Mp4/mpeg-4

I'm trying to convert some avi and wmv files into the MPEG4/MP4 video file format. I just have a quick question about what bit rate people would recommend. It's going to be going on an iPhone 3GS eventually. My choices are:

1) MPEG4-H.264 256 kbps
2) MPEG4-H.264 512 kbps
3) MPEG4-H.264 1024 kbps
4) MPEG4-H.264 2048 kbps

I would like high quality. I have 20 or so GBs remaining so space isn't a huge issue but I want to be practical.

Thanks for all the help.

 

1024 is decent enough for that codec, you're not going to notice too many blocks on such a small screen anyway, but 512 is a bit too low unless you downscale the video to whatever the native resolution is of the iPhone's screen is (I don't remember).

You could probably go 800~900 if you want to try.

 

Thanks for the fast reply. I was trying to google it to see what iTunes uses for its movies but no such luck.

 

Something between 768kbps and 1.5Mbps will suffice using h.264 codec. I usually use handbrake and set it to 2pass/768kbps and it's very good quality (imo).

 

I usually use crf 20 in handbrake.

 

What's high quality on a 3" screen?

 

As high a quality of picture that someone could theoretically get on said screen.

I know it's not going to be Bluray quality nor will it even be DVD.

I'd just like to be able to appreciate the picture and actually be able to see it clearly on my iPhone...

Anyways it's a moot point since I can't seem to find a working program that will help me accomplish what I want to do.

 

Try AVI DeMux. It has some apple profiles. And its free. Also the best quality is constant quant., not constant bitrate. An added benefit of constant Q is it only needs one pass.

 

You might also consider Handbrake

 

yeah, handbrake is the way to go.