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MPEG-4 videos in Flash
MPEG-4 Primer
MPEG-4 (MP4) stands for "Moving Picture Experts Group." MPEG-4 is essentially a "wrapper" structure that allows for a variety of audio and video formats. Another way to say this is: Inside an MP4 file, there is a video data channel and audio data channel. Both video and audio data can be compressed using a variety of codecs.
Adobe Flash and MP4
Adobe Flash can only play back MP4 files that use specific codecs (H.264, AAC, MP3). Adobe Flash can not playback all codecs that are available for the MP4 structure.
The codecs that Adobe Flash can play back are:
Video: H.264
Audio: AAC and MP3
Hence, in order to use an MP4 video within Flash, the audio and video channels must be encoded using the proper settings so that the Adobe Flash plugin can play them back.
How to export a MPEG-4 video for Flash using Quicktime:
We recommend using Quicktime Pro. Quicktime Pro is powerful and inexpensive ($30 bucks). Plus Wuicktime is available for both the Mac and PC.
Step 1
After opening your video with Quicktime Pro, choose "Main Menu > File > Export"
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Step 2
In the dialog box that opens, select "Movie to MPEG-4" from the "Export" drop-down list
Then choose "Broadband - Medium" from the "Use" drop down list.
NOTE: By selecting the "Broadband - Mediaum" setting, certain tricky options are automatically selected -- this setting serves as a good starting point for most applications.
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Step 3: Video Settings
Click the "Options..." button, which is located just to the right of the "Export" drop down.
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When the dialog first opens, you'll see all of the settings for the video.
Ensure that the "Video Format" is set to "H.264"
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Next, click the "Video Options" button and ensure that "Restrict Profiles to: | x | Main" is checked.
The second option "Encoding Mode" can be set to either setting you prefer.
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Step 4: Audio Settings
Select the drop down that currently says "Video" and choose "Audio" so we can work on the audio settings.
Ensure that the "Audio Format" drop down is set to "AAC-LC (Music)"
Set the "Data Rate" to 80. You may want to experiment with different audio settings. THe higher the Data Rate, the better the quality. The lower the daa rate, the smaller the file size will be, but the quality will also be lower.
Click "OK" to complete the encoding and set up process.
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Step 5
Click the "Save" button to save the file.
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