Tips for creating Flash video

Whenever possible, always encode a file from its uncompressed form

If you convert a precompressed digital video format into the FLV format, the previous encoder can introduce video noise. The first compressor already performed its encoding algorithm on the video and reduced its quality, frame size, and rate. It might have also introduced some of its own digital artifacts or noise. This additional noise affects the FLV encoding process and might require a higher data rate to play back a good-quality file.

Strive for simplicity

Avoid elaborate transitions—they don’t compress well and can make your final compressed video look chunky during the change. Hard cuts (as opposed to cross-dissolves) are usually best. Video sequences that show an object zooming from behind the first track, doing a page turn, or wrapping around a ball and then flying off the screen can be eye-catching, but they usually don’t compress well and should be used sparingly.

Know your audience data rate

When you deliver video over the Internet, produce files at lower data rates. Users with fast Internet connections can view the files with little or no wait, but dial-up users must wait for files to download. Make the clips short to keep the download times within acceptable limits for dial-up users.

Select the proper frame rate

Frame rate indicates frames per second (fps). If you have a higher data rate clip, a lower frame rate can improve playback on lower-end computers. For example, if you are compressing a clip with little motion, cutting the frame rate in half probably saves you only 20 percent of the data rate. However, if you are compressing high-motion video, reducing the frame rate has a much greater effect on the data rate.

Because video looks much better at native frame rates, Adobe® recommends leaving the frame rate high if your delivery channels and playback platforms allow it. However, if you need to reduce the frame rate, the best results come from dividing the frame rate by whole numbers.

Select a frame size that fits your data rate

At a given data rate (connection speed), increasing the frame size results in decreased video quality. When you select the frame size for your document, consider frame rate, source material, and personal preferences. Use the following list of common frame sizes (in pixels) as a guide. Experiment to find the best setting for your project.

• Modem: 160 x 120

• Dual ISDN: 192 x 144

• T1/DSL/cable: 320 x 240

Know progressive download times

Know how long it will take to download your video. While your video clip downloads, you might want to have other content that appears and disguises the download. For short clips, use the following formula: Pause = download time – play time + 10% of play time. For example, if your clip is 30 seconds long and it takes one minute to download, give your clip a 33-second buffer (60 seconds – 30 seconds + 3 seconds = 33 seconds).

Use clean video

The higher the quality of the original, the better the final result. Although frame rates and sizes of Internet video are usually smaller than those of television, computer monitors have much better color fidelity, saturation, sharpness, and resolution than conventional televisions. Even with a small window, image quality can be more important for digital video than for standard analog television. Artifacts and noise that are barely noticeable on TV can be obvious on a computer screen.

Remove noise and interlace

After you capture your video content, you might need to remove noise and interlacing.

Follow the same guidelines for audio

The same considerations exist for audio production as for video production. To achieve good audio compression, begin with clean audio. If you are encoding material from a CD, try to record the file using direct digital transfer instead of through the analog input of your sound card. The sound card introduces an unnecessary digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversion that can create noise in your source audio. Direct digital transfer tools are available for Windows and Macintosh platforms. To record from an analog source, use the highest-quality sound card available.