Learning About Player Versions and Codec Options Learning About Player Versions and Codec Options Now that you know what can affect the bit rate of a video clip, you need to learn the codec options for Web video before you start the compression process. Video playback was first introduced with Flash Player 6, supporting the Sorenson Spark codec. The Spark codec is a derivative of the H.263 codec. At that time, Sorenson was well known for its high-quality, low-bit-rate Sorenson Video 3 codec, which Apple licensed for QuickTime. Over the span of five major releases of Flash Player, five video codecs have been added. Table 3.4 lists the codecs supported in each version of Flash Player. Each video codec and audio codec has a unique identifier that is stored in the metadata of a video file, as shown in Tables 3.5 and 3.6.
Sorenson codecs don't show up in Library - Creative COW's user support and discussion forum for users of Adobe After Effects. - Adobe After Effects Forum. Basically If i render out a video from After effects and. If i render to sorenson 3 or like. Just about all the video I do ends up with an added codec. Given that Quicktime player,VLC, Sorenson Squeeze, After Effects. This appears to be an ongoing issue with any Avid codec above 2.3.7.
In this section, you’ll learn the strengths and weaknesses of each codec. Table 3.4 Flash Player Video Codec Support. NOTE You’ll learn how to access and use the metadata of a Flash-compatible video file in Chapter 7, “Building Your Own Video Player.” Sorenson Spark codec (H.263) In 2002, when video first made its debut in Flash Player 6, Sorenson Spark was the video codec that made it all happen. If you need the widest range of compatibility for your Web video files, use the Sorenson Spark codec. Files encoded with the Spark codec use the.flv file extension. Strengths The primary benefits of using Sorenson Spark as your Flash-compatible video codec revolve around processing power: • Reduced processing: The Spark codec requires less computer processing and memory (RAM) than the newer On2 VP6 codec. The rule of thumb is that Spark requires about half as much processing power and memory as On2 VP6-E.
If you need to deploy video to a wide range of computers, including machines with processors slower than Pentium IIIs or Power Mac G4s, you should strongly consider using the Spark codec. • Widest acceptance: As I mentioned earlier, Spark is available in Flash Player 6 and newer versions. • Encoding products availability: Many inexpensive (and open source) video-encoding solutions offer only the Spark codec. • Speed of compression: The Spark codec compresses video faster than the On2 VP6 codec.
As a result, you can encode more content in less time. • Encoder and decoder solution: The Sorenson Spark codec is the only codec whose compression encoder exists in the regular Flash Player. You can broadcast live video from a Web cam using the Sorenson Spark codec. The live video can be broadcast only to a Real Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP)–enabled server, such as an Adobe Flash Media Server application. Weaknesses Despite the codec’s wide availability and reduced demands on the processor, Spark has a few drawbacks: • Lower-quality video: Sorenson Spark’s image quality is inferior to the other video codecs available in Flash Player. If you want the best quality Web video for online distribution over low bit rates, you shouldn’t use the Spark codec. • Inefficient compression: You can achieve visual quality with Sorenson Spark on par with other Web video codecs—at the cost of higher bit rates.
For example, you need about 20 percent more bit rate for Spark to produce the same quality with VP6-E. Best Of Sixpence Rar. If you’re distributing on fixed media such as CD/DVD-ROM and want the video to play on slower machines, storage and bit rate issues may be less important. When to use it In summary, the Sorenson Spark codec is ideal for projects requiring the following: • Wide range of playback platforms: From smart phones to mobile devices supporting the Flash platform, Sorenson Spark is one of the only codecs that performs well with slow processors. • Live video: To broadcast live events from Flash applications, use Spark. You can purchase live hardware-encoding solutions for other video codecs, but they’re not cheap.
• License-free delivery: You do not have to pay any additional licensing fees to deploy video encoded with the Sorenson Spark codec. Software and hardware vendors that use the codec pay the licensing fees. On2 VP6-E codec Sorenson Spark opened the possibility of video playback within a Flash movie, but the On2 VP6-E codec included with Flash Player 8 and newer inaugurated a new era of Web video. The superior image quality of the VP6-E codec, combined with its efficient compression for low bit rates, has significantly increased the adoption of Flash-based video. Files encoded with the On2 VP6-E codec use the.flv file extension for playback in Flash Player. Strengths VP6-E is a modern video codec, designed for fast processors and low bit rates. The following are its strengths over other codecs: • Superior image quality: Given equivalent bit rates, video using the VP6-E codec is visually more stunning than video using Sorenson Spark.
