CamcorderUser.Net

New features have been added to CamcorderUser.Net to permit the upload and sharing of pictures and videos.  The GALLERY (from the menu bar) feature allows registered members to create albums into which they can upload pictures and videos.  EXIF data is captured and made available for photos.  Videos in a variety of common formats (wmv, mp4, avi {divx}, mov, real media, etc.) of up to 120 MB may be uploaded.  Also, links to member videos uploaded to media sharing sites like vimeo, youtube, facebook, flikr, etc. can be embedded in the member's album.

Users of FortVir.Net are highly encouraged to move their videos and pictures over to the new CCU.Net Gallery.  If you have embedded links to videos in FortVir.net albums in your posts, please edit your posts to reflect the new URL in your CCU.Net album.

Embedding streaming video into posts has been implemented.  Media from 165 video sites such as YouTube and Vimeo may be embedded by simply copying the URL to your video and pasting it into your post.  You do not need to put the URL inside [ url ] [ /url ] BB code so don't use the Insert Hyperlink feature in the WYSIWYG editor.  Just paste the link into your post.  Media from your CCU.Net Gallery album may be embedded by pasting the URL into your post.  Upon saving your post, a media player will appear in your post from which readers may play the video.  I have reviewed all the posts in the Video Showcase section and have edited those that may be displayed directly in the post.  Any posts that used FortVir.net albums have NOT been changed and the links to the videos will be lost after the FortVir.net Gallery is discontinued.

You may upload pictures as attachments but not video.  Please use the Gallery albums for uploading video.  Picture attachments will be shown below the post text as icons.  If you want the picture to be a part of your post, place it in the Gallery and link to it in your post.

Ok. I'm relatively comfortable that the Gallery is working correctly.  I copied over FortVir albums for members here.  I believe the conversion was successful, but you might want to look to make sure.  Unfortunately, because the member names were different between FortVir and here, all the albums are general instead of personal.  You can still use them, just bear in mind that others can post in a general album as well.  Also, all the files show that I uploaded them.  I probably can change the ownership and upload name by editing the database if someone wants.  PM me if you want me to give it a shot.  I would greatly appreciate it if you would edit your posts that have links to a video at FortVir.  More on how to embed your album videos below.

As usual, videos play better if they are WMV, but MOVs play as well.  You can also upload your video to a hosting site like Vimeo and embed it in your album (as well as in posts).  If you are a Firefox user and are having problems viewing the videos, go get the Media Connectivity add-on 0.9.1 (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/446).  This opens the files in an external media player that you can choose for each type of media.

USING GALLERY

You may post videos, pictures and music into an album in the Gallery.  You may use the CCUser.Net general album, or create your own personal album.  If you create a personal album, you may password protect it but you will have to give others the password so they can view your media.  Almost all types of video (including Matroska (http://www.matroska.org/) .mkv) can be embedded. 

When you are adding your media file, there will be three codes available for you to use:  BB code, html, and direct URL.  BB code may be used here in a forum post to embed a player in the post.  Just copy the BB code and paste it in your post.  Always add "type=av" without the quotes between the brackets after your media's file number if the software doesn't do it for you.  Click the ? (help) from more options.  To embed video hosted on YouTube and other media sites into your album, just copy the URL to your video from your browser address bar and paste it into the Embed URL input box below the Description text input box. To embed YouTube and other sites in a post, just copy the URL to your video from the browser address window and paste it directly into your post.  Do not use the Insert Hyperlink or Insert Flash icons on the WYSIWIG toolbar.  If your video is high definition, the software will play it that way in the post.

Enjoy.  And let me know if you have problems.

Guy - Sorry - some videos don't want to run. Mine crashes.

Lucky old you, my album is empty. Perhaps there's a cryptic message there somewhere?

Dave

Dave - I thought that this

Digidave's Album
The videos I wish to share

meant that you had a private album somewhere!  I'm sure Guy's working on it.

granpa

Folks, I ran the converter and it copied over those videos and pictures it could.  If something didn't come over, I can't go back and get it without destroying all the others that copied successfully.  I have no assurance that the converter will run successfully a second time.  I also cannot make a private album for you.  Only you can do that.  The albums with your names are general albums.  That's the best I can do, sorry.  :(

If you have the original of the uploaded video, you can reupload it into your general album or into a new private album.  If you don't have the original, PM me for further actions.

