Server side Flash video conversion
 

what are the limitations for this? can it convert source files to FLV using the best codecs or it's crumby like server side JPEG compression?

i see a lot of newer CMS software will do Flash video conversion but the question is does it suck?

Depends... I use ffmpeg on some servers and I get great conversions.. But then again I put a LOT of effort into turning up the parameters.

Good question.

ffmpeg on my server works great and is fast but i can get 30% smaller file sizes with video charge and still look as good. using h263 codec (i think)

i haven't had time to update the server one yet as its not that important, just as easy for me to do it local here and upload it to my script

see quality here if interested; http://www.bvbucks.com/flash/?affil_id=1352409

I would think the biggest sticking point would be the fact that doing it serverside means you have to START with a compressed file.

That's why I decided to just do it right here and upload the files after converting during our conversion to h264 mpeg 4. Otherwise I would have had to start with a .wmv file already on the server.

Whereas I can use the big ass .avi raw files right here at home and get a much better quality streaming vid.

Of course this is for my members area stuff so it has to be the best quality possible.

If you're just throwing some promo stuff out in flash then you could probably get away with it.

as said, result depends on the source file..

my system takes the settings
from the source to create the flv
and the h.264 version..

I could never get away with having flash videos for members, lol.

Not flash....h264 mpeg4 I'm moving everything that way. I bought and installed the Adobe Flash Server on my box and I'm streaming them encrypted. My shit is all exclusive (I shoot it myself) and I'm tired of seeing it all over the tubes and torrents.
Out of a couple thousand members I've had 3 complain so far over 2 weeks. And I'm almost betting that they are the pieces of shit who were stealing my stuff to begin with lol

This new shit is the bomb. You can move around anywhere in the video. If you don't want to watch the blowjob, you can drag it up to the anal. Couldn't do that with .wmv's And it starts streaming within a couple of seconds. No more waiting around on buffering.

flash videos are for in-browser viewing
and it actually seems to be working out.

its a great way to browse a site
cuz video loads fast and is easy to surf around.

think tube site lol

one of the worst things
(and its still done a lot)
is not having an in-browser
viewing option.

u gotta dl before u can watch.
thats a bad surfing experience.

but even with in-browser viewing,
u can't get away with not providing
high res dowloadables.

the more options the better.

heck i'm even publishing videos
as itunes podcast episodes so they
can be auto downloaded by members.

guys don't even have to visit the site anymore...