Video Content Advice

[erasmo]

Adult Stock Photos is about to start offering our video content for sale. We are starting from scratch and while we have done some research, I wanted to get your advice on this subject.

If you are a video content seller, what is the most requested video format by content buyers?

I've notice that most content vendors offer their videos as MPEGs, but some offer QuickTime, WMA, DIVX and Mpeg as options, are these formats worth the extra work, and do content buyer appreciate them.

Content buyers; what is the video format you prefer, QuickTime, WMA, DIVX or Mpeg?
Are you interested in a format that you can easily edit and ad your logo too?

I would appreciate your comments.

[Paul Markham2]

We find the most popular is Mpeg and WMV.

It's the size and compression that few can agree on, some wnat high quality and some want low quality. But few understand the work involved in rendering and hosting all the versions.

[Ramster]

Does anyone buy QuickTime? As a buyer like Paul Markham said the 2 best are Mpeg and Wmv hands down. What you can do is offer other formats as a special request only.

When will you be selling the videos? Your photo content is great.

[DangerDave]

MPEG, or Mpeg, or mpgs :)

Mpegs can be converted into all other formats.. most others can not be converted back to mpeg.

DD

[cd34]

So DangerDave, are you saying that you prefer mpegs? :)

[DangerDave]

So DangerDave, are you saying that you prefer mpegs? :)... only if they are created according to the "Moving Picture Experts Group".. |band

DD

[SirMoby]

If you create HQ MPEG-1 videos then they will be compatible with everyone and you can easily convert them to other formats.

The biggest mistake that video sellers are making today is using the older size of 352 width. Yes, videos of 720 pixels width take up more disk space but my surfers will still want them a year from now. If you don't provide true CD quality videos some one else will and my surfers tell me the same thing.

PLEASE make them 720 pixels wide, MPEG-1 and HQ. It's easy to make them smaller but impossible to make them bigger without loosing quality. It's tricky to get HQ using MPEG-1 but it can be done and if you ask you may find a lot of help.

[Paul Markham2]

If you create HQ MPEG-1 videos then they will be compatible with everyone and you can easily convert them to other formats.

The biggest mistake that video sellers are making today is using the older size of 352 width. Yes, videos of 720 pixels width take up more disk space but my surfers will still want them a year from now. If you don't provide true CD quality videos some one else will and my surfers tell me the same thing.

PLEASE make them 720 pixels wide, MPEG-1 and HQ. It's easy to make them smaller but impossible to make them bigger without loosing quality. It's tricky to get HQ using MPEG-1 but it can be done and if you ask you may find a lot of help.
It sounds good in practise, problem is we content providers sell on a basis of trying to please as many as possible to make a profit.

The latest video is this size MPEG2 720x576(25fps)

And we have smaller vesions in WMV and Divx. Problem is sales on the big ones are not as good as sales on the smaller ones.

Videos page. (http://www.paulmarkham.com/video-images.php)

[SirMoby]

That's a good point Paul but could the issue be that the MPEG2 files can not be played in native Widnows? At least I'm not aware that it can be since Microsoft Windows does not come with an MPEG2 codec. Some additional third party software has to be installed/purchased. I'm not sure about MACs.

WMV can be played in native Windows. DIVx is a free codec for viewers and makes the file size much smaller. MPEG2 needs additional software and does NOT decrease the size.

That's why you need to code them using MPEG1.

[Paul Markham2]

That's a good point Paul but could the issue be that the MPEG2 files can not be played in native Widnows? At least I'm not aware that it can be since Microsoft Windows does not come with an MPEG2 codec. Some additional third party software has to be installed/purchased. I'm not sure about MACs.

WMV can be played in native Windows. DIVx is a free codec for viewers and makes the file size much smaller. MPEG2 needs additional software and does NOT decrease the size.

That's why you need to code them using MPEG1.
That's a good point and I had best check it out. But they play on my computer and Mpeg2 does not play on it.

Need to go ask someone.

[Cleo]

Any of the Mpeg formats gets my vote. I like Mpeg-4 but that is probably because I'm on a Mac. Mpeg-1 is probably the most compatible with everyone.

[Paul Markham2]

My mistake it's Mpeg1, I'm looking at the wrong files.

But they are 720 wide and sales are low.

[erasmo]

Guys,

Thanks for the post. My wife and I are having our first baby, hopefully today... But thank you for your response and keep them coming.

[SirMoby]

Guys,

Thanks for the post. My wife and I are having our first baby, hopefully today... But thank you for your response and keep them coming.
Congratulations! I have a 16 month old baby girl and her birth has brought me more pleasure then I had in the 40 years before her.

Let us know how things go.

[Paul Markham2]

Guys,

Thanks for the post. My wife and I are having our first baby, hopefully today... But thank you for your response and keep them coming.
Congratulations, keep us informed and take the rest of the day off. |waves|

[Paul Markham2]

So what happened Erasmo, everything go fine?

[erasmo]

Paul, I took your advice... and took the week off.

We had a baby girl and she weighed 8 pounds 6 ounces. She measured 20 inches and only inherited my big toes; the rest belongs to her mother :)

While everyone tells me that she is big, I still find her tiny in my arms. We didn’t get much sleep the last couple of days, but I think we know what we are doing NOW! :)

My wife had a c-section, so it’s really hard on her, plus the swelling hasn’t gone away.

The one-thing guys; It’s SCARY, and until you have one, you just can’t understand what it is like.

[Paul Markham2]

That'sgreat. Best wished to your wife ad the baby.

Get lots of pictures, today she does not look so big, it will seem like no time at all and she will be running around asking you to play with her.

|thumb |pink

[Ernie G]

Paul, I took your advice... and took the week off.

We had a baby girl and she weighed 8 pounds 6 ounces. She measured 20 inches and only inherited my big toes; the rest belongs to her mother :)

While everyone tells me that she is big, I still find her tiny in my arms. We didn’t get much sleep the last couple of days, but I think we know what we are doing NOW! :)

My wife had a c-section, so it’s really hard on her, plus the swelling hasn’t gone away.

The one-thing guys; It’s SCARY, and until you have one, you just can’t understand what it is like.


Congrats on your newborn |thumb |thumb


BTW I agree with Paul about using WMV and mpeg's we offer different sizes on WMV, MPEG1 and MPEG2. These seem to be more popular

[erasmo]

If you create HQ MPEG-1 videos then they will be compatible with everyone and you can easily convert them to other formats.

Creating the MPEGs won't be a problem, but similar to what Paul wrote providing them would limit how they could be provided to the Webmaster, as the best solution would be to send them via mail on a DVD or CD.

Anyone else have any advice?