If you use Pazera Video to FLV Converter you'll have good control over the output, with many profiles from which to choose. Super is good too.


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720x480 isn't 4:3, so are you wanted to stretch or crop the video? To crop, you can open the project as 4:3, then use the power tools to crop it. The MP4 will then give you the option of 320x240. Then use your converter to get it to flv format. I haven't tried it, so I don't know what quality will be like. __________________________________
CORNBLOSSOM

Thanks Tony&Jamie--

I would have thought 720x480 was 4:3 but when I right-click the timeline and ask PD to detect the aspect ratio, the response throughout the movie is "the aspect ratio of this video is 4:3."

Also, it seems that with PD8, there is no provision for an output (either AVI or AVCHD) in anything other than 720X480. I can't seem to get to a .flv file with a smaller player size with my AVCHD. Only way so far I've been able to control the view size is to go with AVI then encode to .WMV where there are many formal choices. I'm apparently still missing something.

Frank

Frank -

I really have to stop & think when there's a pile of numbers being quoted - and I often go to this trusty calculator... http://andrew.hedges.name/experiments/aspect_ratio/

720 x 480 looks like 3:2 to me (ie. 1:1.5)
720 x 540 is 4:3, as is 320 x 240 (ie. 1:1.33333)

Frank - I'm not clever enough to explain why PD detects that aspect ratio as 4:3. I guess it's "in the ball park". When I insert a 640 x 480 clip in the timeline and get PD to "detect" it tells me "4:3" - go figure! 720 x 480 isn't = 640 x 480. In your case, I would check the "Neither 4:3 nor 16:9 option".

Some time ago, when I was (even more) confused myself, Adrian pointed me to this interesting article - http://www.doom9.org/index.html?/aspectratios.htm

Here's the page with that discussion if you're interested http://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/6790.page

All that aside, Frank, I am still not sure exactly what you want to do... and this bit has me completely stumped "I can't seem to get to a .flv file with a smaller player size with my AVCHD." Can you please remind us what output you'd like to achieve.

The way I see it, you can adjust the aspect ratio in PD & control the profile in which the video produced... & using one of the FLV converters mentioned, you can control the final output profile for streaming.

Cheers - Tony
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I use 720x480 as widescreen all of the time. I don't know why it tells you that format is 4:3. 16:9 is actually 720x405 and 4:3 is 640x480. You may just get narrow bars on sides or top/bottom. Usually I don't.

In the produce button for AVCHD, under the drop down menu for Country, there is a small button that will let you create a custom profile. You can select 320x240 in there. I have never even noticed this before, but it looks like what you want. __________________________________
CORNBLOSSOM

Those are some great ideas, Tony; I read the articles on aspect ratio (my head still hurts) but there is some hope of getting what I'm after. Jamie's suggestion to make a custom profile was great--it will take some time to test. I did make a test file at 320x240 but the output file was a .M2TS file that me FLV codec wouldn't process. I have a bit more research to do, but as you mentioned Tony, a better understanding of what I'm trying to do might make it easier to suggest a solution:

My AVCHD Sony Cam uses 720x480 format. I have used that format by first making an .AVI file then make a streaming video with my FLV converter. I set the player size to 720x480 and all is well.....except it's BIG and meant more for broadband use than DSL (my target).
(Take a look at:http://www.stonebrook-golf.com/chippingvideo.htm

I'm working on a website and I don't have the room on the page for a player that large--o I want to drop to something like 320x240 (smaller player on the page and more accessible to users. At the same time, I'd like to keep the highest resolution possible so it's not too grainy. Tall order, Huh? But that's the nutshell of what I'm trying to accomplish.

I might experiment with leaving the format alone (720x480) and just set the player code on the page to 320x240 and see what happens.

Many thanks for the suggestions to date.

Frank

If there is no option to download, then you would probably be better off reducing it. You save bandwidth and don't force users to download more video than they are getting. 320x240 is a good size for general web use. I leave mine at 720x480 on YouTube, but a 6 minute video is almost 40GB in DivX, and that is after reducing the bitrate quality quite a bit.

That's a good looking web site. The videos really stand out to give it a quality feel. I'm sure you'll find the best solution. Good luck. __________________________________
CORNBLOSSOM

I had no luck accessing the site... got the old "not found message"

As I said, using the two converters I mentioned you have a lot of control over output profile (size, bitrate etc). There is no reason why you should be forced to sacrifice quality.

Cheers - Tony
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Thats a nice video. I see nothing wrong with what you are currently doing in terms of video production format. I'm especially impressed with the audio. With all the wind blowing I'm surprised the instructor can still be heard from that distance. Are you using a directional mike or a wireless? Q9300 2.5 GHz
4 GB Ram
Nvidia 9800 GT

If you select the Portable Mpeg-4 profile, that is 320x240 by default. You can view the details by clicking the detail icon just to the left of the "CLVS" icon on the Produce tab. When you try to select a profile from the drop down list, there isn't a 320x240 option in the list, which could lead you to believe there isn't a 320x240 profile.

Media Show Expresso that you may have gotten as a bonus with PD8 also can be used to convert to 320x240. That has more bitrate options than PD8. I was able to create a custom 320x240 AVC profile in "Other Formats."

Thanks for the info, Xerox--I'll give that a try. Frank

In re-reading the posts, I noticed I had not responded to a couple of questions from Janes. Apologies. Regarding the audio associated with the video at www.stonebrook-golf.com/instruction I had a lot of trouble with wind noise--even a little breeze sounded bad at edit. I bought an inexpensive directional mike for the Sony Camcorder and it helped but not a lot. I was advised later to use a wireless or collar mike when the person talking is more than a few feet away. That's the best solution I believe.

Regarding the wind noise a cheap work around that you can try is a cotton ball teased out and wrapped around the mic. I used this on my video camera when hang gliding until I bought a separate voice recorder with a mic inside my helmet covered in foam. My youtube channel====> http://www.youtube.com/user/relate2?feature=mhsn