Are mp4 bit rates the same as Flash bytes per frame?

Question

I'm converting Flash movies to Mp4 (and webm) and having to learn lots about web video. The process starts with MOVs exported from Flash. For example, I have a MOV of 640px x 290px, 1m 58s, 2843 frames, 24fps, 171 MB, 11 Mbps. Converting that to H.264 with Handbrake, with constant quality of 20 RF, I get a file of 3.45MB with - according to MediaInfo - "overall bitrate mode: variable", and an "overall bitrate" of 240 kbps (video 79, audio 144 with max 170). Bitrate Viewer tells me the average bit rate (this might be video only) is 92 kbps, with a 1-second peak of 1019. Then I tried Handbrake's variable bit rate, because (if I've understood its advantages correctly) there are 20 seconds with lots of motion, in the middle of the video, which might look better with a higher bit rate. With VBR 300, I get a 6.3 MB file with (MediaInfo) an overall bit rate of 440 kbps, video 300, audio 144. Bitrate Viewer has average 293 kbps, with that peak now at 3467. For about 65% of the video it is below 130 kbps. I've placed the Bitrate Viewer profiles here: http://www.casedasole.it/bitrates.htmlWith Flash, bytes per frame were important because, when streaming, you needed to have the browser download as much as possible in advance, so that particularly big chunks of bytes (like a big JPEG) were already loaded before the Flash player reached them. My question is: Is that the same principle with video bit rates? Looking at that peak bitrate of 3467 (converts to 433 kB), I think: "That's OK, by then, the whole video will be loaded". Or am I missing something?

Answer 1

Oh boy

CODEC - Know why you use which one at which stage!

conversion/compression/transcoding all need to be done correctly at the correct stage of the process...and done by using the proper compression software.

Handbrake is NOT a software you should be using for anything other than ripping dvds to watch.

Handbrake is not for professional use in the sense that you are talking about.

There are many free codec converters, but the best ones you might need to pay 10 or 15 bucks for ...but they have presets that you can select that already KNOW the proper compressions you should have on that codec....depending on where you are in the process.

Shooting, Editing, Color and sound mixing and Delivery/Viewing (Streaming or HD or UHD or 4K depending on the final platform in which your viewer is watching/listening) Each process requires you to convert the codec to a different compressions.

There seems to be an assumption about visually measuring what compression you use. Your EYES are not tools to trust. Same goes for your ears. That is what Scopes and Audio tools are for. Your ears and eyes do NOT know what compression is necessary....and at times its not obvious which codec you should have been using..

Many times your video doesn't look good because it wasn't uncompressed before you started editing....after editing if you go to color correction you uncompress and go to an even bigger codec so that you can adjust more information allowing the ability to use ALL the information that was captured when recorded/shot. AFTER that you go to a viewing codec...but streaming is very very different than an MOV that you'd watch on your comp. There is also settings that allow the stream to be prepped ...meaning even tho the compression is small the video has prepped the codec to tell the server while stream that the next bit of video is coming up so that it plays without lag or audio shift.

Your eyes and ears are not there to be the measuring tool! There are internal tools in which you can check the video and audio. Scopes and meters are created for this purpose because your eyes and ears will lie...they also only know what you have done in terms of volume and brightness...use the tools...not your body parts.

Ultimately this is far too complicated to tackle like this. If you'd like I would be willing to speak with you and walk you through step by step...because every single video will be different. Very different. Starting with the raw footage/audio that is used and going all the way to the end...two very similar seeming videos might be thousands of moves apart ...for there are about 200 different codecs to un/compress to and from.

Watch this codec video...its one of my favortie because it's so descriptive...yes....its very long...but watch it first and then hit me back up and we can figure out a way to chat where I'll walk you through the steps for the video you're working on now and others.

what are CODECs and why do I need to know?

https://vimeo.com/104554788