YouTube has become the “Zerox” of online video…nobody says “did you see that new movie about the dog skateboarding on that internet video streaming service” – they just say “check it out on YouTube!” That being said, not all video streaming sites are created equal. In addition to the ubiquitous YouTube.com, there’s Vimeo.com, SmugMug.com, blip.tv, ifilm.com, jumpcut, metacafe, isofa.tv, and countless others who offer video services. Which look best? Which should you use to host your video content? Here’s a quick overview:

Rocket Pop Media studio, with Canon XHA1

Which look the best? Well…with the onslaught of HD content uploading at any given moment it has become clear that video is the medium of choice for most people on the net, in varying degrees of sophistication. The number of cell phone videos posted from frat parties is almost the same as the number of movie trailers, corporate pieces, viral ad campaigns, and video business profiles, and it can be done with almost any type of camera in any location. The quality, however, is just as varying. YouTube and Facebook are the most common social sites to host video, while Facebook is the clear winner for incorporating all your other content seamlessly with your videos. YouTube remains the leader with search engines (maybe Google owning the company has something to do with that?) and for common, easy interface that most people have become familiar with.

In YouTube, to get the most out of your viewing experience, hop on a high-speed internet connection (which most everyone has these days) and make sure you select “HD” or at a minimum “HQ” at the bottom of the video window. This ensures that the video streams at the highest resolution possible. HQ and HD look similar in the small window, but you’ll notice a big difference when viewing HD full-screen. You should see nearly the same quality as Apple’s movie trailer page, one of the benchmarks to be measured against.

HINT: if you have a YouTube account, go to “Playback Setup” in your account settings and select the third choice “I Have a Fast Connection” which basically lets YouTube know to playback videos that you watch while logged in at the highest possible rate! No more hitting the “HQ” button if you’re signed in. You’ll still have to select full screen if you want to view that way, but hey…one less click is one less click.

If you’re using YouTube as your video host and you want to show HD video, then you need to know what kind of file to upload. YouTube says it can handle “tons” of video types, but these settings yield the best quality:

* Video Format: H.264, MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 preferred (H.264 yields consistently good quality for smallest size)
* Aspect Ratio: Native aspect ratio without letterboxing (examples: 4:3, 16:9) – all HD content should be 16×9
* Resolution: 1280×720 (16×9 HD), 640×360 (16:9) or 480×360 (4:3) – stick to 1280×720 if you’re shooting in HD!
* Audio Format: MP3 or AAC preferred – they would also prefer 44.1khz sound, not 48.
* Frames per second: 30
* Maximum length: 10 minutes (we recommend 2-3 minutes)
* Maximum file size: 1 GB

HINT: If you’re sending a link to a friend or posting it on a site, here’s a quick tip to make sure the video displays to your recipient in the highest quality possible. Take your link, something like “http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjxzjGpOZ4Q” and add “&fmt=22″ to the end, yielding a link like this: “http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjxzjGpOZ4Q&fmt=22″ – go ahead, click the different examples and you’ll see that the second one should load in a wide aspect ratio in true 720 HD. The first link shows as either standard or HQ. If you have something that needs to look critically AMAZING on the other end, make sure you add “&fmt=22″. If you use embed codes, note that they’re also using the new 16×9 dimensions.

If you’re uploading to Facebook, they’re a little more cagey about specific information, unless you know where to look on their developer blogs! If you use the exact same specification file as listed above in the YouTube comments, then you are GOLDEN. 1280×720 HD! They have similar limitations: ten minutes, 1 gig file. Once the video is up on Facebook, it becomes EXTREMELY easy to share, pass around, and chat about on Facebook…that’s 200,000,000 (MILLION) users who love to see interesting video.

Now go make a movie! Or I know this company….thanks for riding the rocket!

Cheers,

Scott and the gang at Rocket Pop Media

Nothing looks quite so empty as a blog with no posts.  Here I sit with this very scenario staring me in the face.  The struggle for relevancy with so many amazing resources at your disposal is extremely important to me.  You have our assurance that this blog will be informational, entertaining, brief (but to-the-point), and always a source for positive development.

What will we be discussing, you might be asking yourself.  Good question, glad you’re providing feedback already.  Good start.

• The Rocket Ride will focus on video production, both professional and amateur.  After all, we know as well as the next person that video and motion graphics are just plain FUN to dabble in.  But even on the amateur level ther are some tips, tricks, and helpful hints to make your home movie of the kids into a masterpiece of viral video.   We’ll do our best to make video production easier for you, while also giving you a glimpse into professional production techniques, tips, links, and general HD video goodness from all corners of the web.  Good stuff!
• Secondly, we will be a resource for the development of Social Networking.  The expansion of Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, FriendFeed, and many other networks has done more to join different cultures, countries, and even connect those elusive high school friends that have been off your radar for years.  Businesses and individuals alike are benefiting greatly from these new virtual connections to their friends and customers.  More than ever it’s important to know the benefits, the pitfalls, and the guidelines for truly effective social communication.  It’s a different world each day and somebody needs to track the important developments while sifting through the digital noise to bring you the filet minon of social networking info.  That’s us.
• Lastly, we exist in a community rich with culture, art, history, and commaraderie.  It would be a shame not to include Richmond, VA in the mix and provide a springboard for community-based discussion, specifically with an eye toward digital media and its effects on the world around us.  Expect much influence from local musicians, film producers, social media experts, artists, and anything else in Richmond that we feel should be shared.  Viva RVA!

Thanks for joining us on the journey, and we look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Scott Dickens
RocketPopScott