Real World Video Compression

Video is the Internet these days and as the growing trend toward viewing video on mobile devices increases too, the attention is turning toward creating a good user experience for downloading and viewing that video. One of the keys to this is delivering video in the correct format with the proper compression for that delivery. Real World Video Compression is one of the first books on this topic to demystify the various approaches to compression. It begins by describing the basic concepts of video compression, explains why you might choose a particular compression tool over another, and covers important workflow practices. After the groundwork is laid, readers will learn how to compress their video according to the specific requirements of their projects and will learn some best practices by following the author's own tips and recipes. Experts in the field lend their own solutions in several sidebars throughout the book, making this a valuable learning tool for anyone learning to encode video, whether they are bloggers, DVD authors, video editors, or students. Contents at a Glance Chapter One: Understanding Video and Audio. Chapter Two: The Language of Compression Chapter Three: Best Practices Chapter Four: Preprocessing Interview with a Compressionist: John Howell Chapter Five: Compression Tools Interview with a Compressionist: Nico Puertollano Chapter Six: Compressing for DVDs Interview with a Compressionist: Ben Waggoner Chapter Seven: Compressing for the Web Interview with a Compressionist: Jim Rohner Chapter Eight: Compressing for Mobile Interview with a Compressionist: Ryanne Hodson Chapter Nine: Compressing for Set-Top Boxes Interview with a Compressionist: Andy Beach "In the highly accessible REAL WORLD VIDEO COMPRESSION, Andy Beach illuminates the dark-art of encoding and provides candid insight from working professionals. Andy's fluid style and easy prose decode this often misunderstood and often misinformed world...he is the Carl Sagan of compression." Brian Gary Filmmaker, Compressionist Author of the COMPRESSOR 3 QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

Learn how to compress video and audio with optimal quality and minimal hassles. Renowned expert Ben Waggoner teaches you to improve the quality of your final content and develop effective workflows. Understand the basic concepts of vision and hearing, apply that knowledge in the context of compression, then move onto practical, applicable information for creating, editing, and compressing the best video and audio, whether you're delivering for the web, DVD, Blu-ray, phones, or beyond. Clear examples of how to make the best choices in real-world projects Covers Mac and Windows products for a complete look at today's compression technologies: all the different tools, codecs, and formats for different kinds of deliverables are described, focusing on how to pick the right options for particular projects, players, and sources Formats Windows Media QuickTime Flash FLV and F4V MPEG-4 and H.264 MPEG-2 Ogg Vorbis and Theora Silverlight and Smooth Streaming Devices iPod and iPhone Zune HD Playstation Portable Playstation 3 Xbox 360 DVD and Blu-ray

This book describes the principles of image and video compression techniques and introduces current and popular compression standards, such as the MPEG series. Derivations of relevant compression algorithms are developed in an easy-to-follow fashion. Numerous examples are provided in each chapter to illustrate the concepts.

One of the most intriguing problems in video processing is the removal of the redundancy or the compression of a video signal. There are a large number of applications which depend on video compression. Data compression represents the enabling technology behind the multimedia and digital television revolution. In motion compensated lossy video compression the original video sequence is first split into three new sources of information, segmentation, motion and residual error. These three information sources are then quantized, leading to a reduced rate for their representation but also to a distorted reconstructed video sequence. After the decomposition of the original source into segmentation, mo tion and residual error information is decided, the key remaining problem is the allocation of the available bits into these three sources of information. In this monograph a theory is developed which provides a solution to this fundamental bit allocation problem. It can be applied to all quad-tree-based motion com pensated video coders which use a first order differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) scheme for the encoding of the displacement vector field (DVF) and a block-based transform scheme for the encoding of the displaced frame differ ence (DFD). An optimal motion estimator which results in the smallest DFD energy for a given bit rate for the encoding of the DVF is also a result of this theory. Such a motion estimator is used to formulate a motion compensated interpolation scheme which incorporates a global smoothness constraint for the DVF.

Video compression is not a new process; however, it is forever evolving. New standards, codecs, and ways of getting the job done are continually being created. Newcomers to video compression and seasoned veterans alike need to know how to harness the tools and use them for specific workflows for broadcast, the Web, Blu-rays, set-top boxes, digital cinema, and mobile devices. Here to guide you through the multitude of formats and confusing array of specifications, Andy Beach and Aaron Owen use a practical, straightforward approach to explaining video compression. After covering the fundamentals of audio and video compression, they explore the current applications for encoding, discuss the common workflows associated with each, and then look at the most common delivery platforms. The book includes examples from the authors’ projects as well as recipes that offer a way to define some of the best practices of video compression today. This invaluable resource gives you: proven techniques for delivering video online, or via disc or other devices. clear, straightforward explanations that cut through the jargon. step-by-step instructions for using a wide variety of encoding tools. workflow tips for performing either stand-alone or batch compressions. insight and advice from top compression professionals sprinkled throughout.

