H264

From Wikipedia:()

(H.264/MPEG-4 Part 10 or AVC (Advanced Video Coding) is a standard for video compression, and is currently one of the most commonly used formats for the recording, compression, and distribution of high definition video.

 H.264 is perhaps best known as being one of the codec standards for Blu-ray Discs; all Blu-ray Disc players must be able to decode H.264. It is also widely used by streaming internet sources, such as videos from Vimeo, YouTube, and the iTunes Store, web software such as the Adobe Flash Player and Microsoft Silverlight, broadcast services for DVB-S2 and SBTVD, HDTV direct-broadcast satellite television services, HDTV cable television services, and real-time videoconferencing. Digital Video Broadcasting for Satellite DVB-S, Cable DVB-C, and terrestrial broadcasting DVB-T use MPEG-2.)

True compression and IFrame

The main difference with video compression vs. still image compression is the reduction of Temporal Redundancies. Temporal Redundancies are the similarities between images. A significant amount of storage and bandwidth, or bitrate, can be saved by not retransmitting the macro blocks which don’t change from frame to frame.
        In a security application this can refer to the background of the image. Many cameras in a video security deployment are fixed cameras. The only thing changing in the camera’s field of view are vehicles passing, people walking etc. The majority of the scene from image to image is the same information (the background). True video compression techniques, like MPEG4 part 2 & H.264, take advantage of this fact and only transmit the background periodically. The result is a video stream composed of a reference frame, called an I Frame, and then changing areas of the image are transmitted and overlaid on the original reference frame to create the current image of the scene The frames with changes are referred to as P or B frames.
        An I Frame followed by a series of P and B frames is referred to as a Group of Pictures or GOP The number of frames from one I frame to the next I frame in the stream is referred to as the GOV Length.

What is streaming

Streaming : When a file is streamed, it is broken into a series of tiny packets that are then reassembled by the player in the correct order. The advantage of creating all these tiny pieces is that the pieces download more quickly and can be played before the file is entirely downloaded. For a very large file (which most video files are), this is really the only way to avoid huge delays while waiting for a download.
         Streaming takes place while you are watching this first part of a video, the server will continue to send over the rest of the video file in the "background" - so you don't have to wait until the whole video has finished transferring before you can start watching.

Progressive download

Delivery of a file over HTTP is normally referred to as ‘progressive download’ or ‘http streaming’. In reality, it is not streaming at all but a very simple bulk download of a video file to the end user’s computer. A temporary copy of the video file is then stored on the local computer so that the viewer can watch the file over and over without having to download the file each time.
          Let’s assume you have a video file encoded at 500kbps. The server delivering the file does not know or care that your video file is encoded at 500kbps; it simply pushes data to the host machine as quickly as it can. This can sometimes give the illusion that the file is being streamed because playback can start as soon as enough of the file is available on the local machine. This obviously restricts the users from skipping to parts of the file that have not yet been downloaded.


Advantages of Streaming

1. You can begin video playback at any point of the video, or skip through the video as you see fit. This is very convenient for users.

2. It makes a lot more efficient use of bandwidth as you are only using bandwidth for part of the video that are actually watched as opposed to HTTP delivery where the whole file gets delivered.

3. The video file is not stored on the viewer’s computer – the video data is played and then discarded by the media player. This lets you maintain more control over your content.

Disadvantages of Streaming

    1. High cost of server software.

    2. Sound quality and stream may be affected by low speed or inconsistent Internet connections.

    3. Requires a preconfigured server

Research into Streaming

Websites looked at:

http://blog.mydeo.com/2009/01/12/streaming-vs-progressive-download-understanding-the-difference/

http://www.digital-web.com/articles/efficient_video_delivery_over_the_internet/

http://www.j-learning.org/present_it/page/delivering_video_online/

http://www.upenn.edu/video/pvp/streams.html

http://camstudio.org/streaming-video-resources/what-is-streaming-video.htm

http://www.streamingmedia.com/Articles/Editorial/What-Is-.../What-is-Streaming-74052.aspx

http://www.wimpyplayer.com/docs/faqs/docs/general_streaming_definition.html

http://www.calsoftlabs.com/whitepapers/streaming-video-technology.html

http://www.100fps.com/

Second edit

I have decided to create another sequence using the same video clips but in a different style. I want to investigate how this type of video can be shown in a way that is completely different to normal. Instead of using the usual dub-step or drum and bass music I am going to create the piece to either a classical or orchestral piece of music.

Final Parkour in Dub Step Style

I have completed my final version of the dubstep style video. I have added in the title scenes, colour corrected the entire piece and also replaced a few clips with more exciting ones. I have also removed the reverse clip from the slow motion handstand scene and replaced it with a slower frame rate. I have also removed the reverse clip from the end of the piece and put a slow motion one in its place.

I have completed my first edit and am very happy with the outcome. I think something that needs to be addressed is the black screen flashes at the start of the clip. I think while the screen is flashing black there needs to be some sort of text explaining where they are, what it is and who they are. Here is my first edit.

Idea

The basic idea behind my project is to create a journey. As there are many scenery shots I am going to collect them together to create a video that will take the viewer on a journey along with the characters in the clips. Fast cuts, slow motion and double speed will also be used to show off some of the stunts the people do in the clips. 

Here are a few videos of slow motion and story driven parkour that i have looked at:

Slow Motion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OK8aEbW4b4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqGA1CWHGVo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XffyxKZ-Xtg&feature=related

Storyline(Journey)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJubOZLpp4A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy-Nm5fpSww
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsaBXFGMfAw

Editing

I have begun editing the clips making them usable for my video. The idea is to show only the actual stunt itself instead of the build up and calm down period of them. I am doing this using Adobe Premiere.

Clips

Have finished sorting through the video files given to us. I have selected and narrowed down a list of footage that will make up my parkour video. I have imported the footage into premiere and have tried a few storyline ideas out so far. The audio has been removed from the footage as most of it is just wind and background noise.