and also in full-screen mode.
However, there are some important things to consider, that you, the video content provider, need to know so you can make the right decision.
But first, let me tell you about the upgrade, and the tools could use to make these high-quality YouTube videos.
First Things First!
Get The Latest Flash Player
As a user, what do I need to do to watch YouTube HD videos?
What do I need to set up in my account?
On your YouTube Account page, click on Video Playback Quality and you're now able to choose "always show me higher quality when available" or "I have a slow connection. Never play higher-quality video" which is set by default.So if you want to turn on HD, you must set "I have a fast connection. Always play higher-quality video when it's available" but only if you have a fast internet connection, otherwise you might find that videos don't play as quickly or smoothly.
Just Click "watch in high quality"
Forcing YouTube to Play HD Videos
Normal Mode and Hi-Res Mode
Provided that the user, you're watching, uploaded a high quality video with the specs above, you should be able to force YouTube to display hi-def videos even though you're not logged into YouTube.For instance, this video displays in normal mode:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmqQKZPlj6M
Now, for the same video to display in hi-res mode, the trick is to append &fmt=6 or &fmt=18 to the end of the URL.
&fmt=6 increases the resolution from 320x240 to 448x336, Flash 7 video @ 900Kbps; audio @ 44.1KHz 96Kbps Mono CBR.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmqQKZPlj6M&fmt=6
&fmt=18 increases the resolution to 480x360, H.264 video @ 512Kbps; audio @ 44.1KHz 128Kbps Stereo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmqQKZPlj6M&fmt=18
As a content provider, what do I need to do to upload YouTube HD videos
What format do I need to encode my videos with?
For the highest quality, YouTube now recommends these setting for your video:- MPEG4 (DivX, Xvid) format
- 640x480 resolution
- 64k Mono or 128k Stereo MP3 audio
- 30 frames per second
- Up to 1GB file size and 10 min. duration
How Can I Encode My YouTube Videos Using The DviX Codec?
You Can Choose Among These Three Encoders
The DviX codec is one of the codecs recommended by YouTube, and the one I prefer over Xvid.So there are basically two ways to do this. One is using a simple video encoder and the other is using a sophisticated video compressing tool.
The software programs I recommend are: DviX Converter, Movavi VideoSuite and VirtualDub. They all need the DviX Pro Codec in order to work. DviX is a flavor of MPEG4 video codec standard.
1. DivX Converter
A basic DivX encoder
DivX Converter ($19.99)Convert nearly any popular video format to a DivX video by simply dragging and dropping it onto the DivX Converter.
It takes just two easy steps to convert your files to DivX video. Just drag your video onto the DivX Converter and click 'Convert.' You get the point. It's really, really easy to create DivX videos.
DivX Converter has four preset profiles. Choose the profile that best matches the device on which you expect to play your DivX video.
The DivX Converter still manages to pack in some advanced features for those who like more control. You can tweak encoding settings to create a video converted to your precise specifications:
- Resize videos
- Specify output file sizes
- Change encoding bitrates
2. Movavi VideoSuite
A no-brainer way to compress using DviX
This encoder application can convert your video into YouTube-compatible formats in no time. It even includes special presets to adjust your movie for sharing on YouTube. 1-click encoding for YouTube! Recommended for novice or busy users.
Free trial here.
Remember, the DviX Pro Codec
3. VirtualDub
If you're an expert compressionist, use this encoder
VirtualDub (Free)This is my favorite tool for compressing videos using DivX. It has all kinds of settings which allow me to configure in expert mode the DivX codec and produce DivX videos. Remember, the DviX Pro Codec
Open VirtualDub, and "Open video file". This load the file into the viewer, input on the left and output on the right, as it's shown in the picture below:
Virtualdub Tutorial - Free Video Editor For Windows
Installing Lame mp3 Encoder - Virtualdub Audacity Camstudio
Virtualdub - Choosing Audio and Video Compression Options
How To Configure DviX
I applied the recommended YouTube settings,
including the DivX codec to my video below.
But There's Always a Catch
Users with fast connections will be the ones to experience YouTube's upgrade, while other users might want to stick to the classic view, otherwise they will encounter slowness while trying to play a video.
Alternative High Quality YouTube Videos
A different way to make a high-quality YouTube video, is to avoid that YouTube re-encodes your uploaded videos. Namely, you don't want YouTube to touch your videos. Learn more on how to achieve by clicking the link below.-
How To Make YouTube Videos Look Great
-
The key for YouTube to display your video the best possible way, is to upload the best possible quality video that meets or exceeds their requirements. I'll show you a few ways on how this can be achieved! But first, let me tell you why y...
Making The Right Decision
What Encoding Technique Should I Use?
Remember YouTube's goal is to make the site's video content available to everyone, anywhere in the world.YouTube has a wide range of viewers who hate waiting long for a video to play, as YouTube wants as many people as possible to access its site. Users can choose the version in which videos play smooth and quickly, rather than having to wait a long time for videos to play.
If you, The Content Provider, are a filmmaker, you most likely want to make videos at a higher bit rates using the DivX tools described earlier, but if you want to reach everybody, everywhere in this planet, with good quality videos, you might want to use the FLV method. It's your choice my friend.
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The Amazing Skateboarding Dogs
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A new breed of dogs is brewing. Dogs that can do sports like skateboard, snowboard, skimboard and surf. The funny thing is that they know what they're doing and they love it! Many of them are English bulldogs, but other breeds like to do these kind...
Hope This Was Helpful
|
blueskiez94
Wow! Great lens! I know so much more after reading it. Thanks and good work! Posted July 17, 2008 |
Nice article, thanks, would probably not have figured out that YT increased the max file size from 100 meg to 1 gig without this writeup.
What are the chances that YT will let one go back and increase the resolution on previously uploaded videos?
Posted April 28, 2008
|
ArtGiser
Great. The part on encoding to FLV so that YouTube will not change it was amazing in and of itself. Posted April 10, 2008 |
What a brilliant tutorial. I can't thank you enough for cutting through the fog of making good Youtube vids. Awesome job!
Posted April 10, 2008
|
HDFEST
This is a great resource. Great job! Posted March 23, 2008 |
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