Image and Video Compression Standards: Algorithms and Architectures presents an introduction to the algorithms and architectures that underpin the image and video compression standards, including JPEG (compression of still images), H.261 (video teleconferencing), MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 (video storage and broadcasting). In addition, the book covers the MPEG and Dolby AC-3 audio encoding standards, as well as emerging techniques for image and video compression, such as those based on wavelets and vector quantization. The book emphasizes the foundations of these standards, i.e. techniques such as predictive coding, transform-based coding, motion compensation, and entropy coding, as well as how they are applied in the standards. How each standard is implemented is not dealt with, but the book does provide all the material necessary to understand the workings of each of the compression standards, including information that can be used to evaluate the efficiency of various software and hardware implementations conforming to the standards. Particular emphasis is placed on those algorithms and architectures that have been found to be useful in practical software or hardware implementations. Audience: A valuable reference for the graduate student, researcher or engineer. May also be used as a text for a course on the subject.

"John Rhodes' Videoconferencing for the Real World, is a one of the world's most comprehensive blueprints on the awesome power of videoconferencing." From the Foreword by Brad Caldwell Chairman ICIA and President of Integrated Media Services, Anaheim, CA Designed to be useful to both technical and non-technical managers, Video-Conferencing for the Real World demystifies the subject of video communications. It provides easy-to-follow guidelines for deploying a cost-effective video-conferencing solution tailored to an organization's specific needs. Developed to flexible to the readers need, Video Conferencing for the Real World offers dynamic problem-solving techniques for the communication challenges facing managers today. Examining the technical, economic, and organizational aspects of each requirement and solution, this book offers a sound base of technical information and provides practical solutions based on a wealth of professional experience. Combining his own ideas with the input of system managers and users, service providers, consultants, and manufacturers, the author has developed a guide that will help readers make more informed investments of their time and money. Special attention is paid to conducting an effective needs analysis, and the development of solutions that will adapt easily to future changes in organizational requirements. Covering a variety of solutions, this book explores the advantages and disadvantages of desktop systems, set-top systems, rollabout systems, and room systems. In addition to compression, multipoint conferencing and data conferencing, this book also addresses topics such as, pilot projects, the preparation of RFPs, service contracts, training, content creation, and convergence.

A how-to guide for getting professional-quality video from your DSLR Shooting HD Video with a video-enabled DSLR has many benefits and some tricky drawbacks that digital filmmakers and videographers can overcome to get professional results. The DSLR Filmmaker's Handbook helps filmmakers harness the HD video capabilities of their DSLRs to create professional-level video. Packed with professionally-tested techniques, this indispensible book serves as a training guide for the complex steps that must be taken before, during, and after filming. Teaches you the key tools and techniques for using your DSLR to shoot high-quality, professional-level video Distills dense information about filmmaking and filters it down to easily understood granules Shows you what to expect and what to avoid with your DSLR and how to maximize the visual look of your film Shares tools and techniques that have been used in real-world, independent movie-making environments The DSLR Filmmaker's Handbook shows you how to overcome any tricky drawbacks that you may face while shooting HD video with your DSLR.

Following on from the successful MPEG-2 standard, MPEG-4 Visual is enabling a new wave of multimedia applications from Internet video streaming to mobile video conferencing. The new H.264 ‘Advanced Video Coding’ standard promises impressive compression performance and is gaining support from developers and manufacturers. The first book to cover H.264 in technical detail, this unique resource takes an application-based approach to the two standards and the coding concepts that underpin them. Presents a practical, step-by-step, guide to the MPEG-4 Visual and H.264 standards for video compression. Introduces the basic concepts of digital video and covers essential background material required for an understanding of both standards. Provides side-by-side performance comparisons of MPEG-4 Visual and H.264 and advice on how to approach and interpret them to ensure conformance. Examines the way that the standards have been shaped and developed, discussing the composition and procedures of the VCEG and MPEG standardisation groups. Focussing on compression tools and profiles for practical multimedia applications, this book ‘decodes’ the standards, enabling developers, researchers, engineers and students to rapidly get to grips with both H.264 and MPEG-4 Visual. Dr Iain Richardson leads the Image Communication Technology research group at the Robert Gordon University in Scotland and is the author of over 40 research papers and two previous books on video compression technology.

Learn all about Codecs--how they work, as well as design and implementation with this comprehensive, easy-to-use guide to compression. After reading this book, you will be able to prepare and distribute professional audio and video on any platform including streamed to the web, broadcast on-air, stored in PVRs, Burned onto CD-ROMs or DVDs, delivered by broadband, or viewed in Kiosk applications, PDA devices, and mobile phones.