As you can see from my recent blog posts, I am using a wide variety of online video tools to capture classes, comments and conversation whenever I can. One concern has cropped up recently, though. Most of these services record the video in FLV (Flash Video) format. This means I can embed the videos in my web pages, but I cannot send them out to my podcast subscribers.
As I have mentioned in past, for the largest effect, videos should be available both on a web page and for automatic delivery via podcast. In order to create some podcast ready videos, I figured I would simply convert the FLV videos into MPEG-4 videos and then release them in my podcast feed. Unfortunately, this has proven to be very difficult. Despite trying 5-6 different pieces of software, the closest I have come is a converted video, but no audio. No go!
You can check out some of the conversation about this in my Twitter stream.
I have been talking with a number of people about this issue and some have suggested simply recording everything locally, so I had my own copy of everything I did. While this would work, the additional work would defeat the purpose of easy, ad hoc, recordings like those from Seesmic and uStream. My goal is to use the ad hoc recording tools to capture content that might otherwise be missed and then use that content in as many places as possible. The content has already been recorded, I should be able to use it anywhere.
“The heavy use of FLV formatted video online has started to cause me some concern. I am beginning to feel that my content is being locked into a particular service and format with very little opportunity to re-use it elsewhere.”
The heavy use of FLV formatted video online has started to cause me some concern. I am beginning to feel that my content is being locked into a particular service and format with very little opportunity to re-use it elsewhere. The advantages to using quick, ad hoc, video capture are great, but I wonder what I am losing by using these services.
Got any hints on how to reliably convery FLV videos to MPEG-4? Let me know in the comments! I really need to find an answer.
Man, have I got a deal for you! Check out Ustream a little closer in the broadcast panel for you show. Not only can you convert to any format that virtually every social media site wnats you can do it with a single click! and you can upload it to any listed site, i.e. youtube, facebook, etc. with a single click at the same time. Ustream makes it easy to upload anywhere!! And welcome to Ustream.tv, email support@ustream.tv or ustreamtech@yahoo.com….
Oh and check out Robin’s blog post about some of our latest features!!
http://www.masternewmedia.org/news/2008/01/16/ustream_video_clip_conversion_and.htm
While these are indeed wonderful additions to ustream.tv, it seems that I am caught in a difficult position. The classes I regularly record are 1:15 in length. Conversions to MP4, and syndication to other services require the shows be less than 45 minutes in length, so I can’t use the new services with these shows.
Douglas
Ahh good point in your case, let me tell what we do to get around that. We try to find good drop out points during an event and save it as a series of clips. then you can rename each clip with descriptive title. case in point check out this past weekends Chuck Norris BBQ on ustream. maybe that will work for you..
I’ve been having the same problem with Seesmic — I can’t get the audio decoded properly. Even on Drop.io, after it converts the files (it usually does flv’s just fine), there is just static.
I haven’t been able to find talk of any specific compression method they’re using, but my guess is that making these inaccessible to the usual flash download will help keep the garden walled…
I do hope someone releases a hack.