Optimising and Compressing | How to compress your footage effectively for internet, mobile and broadcast

In this recession editors increasingly need to be more flexible with their skills, work faster, more efficiently and ensure the output of their work is to the highest standard. Professionals working in film and TV know that the quality of their content is dependent on optimising and compressing their footage effectively for internet, mobile phone and broadcast distribution.

This course will give editors and post production staff the ability to utilise content to its maximum benefit across different platforms and to different briefs. It covers technical information about the best exporting methods (codecs and compression). As well as Creative issues about Multipurposing content for different platforms.

Delegate Prerequisites: Existing editors that are required to increase their skill-set to complement their main editing tasks

“The 01zero-one course was really good! It definitely confirmed my expectations in that it applied directly to the sort of work I'm doing here in BBC Post. Its great to have a clearer understanding of this and also to take further advantage of all the various programmes that are available as part of the Final Cut Pro suite. The 2 days were great but I would say it’s given me a taste for more now.” Zoe Rixon, BBC

Background/Overview 

The main challenges and issues when reversioning content for multiplatform distribution can be split into 2 categories: technical & creative. This course will look at the following issues in combination:

Technical:

Which programs to compress with?

The limitations of your editing software (for compression)

The easy method vs the quality method

Using software that compresses video well (e.g. Sorensen Squeeze, Apple Compressor, Autodesk Cleaner)

Exporting for mpeg video

Exporting for DVDs

Exporting for Desktop playback (PC & Mac)

Exporting for m4v video

Exporting for Flash (FLV) video

Exporting for iPods (multiple formats)

Exporting for ?TV

Exporting for Windows media video / DivX

Exporting for streaming

Compression workflow:

How to work more quickly

When to de-interlace footage

Why use un-compressed formats?

How to export your master clips

Types of compression

Compression settings (e.g. Bitrate mode, keyframe interval, IBP frames, GOP structure)

Altering compression settings (according to content)

When to use which codec (e.g. H.263, H.264, Cinepak, M_JPEG and so on)

File size vs image quality

Playback on mobile devices

Creating templates

Creative: 

Shooting strategies for multi-platform media (what to advise when asked by the camera-person/producer)

Solving problems before they happen

Creative choices for exporting 

Exporting entire programmes

Creating and exporting idents

Creating and exporting clips

Creating and exporting stings

Re-framing & cropping video (incl. best programs to use & settings)

Practical methods of increasing the quality of your compressed videos

Tutor Biography: Simon Walker

Simon is an Apple Certified Trainer in video editing, motion graphics and colour grading (Final Cut Pro, Motion & Color). He has been Filming, Editing, Designing & Animating short-films, adverts, interactive programs and motion graphics sequences for 15 years. He has a post-production studio with capabilities to film and edit, shoot and composite green/blue screen footage and design 2D & 3D animations.    Simon writes, edits and produces training packages for the media industry (including Video Optimising & Compression, Internet Film Making, & Motion graphics for FCP users). He has also written and produced two award-winning interactive training packages for Somerfield PLC through his production company www.WiltshireVideo.com.