[Steve SpotOn]

I need to produce a video on CD so that it can be played on as many as possible computers. Usually I end up producing an Mpeg 1 file which plays fine in Quicktime and Windows media player.... however the quality isn't great.

I've been looking at Mpeg 4 with the promise of better quality. I've just tried my first test (produced on a Mac) on a PC with Windows Media Player 7 and it won't recognise it.

So what versions of Media Player and also what versions of Quicktime will play Mpeg 4? Also estimate what % of computers out in the business world can play Mpeg 4?

[Jacke]

Originally posted by Steve SpotOn:
I need to produce a video on CD so that it can be played on as many as possible computers. Usually I end up producing an Mpeg 1 file which plays fine in Quicktime and Windows media player.... however the quality isn't great.

I've been looking at Mpeg 4 with the promise of better quality. I've just tried my first test (produced on a Mac) on a PC with Windows Media Player 7 and it won't recognise it.

So what versions of Media Player and also what versions of Quicktime will play Mpeg 4? Also estimate what % of computers out in the business world can play Mpeg 4?

What kind of file did you put it in? Did you do it with QT Pro? As an mp4 or mov file?
Mpeg 4 in general is a real hassle when you try to do it cross-platform. If you want a file that has the best chance of being played I'd say you encode it on a PC, in AVI format with DivX/3ivx video and something like IMA for the audio. That's quite a universal file since many already have DivX or 3ivx. I don't know the status on WMP's ability to play .mov files, so the AVI is just a precaution.

But the (in my opinion) easiest way is just to make it in QT 6 Pro, .mp4 file and just include a link to Apple's QT page, or even the QT 6 installer, on the disc. Although if you're putting all three different QT versions (Windows, OSX and Classic) on the CD you're looking at about 50 Mb for them. But it's better to be safe than sorry...

[dampeoples]

What about something like the Sorenson, or Sorenson3 codec, most of the game trailers, and some of the movie trailers are encoded with this, I believe.

[york28]

As far as I know, to play MPEG4 you need QT 6 or WMP 9. Even some of the newest pc
's don't have this, and still ship with 8. I'd say that your chances of finding a typical business computer (which probably means a pc) that can play MPEG4, uh, really suck.

Although I don't know what the video is for, my experience is that people aren't big on needing to install anything in order to do something simple like playing a movie.

Less quality and more compatibility might be the better way to go. I think that dampeoples may be right, using Sorenson or a different codec might be wise.

It's a pain for me, since I'm using movies on the web, but if you've got a cd, then file size shouldn't be as much of an issue maybe?

[Steve SpotOn]

Thanks guys.

I think the point ...
"my experience is that people aren't big on needing to install anything"
is most valid. For that reason I'll probably stick with Mpeg 1.

[Mark E]

actually mpeg-1 isn't that bad if you bump up the bitrate.

here's a great freeware encoder. it's primarily for VCD or DVD mpeg creation, but you should be able to use it:

http://homepage.mac.com/major4/

[jcarr]

Why not just include the QuickTime installer on the CD?

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/standalone/

For limited distribution (i.e. freinds family, etc.), you might not incur the wrath of Apple Legal.