WRT the videos playing, make sure you have the latest versions of Windows Media Player, Quicktime and Flash.  The software on the server just streams the videos in those formats, the player on your computer is what actually plays the video.  For some reason I cannot fathom, Quicktime formats (MOV, MP4, etc.) must fully download before you can begin playing them.  At least, that is how it is working on my computer.  So, be patient because, for large videos, you will be looking at a black square for a while until the video downloads.  There are other media players that may work better than WMP or QT (like Media Player Classic).  You might try them to see if they work without crashing.  You'll need to make them the default player so WMP or QT don't start up when you try to play the video.

You're up early, Guy?!

Thanks for your comprehensive response. No problem about the Gallery as far as I am concerned. You can only go with the system - and you did try, for which thanks. I'll see if I can have a go at a 'private' album during the weekend, just to see how it works.

granpa

Granpa,
I'm an early riser and a late-to-bed'r so you are likely to see me around anytime.

I am testing on your video.  The software doesn't like it for some reason, although I can download it and it plays fine.  Was it really an MOV when you encoded it?  Or, perhaps was it an MP4.  Your file name implies it was an AVI but with an MOV extension.  What software did you use to encode it?

Ok.  I have found a mod that will allow me to embed Menalto Gallery 2 into SMF.  I probably should have looked for this before I selected SMG.  The G2 mod is complicated but, if installed successfully, will keep all your original media in your FortVir albums and offers capability to synchronize the user files so you only have to log in once.  I suspect a shortfall of this approach is that you will not be able to embed any videos in posts, just link to them, which is how the FortVir implementation worked.  The SMG mod I have installed now is more flexible in this regard plus using it is cleaner than embedding G2.  I also made some mods to G2 several years ago with code supplied by another user to allow streaming playback of video files.  I'm not sure I can duplicate that now so embedding it may result in download only until I can find that code again.  I guess what I'm trying to say is I would prefer to stick with SMG.  However, this board is for you members so you need to tell me which implementation you would prefer.

Folks,
I'd like to focus the site on the using of camcorders rather than on the acquisition of a camcorder or accessories.  Something like Nikongear.com (http://nikongear.com/).  That site embeds Gallery 2 into a portal arrangement with SMF.  I can do that here with either of the gallery scripts if y'all are inclined.  Personally, I like viewing your video productions and merging all of that into CCU.net was one reason for closing FortVir.

Seems that there are three sub-threads here - bear with me for a moment or two:

1  Re my own 'example of work' in FortVir, Guy, I can't remember now what its posted format was. I currently have, archived, two versions - .wmv and .avi, so it could be re-worked for a new site. This is detail stuff and probably not worth too much of your time at this stage, thanks.

2  Re the format of your new Gallery, I would have thought that you alone are really in the right position to juggle options and make the right decision. It's your show, after all!

3  Re the tone of ccu.net, two points:

a. Yes, it's been repeated only just recently here - it's principally the user, not the hardware, that produces the result. Or words to that effect. Although we are interested in each other's new toys, aren't we?! And finally...

b.  Something like Nikongear.com, Guy? Like http://nikongear.com/smf/index.php?topic=14517.0? (http://nikongear.com/smf/index.php?topic=14517.0?) I can't imagine Chris and Action, Dave and Shaun, ScenicRoute and Tim, etc behaving anything other than in a gentlemanly way to each other, can you? (And, just for once, I'll allow myself a Smiley -  ;) )

granpa

I have done some housekeeping in the Gallery.  All the videos transferred over should now be attributed to the owner instead of me.  I have gone into the Video Showcase and tried to update the links in the posts there to the correct videos in your albums.  Where I could not find a video, I have put "Video No Longer Available" in the posts.  If that isn't correct, please edit the post to put a correct link to your video in your album.

If a video you have linked to in a post did not transfer over for some reason, please upload it again to your album and fix the links.  When linking to a video or still in the Gallery, please use the BBC embed code and add "type=av" (without quotes) inside the brackets after id=??.  If you want the video titled, add caption="Whatever Your Title Is" inside the brackets after id=??.  You can always click on the ? to be reminded of the options.

