Dealing with Vimeo Compression - For Avid Users

[Michael Pyon]

Hey guys

I'm here with another question and that is how are people dealing with the crappy vimeo compression one gets when uploading an exported file. Usually the file is much darker, has more contrast, and is more saturated in color. What have you all been doing in order to export/convert right so that your product looks great on Vimeo.

Thanks as always
Mike

 

[Arnaud Dumas]

Usually, I export Same as source for DNxHD transcoded footage.
If exporting directly from AMA, I go for a Quicktime DNxHD.
Both should be RGB (not CCIR 609/701).

Depending on how you watch the file, the colour and contrast will change. Preview in finder using space bar will give you a saturated image close from the original I guess. Quicktime will show it flat and desaturated. However, the file should be okay. I hate quicktime !

Then I compress using Sorenson Squeeze 8 (bundled with Avid). I found out that a .mp4 / H264 give the best colours when sent to Vimeo and Youtube.

I had also good results with El Gato Turbo H264 for colour reproduction, which also export in .mp4 containers, but haven't tried it with Youtube and Vimeo. Only for Daylies and client approval. The process is faster, but the quality is not as good as sorenson for compression, aliasing and downscaling.

Hope it helps !
Arnaud

 

[Nick Barton]

H.264 at the highest bit rate you can push it to. We usually run about 9k.

 

[Michel Rabe]

I export with x264 to .mp4 and had the same issues as you do, I now render a DNxHD master first which is REC 709 but in 16-235 RGB space, not 0-255. That solves the problem for me.

 

[Thomas Koch]

When using Compressor, I make sure the color - preserve source is selected. Helps keep the gamma shift from happening with h,264 files.

 

[Paul Russell]

Ignore their bit rate specs and send up a bigger file. I usually go in at around 14Mbps. Same with YouTube.