Setting Up Your Encoding Software - A Practical Guide to Video and Audio Compression - page 518

30.15 Summary

Combining the systems discussed in Chapter 29 with the software from this chapter
should result in a totally killer video workstation and compression system.
While you may be interested only in compression today, video rendering, editing,
and manipulation are part of a process that precedes compression. Having an appreciation
for these other arts will help your compression processes because you will have additional
skills and tools to bring to bear on the video you are compressing.
The result should be a far higher quality of output than what you get when you just
“whack” it through a coder without any attention to detail.
Table 30-12 summarizes the tools you should select as priorities for coding particu-
lar formats.

Table 30-12 Optimum Coding Tools

Format Optimum production solution

Real Networks Real Networks encoder running on Linux or Windows. On the

Mac OS platform, consider the Real Networks QuickTime
plug-in as a priority item to install. You could also buy the
version 3 Popwire Technology Compression Master
application if you want to code RealVideo on Mac OS X.

Windows Media Windows Media tools running on Windows XP. As of the fall

of 2004, you should also check out the Telestream Flip4Mac
codec plug-in that includes an encoder for Windows Media
that runs on Mac OS X. The Popwire Compression Master 3 is
also a candidate for Windows Media production on Mac OS X.

Sorenson Sorenson Squeeze 4 running on Mac OS 10.4 or Windows XP

(a.k.a. QuickTime video)
QuickTime-based codecs Any QuickTime-compatible application running on Mac OS

10.4

MPEG-4 Part 2 Sorenson is considered to be one of the best coders for this.

Cleaner or QuickTime as reserves might be appropriate.
Platform is probably irrelevant, but bear in mind this might
become a deprecated codec as H.264 encoders mature.

H.264 Best quality is obtained with Envivio products, but for a more

modest budget use QuickTime on Mac OS 10.4 or Sorenson
Squeeze 4 on Mac OS or Windows XP. Be prepared to install
updates, as this is still a maturing codec and only the initial
releases of products are currently available.

MPEG-2 Can be created with many of the available tools. The format is

very mature. Use Apple Compressor on Mac OS. The easy
choice is Cleaner XL on Windows.