Video files that employ the Quicktime player (e.g., MOV or MP4) will play if given enough time for the video to completely download.  However, there will be no controls on the embedded player.  The video can be started and stopped by double clicking on the player.  This is a universal problem for Quicktime and I have yet to find a solution although I am still looking.  The problem is with the QT player on your computer and not the site or the browser you are using.

Hi Guy

I've tried to upload to the Gallery an edited version of my solitary posted video. It's 162mb (well within the stated maximum?) and in straightforward .wmv PAL 16:9 widescreen format. The 'Submit' progress bar runs slowly to around 40% then it crashes to the dread 'Internet Explorer cannot display the Webpage....'.

And it looked so easy this time round! 

Any ideas, please?

granpa

The maximum file size is 120MB, which is what it was before.  You will have to adjust the bitrate on the video (frame size doesn't make much difference) downward until you get under 120MB. Try a bitrate of 256 Kbps. If you can't get good quality with WMV, try MP4, but make sure the video has an .MP4 extension and not MOV.

If there might not be someone else out there having trouble I might just stick to DVDs.....

OK. So I mis-read the max file size. My fault - senility and incompetence.  Next, re-render to .avi.mp4 with Super c to 103 Mb, which needed 288kps. Near the max, perhaps, but with some leeway.  Runs fine locally on QT.  Deal with the Gallery entries then hit the Submit button. Three minutes or so for the progress bar to reach 100%, where it sits for five minutes.  Then it re-runs the process - apparently interminably, because at 25 minutes it's off again for the fourth time.  A quick test shows my broadband speed as 1.9 which is usually OK. 

What have I missed this time?

Hmmm.  I'll do some tests.  There shouldn't be a problem if you are under 120 MB, but you are the first to test a large file recently.  Your broadband speed is usually the download speed.  Upload would likely be around 300-500 Kbps.  At 500 Kbps, a 100 MB video will take 25-30 minutes to upload.  If you want to know exactly what your upload speed is, try testing at PCPitstop.com.

Thanks, Guy.  For the record, current (1955GMT) download speeds test at 2Mb and 1.7Mb, upload at 0.36Mb and 0.37Mb, by two different test sites.  Which suggests around 30 mins, a shade longer than I survived - perhaps I should have waited a bit.  But why the recycling progress bar?!

I've got nothing urgent to do for a while so I'll try again now and let it run over the half-hour.  Just to see.  Let you know!

Edit later:
Solve one, cause another.  Upload took 57 minutes, and no wonder - wrong format and oversize. But, as I said, when run locally it's correct. Super c settings were
mp4 - h.264/AVC - AAC
Video 720:576, 16:9 25fps, 288kbps
Audio 44100, 2 channels, 64kbps, default

Remember, this is ordinary PAL 16:9 stuff straight from the GS300. Please - what should the format settings have been?  I'll leave the monster on the Gallery for the moment so you can have a good laugh.

 

Ok. I've encoded two MP4 files, one is 64 MB and the other is 112 MB.  It took me 22 minutes to upload the 64 MB file (2.86 MB/minute) and 37 minutes to upload the 112 MB file (just over 3 MB/minute).  I have upload capacity of .768 Mbps (5.76 MB/minute) so the upload speed limit appears to be my server.

I don't know why the upload indicator cycles for you.  It doesn't for me in Firefox 3.0.7.  Just let the upload process go until you see the video player come up on the screen.  That means the file is fully uploaded to the folder.

By the way, the MP4 files play fine in the embedded Flash player.  I highly recommend that anyone encoding files for upload here use MP4 or FLV (if you have a Flash encoder).  They must have an .MP4 and NOT .MOV extension.

Remember, 16:9 video in DV is anamorphic.  A PAL frame is 720x576 in both 4:3 and 16:9. The pixel width in PAL 16:9 is 1.4568 and not 1.0926 (which is the pixel aspect ratio in 4:3).  So, a full 16:9 frame converted to MP4 would be 720 x 1.4568 or 1049x576.  I recommend cutting that frame size in half for posting in the Gallery...or 524x288.  Use a bitrate of 328 Kbps.

