FLV or Frame rates?

Mar 21, 2011

I'm just full of questions today. lol.  Everyone's been so helpful, though.  I hope this is another question that has an answer someone wouldn't mind sharing.

My FLV is 10 MB larger than my original swf.  Now, when I exported as the MOV file (which I needed to do in order to get that over to a FLV file), I increased the frame rate from 24 to 25.  I know, Presenter needs 30, but I was just testing this out.  Now, is it the FLV file instead of the swf that makes it big, or is it just the one fps rate that went up that increased the file so much?  The large file seems to be be catching and dragging when I play it more than the swf file did.  Anyone know how to answer this?  I'd really appreciate it!

18 Replies
Brian Batt

Hi Tammy,

Depending upon the length of the video file, one extra frame per second can make the video substantially larger.  However, there are likely other factors in play here.  For example, if your video has audio, you'll want to make sure that the audio settings are set as low as possible.  You'll be surprised at how much file size audio can take up.  Also, you'll want to make sure that you're converting the video at the size that you actually need.  In other words, if the source file is 800 x 600, try to convert it to a lower size like 400 x 200.

Tammy Smith

Thanks Brian.  Doesn't lowering the audio quality make the sound bad?  I exported as low quality in the past, and the audio sounded tinny.  I have a voiceover, so the audio needs to be crisp and clean.

Also, does Presenter and Quizmaker come with the Articulate Video Encoder?  I'm using Adobe Media Converter, and going from my MOV file to my FLV file is looking bad.  The quality isn't as good, even though I put it as best quality possible, and there are some gray boxes around some of my images.  I'd like to try out Articulate Video Encoder '09, but I don't want to buy it.  I'm hoping it comes free with the software I've already bought...

Brian Batt

Hi Tammy,

The Video Encoder is not available for purchase as a standalone product. It is only available as a complimentary bonus when purchasing the Rapid E-Learning Studio ’09 Pro or the Rapid E-Learning Studio ’09 Standard (either full-version or upgrade).
Also, you might want to take a look at converting your file to an MP4 file instead of an FLV.  You'll be able to get really high quality at a smaller filesize.  Articulate Video Encoder does not currently support converting files to MP4.  However, there are several free programs available like Format Factory that can convert your file to MP4.
For more information on importing MP4 files into Articulate Presenter, Quizmaker, and Engage, see the link below:
Tammy Smith

But don't people have to have Flash 9 to be able to watch an MP4?  I wouldn't want the video not to play for them simply because they don't have the newest Flash player.

Also, is the Format Factory relatively easy to use and produces high quality files?  Right now, the problem I'm having is getting the high-quality MOV file into a high-quality FLV (or MP4 if your idea would work) file.

Tammy Smith

That's funny that you mentioned that because my video still isn't looking as good as it did as a swf.  The Quicktime movie looks fine.  However, when I'm converting the .mov file to a .flv file, the everything looks a little blurry.  I have the video set to 740 x 540, have it set to 1500 kps whatever, have it on VG (or whatever the abbreviation is for how many times the video is passed through), I have it set to pass through twice.  I'm not sure what else I can do to get it to look right.  I changed the Flash video to 25 fps (will change it to 30 later)and was just testing to see what it looked like.  Still a little fuzzy compared to the .mov file I exported directly from Flash.  Not really sure why this is.  Can you provide some insight, please?  I'd really appreciate it!

Tammy Smith

Converting the .mov file to an mp4?  Or the FLV file?  If the FLV file is already lower quality, then should I just export the .mov as an MP4?  And I should use format factory for this?  The quality on that is pretty good?  Is Articulate considering putting the mp4 option in the encoder as an export option?

Or, can the format factory take a Flash or SWF file and make it into an MP4?

Tammy Smith

Thank you very much, Brian!  That will help a lot.   Have you had experience with saving a Flash movie as a .MOV file?  If so, what settings do you use?  I have been doing the 'None" option under the Compression selection, Best Quality, and Automatic Frame Rate.  Also been doing the Best Quality for Audio.  Are these the types of settings you would recommend or something different?

Tammy Smith

Brian, I've done what you've suggested.  The MP4 I made from my .mov file in Format Factory looks great.  The audio sounds a little muffled, though.  I have the audio at the highest options, but it's still sounded muffled compared to my .mov file.  Any suggestions?  I'd really like the audio to sound the same.

Also, when I'm importing my MP4 into Presenter 9, I get this error message that says the Video codec might not be supported or played by Flash.  I found a post from you previously when I Googled the problem.  This was the link I got:  http://www.articulate.com/forums/articulate-engage/18232-will-not-import-mpeg-4-a.html

However, I don't know how to Re-encode the MP4 using the H.264 codec.  No idea how to do that, not even sure I can do that with Format Factory.  Any suggestions?  I know you recommended going to mp4, but it's kinda messing up for me...

Thank you for your help so far! 

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