This 118 page report is for those charged with choosing a streaming media codec for 3GPP, web or LAN deployment. In the past, these decisions were fairly simple, with only two codecs, Windows Media and RealVideo, in serious contention. Now, with the rise of MPEG-4/H.264 and Flash codecs, and the associated hype, the decision is much tougher.
This report compares RealVideo and Windows Media with the best available MPEG-4/H.264 and Flash codecs to identify which codec produces the best quality video at five encoding configurations (modem, 3GPP, 100, 300 and 500 kbps). The test clip includes 38 clips grouped in sections for business, sports, entertainment, animation and pan and zoom content. Apple, Microsoft and Real encoded the test clips to our parameters to ensure optimal quality. The report ranks all codecs at all encoding configurations for each class of content, allowing producers to instantly see which technology delivers the best quality for their content at their intended distribution parameters.
The report also benchmarks the quality of Windows Media and RealVideo files output by batch encoding tools Autodesk Cleaner XL, Canopus Procoder and Sorenson Squeeze, identifying the best encoder for each class of video. The report concludes with a section on producing top quality streaming video, describing how to light, shoot, and edit for optimal Flash quality.
The report includes 64 comparative screen shots, and buyers can download all video files (34) and still image files (366) used in the analysis, or request a free CD-ROM containing the content. Both the CD-ROM and downloaded files contain a convenient front end guiding the reader through the content.
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Download the Table of Contents & Additional Descriptive Materials
The tested codecs include:
- Apple H.264 codec - Produced by Apple with QuickTime Pro
- Microsoft Windows Media - Produced by Microsoft with the Windows Media Encoder
- On2 VP6 Pro codec - Produced with the On2 Flix Pro encoder
- RealVideo - Produced by Real Networks with Real Producer 10
The report presents summary information first, for those seeking only the highlights, with extensive detail, including the video files and screens used in the analysis, available for those seeking a more complete examination. Overall, this report will help technology decision makers in the 3GPP, web and LAN markets choose the best codec, and optimize the quality of their streaming video files.
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