The nearest Super c offers is 560:304, and 336 Kbps. This took over 50 minutes, too, for 35Mb to upload - and the aspect ratio is still wrong. Oh dear.

Later
The .wmv file plays correctly 16:9 locally in Quicktime; however, Windows Media Player displays it at 4:3, as it does in the Gallery.  Yes, I understand about anamorphic 16:9, but why do these two players intepret the file differently?

Your anamorphic pixels must be converted to square pixels before encoding, or your encoder must convert them during encoding.  What is happening is your encoder is leaving the widescreen bit set in the metadata, and not converting the anamorphic pixels to square.  The widescreen bit is supposed to flag to a player that the video has anamorphic pixels.  Some players will read that and adjust and some will not.  That's why it is important to make sure you encode in square pixels when encoding for computer playback either locally or from the Web.

It appears that your primary NLE does not encode directly to .MP4.  Or, you are using Super to encode the raw AVI file.  I have Super but rarely use it so I'm not familiar enough with it to say if it has the ability to read anamorphic pixels and convert them to square during encoding.  Typical video editing software like Premiere Elements, Sony Vegas, Ulead/Corel Video Studio, etc.  can at least convert anamorphic video into a square pixel format such as WMV if they cannot produce an MP4 file.  That file can then be converted using Super to .MP4.

Granpa, if you click the "More" box in Video Scale Size twice, it brings up a set of boxes that you can enter your own figures in e.g. 524x288. Don't set the aspect ratio in the next column (no, really!).

The bit rate needs to be low enough to make the file less than 120mb, so if 336 is too big, use 288.

Dave

Thanks, Guy. I think I understand the principle of anamorphic pixels, though it seems very obscure as to which does what to them, and when. Perhaps I shouldn't worry about it.

As true as matters. VMS9Plat offers .mp4 only as a template for AVCHD 1440x1080 PAL. Just for the hell of it I pushed my project through - and not surprisingly produced a 1.2Gb file that none of my player apps would recognise! 'Nuff said. I don't want to have to upgrade my NLE if the present suite of software will cope. Perhaps Dave has the key to Special...

Thanks for joining in, Dave. I had spotted that 'More' facility but didn't dare explore until you suggested it. Hmm - once again, as with your advice elsewhere about DeShaker, it seems that what works for you does not work for me. I went to 'More', entered 608:352 (why not?) at 336kbs and left the Aspect fields blank (as presented). Sadly, this produced a 4:3 (or similar) video and I had to select 16:9 to correct it for local playing on Quicktime. At 40.8 Mb it should be OK for the Gallery - I'll try in the morning, though I found before that what seems OK locally fails on the web.

Thanks to both of you for your help. We will sort it out!

granpa

Ok.  I did a conversion from DV AVI to MP4 using Super.  The source file was 16:9 and the output was also.  See the attached picture for the settings I used.

Yep, this is an older version of Super.  However, the same settings should work fine in the latest (2009) version.

I have uploaded a .mp4 prepared exactly to your suggested settings, Guy. Still displays as 4:3 (or similar).

granpa,  I have tested again using the latest version of Super...Jan. 9, 2009 Build 35 and I get perfect 16:9 from an anamorphic 16:9 AVI.  I even varied the frame size to make the encoding slightly different from my previous tests.  Are you certain the AVI file you are using is 16:9?  What your video looks like is Super is making a 16:9 frame and insetting a 4:3 video into it.  To check the AVI, pull the video into Vegas and check the properties of the file.

Guy - thanks for your time on this.

My Super (why did I call it 'Special?!) is 2008 Build 30.

Having finished editing with VMS9Plat, I click the 'Make Movie' button or select it from the menu. First dialog gives options to Save to hard drive, burn DVD, upload to web etc - select Save to hard drive. The second dialog is for render settings, which I deal with like this:

Make Movie - Render Settings
File path: [free text entry or via Browse button]
Format: [drop down list] select 'Video for Windows (*.avi)'
Template: [drop down list; only two PAL options] select 'PAL DV Widescreen'
Description: [slave info based on Template selection]
      'Audio: 48000 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo, PCM Uncompressed.
      Video:25 fps. 720x576, Lower field first.
      Pixel Aspect Ratio: 1.457. OpenDML compatible.
      Widescreen PAL DV video files compatible with Sony Video Capture'

The resulting .avi went through Super, settings to your suggestions, despite slight differences in the options listed. It still displays correctly in Quicktime, but as 4:3 in WMPlayer.

