However, if you want to upload your video in the best possible quality, you should avoid quality-reducing encoding altogether.

No matter how you upload your video, Youtube will never say “Oh, that’s a great codec, I’ll keep that”. Because Youtube will always compress your video down as much as possible, so that it uses less memory in the data center and generates less traffic when you watch it.

But wait: Youtube itself says that you should upload all files in H.264 and MP4 format? Yes, exactly, because Youtube doesn’t see the point in accepting thousands of billions of cat videos in lossless format every day. That would cost Youtube a lot of money.

Fact is, it makes absolutely no sense to compress your video before uploading it. Youtube will do it again anyway and any compression process done in series will result in lower quality.

If there is a reason to compress before uploading, it is to shorten the upload time. If you have enough time, you should rather upload a video in HQ422 or ProRes or DNxHR that corresponds to the source in favor of the quality. Youtube can handle it – without problems and quality loss.

Therefore, do not change the bitrate, resolution or codec. Youtube will do what it wants with it later anyway.

Attention: If you upload videos with a higher resolution than 1080p, Youtube will automatically switch to the VP9 codec for all versions of the video, including 1080p. With this VP9 codec, better results are achieved for all resolutions. Therefore, it even makes sense to upscale 1080p video to 4K first and then upload it.

Der Beitrag The Youtube H.264 / mp4 lie. Forget the export madness! erschien zuerst auf Pixelfriedhof.

First row: Equalizer 75Hz, 150Hz and High Frequency Boost

The first row of functions controls the equalizer. Depending on the setting, various interfering frequencies are already filtered out during recording, or the highs are recorded more clearly with the help of the High Frequency Boost.

With the 75Hz high-pass filter, all frequencies below 75Hz are excluded. This is practical for filtering out noise from traffic, wind or air conditioning systems, etc.

The 150Hz high-pass filter cuts out all frequencies below 150Hz. In short, I use it when the 75Hz is not enough.

Alternatively, both equalizers can be switched off and thus the complete frequency spectrum is recorded.

The High Frequency Boost controls the recording of the treble more strongly, improves its clarity. This makes sense, for example, when I record with the microphone guard or a dead-cat. Otherwise, these recordings can come across as a bit muffled, because the highs would simply be missing.

The High Frequency Boost can be added to any equalizer setting or used even when the equalizer is deactivated.

Second row: recording level modes -20db, safety channel and peak warning LED

These two settings and the warning light are useful for very noisy environments.

The “-20db” setting is also called “Pad”. When enabled, it attenuates the input signal by -20db. Great for recording in very noisy environments.

When we are recording in environments where there are wildly varying volumes, it makes sense not to commit to an attenuation. In “safety channel” mode, the microphone records one of the stereo tracks normally, and then records a second track with the -20db attenuation. In post-production we can then decide which of the tracks to use.

The third LED “Peak Warning” is not related to any function, but only signals when the recording is too loud, the audio signal “clips”. In this case we have to reduce the gain.

Der Beitrag Røde VideoMic NTG – All modes and button functions erschien zuerst auf Pixelfriedhof.

Anyone who moves even slightly in space during a video recording or changes the angle to the camera filming will notice that the quality of the voice recording suffers from any movement. In order to compensate for this, a lot of effort is required when editing the video or already during shooting.

For many of my video recordings I use a gimbal for Smartphone or DSLR. It enables me to have smooth camera movements and the flexible movement of the camera in space. Videos become so much more alive and realistic. The eye of the viewer does not get tired so quickly.

At some point I just got fed up with varying volume levels or a changing sound image just because I wasn’t standing in one place during a video recording, or the camera moved slightly around me.

First attempt: separate audio recording with audio recorder

The first alleviation of these symptoms was achieved by no longer using the audio track of the moving camera, but by recording the audio track with a recorder positioned firmly in the room. For this I used the digital recorder Zoom H2n (Amazon Affiliate Link). The Japanese manufacturer “Zoom” builds excellent components in the audio field. The devices convince by their functionality and a perfect operability via the clearly arranged user interface.

Special offer

ZOOM H2n Handy Recorder – Tragbarer Digitalrekorder mit 5 Mikrofonen und Surround-Sound – Ideal für Musik, Interviews,...*

• Square and rectangular shapes maximize spaceefficiency
• Exotisches Design

−40,64 EUR 114,28 EUR

Amazon

This meant that the impairment of the audio quality caused by the movement of the camera in the room was already a thing of the past, but the result was not yet perfect:
Volume fluctuations due to my own movement in the room I still could not prevent. In addition, the recorder sometimes recorded unwanted ambient noise and produced too loud a noise.

Voice recording via clip-on microphone on the lapel

When it comes to the quality of audio recording, there is one rule: “Closer is better”. So I started looking for a suitable microphone to attach to my clothes or lapel. Such “clip-on microphones” are predestined for recording speech. The microphone moves with me in the room, always has the same distance to my mouth, even if I move or turn away from the camera. This is what I was looking for.

The prices for these microphones go up to thousands of Euros for applications in television and sports. I did not want to spend that much. I wanted to spend a maximum of 100€ for one microphone.

I ordered almost 10 microphones on the Internet and finally found one for 25€ (yes, really no joke).

Boya by-M1 Omnidirektionales Kondensator-Mikrofon, 6 m Audiokabel, für Digitalkameras, Videokameras, Smartphones, Schwarz*

• Super Sound für Präsentationen und Video-Aufzeichnung.
• Clip on Mikrofon Design für Smartphones, DSLR, Camcorder, etc.

Amazon

My favorite became the 25€ lavalier microphone BY-M1 from BOYA (Amazon Affiliate Link), which I bought at that time under the brand name “Tonor”.

I discreetly attach the microphone to my shirt collar, connect it to the audio input of the Zoom H2n digital recorder and put the latter in the back pocket of my jeans. Not only does it look professional like TV, but it also produces a surprisingly good and interference-free sound. The recording can begin.

Those who want to do without the use of a digital recorder can of course also plug the BY-M1 from BOYA (Amazon Affiliate Link) directly into the audio input of the camera, even if the freedom of movement is then of course somewhat limited by the cable connection.

You can also get an impression of the microphone and the problems described above in the following video:

Ihre Daten werden erst beim Abspielen des Youtube-Videos an den Dienst übermittelt. Your data will only be transmitted to the service when you play the Youtube video.

All the links in this text are Amazon Affiliate Links, and by clicking on an affiliate link I will earn a percentage of your subsequent Amazon purchases. However, this circumstance does not influence the background of my product recommendation. This product recommendation is independent, honest and sincere. 

Bei allen genannten Links handelt es sich um Amazon-Affiliate-Links. Durch einen Klick auf einen Affiliate-Link werde ich prozentual an Euren darauf folgenden Amazon-Einkäufen beteiligt. Dieser Umstand beeinflusst aber nicht die Hintergründe meiner Produktempfehlung. Diese Produktempfehlung erfolgt unabhängig, ehrlich und aufrichtig.

Der Beitrag An affordable clip-on microphone for good video sound on the DSLR erschien zuerst auf Pixelfriedhof.