Recommended video formats / resolutions for YouTube?

[GreenGriffon]

Hi guys,

 

I have a series of videos that I would like to start uploading to YouTube, but I'm driving myself crazy trying to make the videos look as sharp as possible.

 

For example, I think GA's videos are incredibly crisp on YouTube, and I'm wondering what the trick is. I tried uploading HD videos, but I guess they are downsampled so much that in the end, they look just as grainy as lower-res ones.

 

Right now I'm using Sony Vegas 9 for my video editing and rendering, but I'm open to rendering my movies with something else if it will yield better results.

 

Sorry for the newb question - I'm just starting into machinima and this kind of thing.

 

Thanks,

GG

[ObvilionLost]

Hi guys,

 

I have a series of videos that I would like to start uploading to YouTube, but I'm driving myself crazy trying to make the videos look as sharp as possible.

 

For example, I think GA's videos are incredibly crisp on YouTube, and I'm wondering what the trick is. I tried uploading HD videos, but I guess they are downsampled so much that in the end, they look just as grainy as lower-res ones.

 

Right now I'm using Sony Vegas 9 for my video editing and rendering, but I'm open to rendering my movies with something else if it will yield better results.

 

Sorry for the newb question - I'm just starting into machinima and this kind of thing.

 

Thanks,

GG

 

http://help.youtube.com/support/youtube/bin/answer.py?answer=132460&topic=16612

 

maybe look at some help topics which YouTube offers.... :music_whistling:

[GreenGriffon]

Thanks, I already saw that. I'm looking for actual insight here, not what anyone can find on their homepage, which is less than unhelpful.

 

For example, I took a 200MB WMV video in 1280x720 res as they recommended and uploaded it, and it was downsampled to absolute unviewable grainy garbage. Then I tried a 45MB MP4 file in 640x480 res, and somehow it came out much more crisp and detailed. What gives?

 

Seems the larger the file, the more YouTube will downsample it, so it doesn't pay to follow their advice about leaving it "as close to the source as possible". Or is it just a matter of using a better codec?

 

I'm lost and frustrated trying to figure out the best format for this.

 

EDIT: May have had a breakthrough here, but still testing.

Edited February 17, 2009 by GreenGriffon

[Francous]

Great job :)