Well, it appears all the parameters are correct.  I can't explain why the file is inset 4:3 in a 16:9 frame when rendered with Super.

What other format options in VMS do you have besides VFW .AVI?

The other VMS options are:

MPEG-1 (.mpg) - MPEG-2 (.mpg; .m2v; .mpa) - QuickTime 7 (.mov) - RealMedia (.rm) - Sony AVC (.mp4; .m2ts; .avc) [which, as I said earlier, gives a 1.2Gb AVCHD 1440x1080 PAL file!] - or WMV 11 (.wmv)

Any help at all?

granpa

Are you sure the Sony .mp4 frame size cannot be set lower.  That .mp4 codec is included to permit encoding for the PlayStation Portable which has a small screen.  Is there no template for Memory Stick QVGA?

I use Vegas Pro and am not that familiar with the reduced set of features in VMS although I do know I have a lot more capability.

Ok. Try this.  Don't use Make Movie.  Instead, select Project/Render As...  Select Sony/AVC .mp4 under Save As Type.  Choose a template from the dropdown list or click Custom and create your own template.  I suggest creating your own template, then save it so you can reuse it over and over to produce your videos for your Gallery album.  Set the frame size and bitrate in the Video tab and set the audio sampling and bitrate in the Audio tab, then name and save that template.  The select that template, name your file and save it to your hard drive. 

See if that doesn't produce an .mp4 that plays correctly.

Ok.  Even better.  I download a trial copy of VMS9 Platinum and have gone through the Project/Render As process.  I made a custom template called CamcorderUser.Net Gallery Format, 524x300 pixels, 384 Kbps, AVC/AAC (.mp4), 24 KHz audio sampling with 32 Kbps resolution.  I made pictures of each tab in the process which I have attached.  All you should have to do is create your own custom template using these as a guide.  You might want to deviate slightly in the frame size and frame rate to be consistent with PAL.  See if this doesn't work for you...and it should save you the extra step of rendering your AVI file using Super.

By the way, I used these settings to render a 21 minute 4.8 GB AVI file into .MP4.  The template created an .MP4 file that was 66 MB.  Extrapolating, you should be able to create up to a 35 minute video and stay within the 120MB file size restriction in the album.

Guy, you're a marvel! The medal will be in the post tomorrow.

I would never have dared to try to create a custom template. The video currently posted is based on your suggested settings as above - with the exception of specifying Interleaving, lower first, which I think is right for PAL, rather than Progressive? It's the right size, the right shape, smaller than the previous .avi.mp4 versions and it uploaded in a shade under 15 minutes.

Three queries, if I dare:
1  It runs more quickly than the original .mov, but it's still a bit of a wait.
2  Is the audio bitrate off? It sounds as if I'm in a box!
3  Resolution is patchy here and there.

Fine tuning, no doubt.

granpa

Great!  I do need a solid gold medal from the Exchequer.  I have a few bills I need to deal with.  ;)

I would not interleave for the Internet.  Progressive is appropriate for the Web.  You are free to encode to the frame size you want.  PAL frames are slightly larger than NTSC.  But, when you are encoding for the Web, it gets somewhat irrelevant.  The frame size I proposed is a good minimum for most videos.  It could be increased for a larger video without any appreciable increase in file size.

1. The embedded video player will load the file before playing. It is only a few seconds for most files.

2. Yes, it is somewhat compressed.  You can leave the audio at default without incurring substantial file size increase.  View the file on your computer after you have encoded it and before uploading, then adjust the video/audio to achieve the quality you want.  Play around with the custom settings all you want.

3. Again, you can change the encoding bitrate to achieve the quality you want.  Feel free to try different settings until you are satisfied.  For higher quality video, increase the bitrate.

I hereby liberate you to modify the template settings I have proposed until you are satisfied with the quality of your video.  After all, it is your product and you should not hesitate to create any custom template that suits you.  Just keep in mind that CCUser.Net is 1024 pixels wide.  Your video should be no wider than 700 pixels or so to stay within the frame size of the forum.

Exploiting my new liberation, I explored other settings:

Video - The next pre-set bitrate is 768 kbps, which works. I couldn't tell if intermediate, manually entered values actually worked because there was no noticable improvement on 384 kbps.  I saw no need to change the frame size.

Audio - Some higher settings were worse, one or two produced an interrupted audio track or one even that went silent after a few seconds (weird!). The defaults (48,000 Kbps, 128,000 Hz) do the job.

File size is double the 'original' new version (72 Mb as against 36 Mb), but the quality is infinitely better. Perhaps one or two members might notice the difference. Thanks again for your help and patience, Guy (and for your contribution again, Dave); I've learned a lot, and hope that this thread might give help and encouragement to other non-techie video-makers who follow here.

granpa

Not a problem granpa.

I've been following this 5-star thread with great interest, as I'm sure I will have problems when I try to upload my first clip here.

If I may, I'd like to ask a question Guy. (not wishing to hijack the thread)

When you tried VMS9 Platinum you told granpa to set up a custom .mp4 template, so I checked it out. I use Vegas 6 and both the Sony and Main Chance .mp4 show no template and the description box says "No existing templates support this media", so the Custom button is greyed out. Is this something I can fix, say with a plugin or scripting (not that I'd know how to write a script!), or is that How It Must Be? I can easily continue to encode with SUPER if so.

Dave

The only fix for it, Dave, is to upgrade to VMS9 Platinum or Platinum Pro Pack (http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/buy/upgrades).  The upgrade to Platinum is $54 and to Plat. Pro Pack is $75.

Guy, I have Vegas 6 not VMS6, upgrade to Vegas Pro 8 about $240? Nope, not just now, but thanks anyway!

Following this thread, I successfully uploaded a couple of movies with no problems at all. Encoded with SUPER MP4 H264/AVC, 524x288, 336kbps, audio AAC LC, 44100Hz, 64kbps for the one in the open album, which is a re-upload of my Crete 2008 vid.

I also tried a Matroska .mkv, but Firefox couldn't find the codec to play it back!

Granpa, I forgot to say that in SUPER you must ensure the Stretch It box is ticked or it won't do 16:9. I've sent you a PM.

Dave

Dave,
Yeah, upgrade to Vegas 8 is rather pricey for you.  It is about time for Sony to bring out Vegas 9.  They usually do it this time of year at NAB.  Typically, they drop the price of the upgrade to around $150 for a short while after the software is released.  An alternative is to buy a new copy of VMS9 Plat.  They have upgraded that software until it nearly has the features (and in some cases exceeds the basic Vegas without DVD Architect) of Vegas 7 and below.

The Gallery supports MKV, but in an external player...like MOV or WMV.  Gallery will play Flash or MP4 using the embedded JWPlayer.  If you want to post MKV files, folks will have to find a player (http://www.downloadatoz.com/5-mkv-players/) and install it before they can view them.  I recommend sticking to MP4.

It was just an experiment. As long as mp4 looks good, that will do.

Thanks Guy,
Dave

Dave
Thanks for the 'Stretch' tip - I hadn't spotted this; it will surely solve the problem.  Also see PM

Guy (and Dave)
I haven't tried a full Vegas.  The only additional bit to VMS, as far as I understand, that I would find very useful is the 'envelope' system for eg crop-and-pan on stills.  Sorry if this is going off thread.

granpa

Guy,

I experimented a bit with .mov files and now have one that plays instantly. Oddly though, at 524x288 it is squashed vertically to a distorted extra wide look, just like my Crete video you transferred from Fortvir for me, but It shows correctly at 360x288. The 524 plays correctly in QT player directly from my HDD.

As you say, there are no controls showing, but a double click plays or stops it.

I've left both copies in my open album for now so you can see what I mean. They are the VirtualDub sample I posted before, titled VirtualDub & Deshaker and Test2.

I need to re-upload the Crete vid, it doesn't stream, but that's my fault.

Dave

The example settings I posted were for NTSC frames (720x480 in widescreen DV pixels converts to 873x480 square pixels).  NTSC DV widescreen is 1.82:1 which is slightly wider than 16:9 which is 1.78:1.  Probably not enough to notice.  PAL widescreen DV is 720x576 or 1049x576 square pixels and also 1.82:1 aspect ratio.

When you convert a video frame from one frame size to another, it should be done symmetrically.  Usually, I recommend cutting the square pixel DV frame in half for posting in the Gallery.  That creates a 360x240 NTSC frame or a 524x288 PAL frame.  360x288 is 1/2 frame 4:3 DV.  If it looks squashed at 524 but correct 360, then the source video is likely 4:3.  Or, the player is changing the aspect ratio.

Anyway, .MP4 creates good looking video at reduced file sizes.  I would recommend staying with .MP4 versus MOV.  The embedded JWPlayer (Flash and MP4) will play those files correctly and the viewer will have access to all the player controls.

Guy, perhaps I didn't put it clearly enough for you to understand what I meant.

I took a 720x576 PAL 16:9 clip and converted it to a .mov file, output was square pixels 524x288, my normal web clip size, as you have recommended before. It played normally in QT here. When posted and played back it was stretched horizontally, as though the square pixels had been converted back to anamorphic. So, as a control, I tried a further output of 360x288 square pixels, which played too tall here as expected, but when posted, played at normal 16:9 aspect ratio. This suggests to me that somehow, between uploading and streaming the pixels are being made anamorphic again.

Now, whether this is at your end or mine, I am not sure, but it did not happen on Fortvir.

The whole thing was simply an attempt to get a .mov to stream, which it does, but when I found the problem, I thought I should mention it to you.

Yes, MP4 is fine and my future conversions will be MP4, but most of my previously posted clips are .mov, so if I could post them here as they are, it could save me some converting time.

Dave

Ok, thanks for the clarification.

I did some additional tests.  I took a widescreen DV AVI file and encoded it using MPEG Streamclip 1.2 to MOV and MP4 using the exact same parameters. Both files are encoded using H.264/AAC.  Basically, the only difference is the MOV file has a MOV (QT) wrapper and the MP4 file does not.  They both play fine locally in the QT player.  (The files are test.mov and test.mp4 in the CCUsers Video Production Album.)

After uploading, the HTML code generated for the 524x300 MOV file is cropped vertically to 200 pixels.  However, horizontally, it is still 524 pixels so the proportions are maintained so there is no distortion of the images in the file.  It just looks like cinemascope in the QT player because the frame is 524x200.  The actual dimensions should be 524x320 pixels.  The extra vertical pixels are supposed to be added to accommodate the player controls, which are cropped out along with 100 pixels of the original video.  The MP4 file plays fine...because it is handled differently by the Gallery software.

I have had conversations with the authors of the Gallery plugin for SMF about this.  They are not inclined to try to fix it.  They blame MOV for being difficult to code for.  I don't know the right answer.  However, I have seen this issue mentioned frequently on the Apple forums, by people using Apple servers and Apple computers.  So, it appears to me to be an Apple problem.

FortVir used a special software player I found around 2005 that modified the original Menalto Gallery source code.  I have lost references to that player and cannot reproduce the code.  It is not supported by the folks who code the Menalto Gallery software.

You can upload your MOV files as you wish.  However, they will all be truncated to 524x200 losing 100 pixels vertically and the player controls.  It is an inconvenience and I apologize for that, but MP4 is the better way to go.  It is exactly the same as your MOV files without the QT wrapper that appears to be the cause of the problem.  IF you have encoded your MOV files using H.264/AAC, you can simply rename the file with an MP4 extension and it will play fine with the embedded player.  This will save you all the re-encoding.

Ok, a big, humble apology to everyone.  :-[

I found that the Gallery plugin's php code had some typos.  Turns out that some missing (") parameters and added lines to accommodate the player controls were missing from the php source code.  I just couldn't understand why the same file, with different extensions, would play correctly with the embedded player but not with the QT player.  After all, Apple developed the MP4 protocol that is currently being used. 

Turns out the Gallery php code for the QT player was not written correctly.  I have informed the plugin's author and have corrected the code here.  Turns out that the authors never tested MOV files with their code. ::)  MOV files should now play correctly.  Please let me know if you have difficulties.

Thanks to Digidave for poking me to investigate this.  I still recommend that files should be encoded to MP4 instead of MOV.

KUDOS Dave!