YouTube Stereo Test G Bug Video remake (see vid details)

[new notes]
This video was specially encoded as an FLV file to trick YouTube's old upload system and avoid re-coding into mono.

Now (as of about Nov, 2007) stereo versions are automatic and one only has to upload a normal stereo video, from which YT makes 3 versions:

1)Standard Quality [LowRes video/mono]
2)HQ video [with mono audio]
3)HQ stereo [medium quality video]

Some users need to add &fmt=18 to the video URL to playback the HQ stereo version. Others get it automatically when they click the "Watch in High Quality" link below the video window, and still others get HQ playback by default by selecting it in their YT setup menus.

Using the &fmt=18 URL modifier with specially-encoded videos like this one, or videos older than about Nov. 2007 can act as a toggle, resulting in playback of a basic mono version.

Some of YouTube's conversion and playback functions are still rather mysterious/not entirely predictable, and only the YT programmers really know for sure what conversions happen and how to access them all!

[original text]
This remake of I0abUh1utY8 features decent stereo audio although the video quality suffers a little. I encoded and uploaded it a bunch of times to finally find the magic threshhold. Here's how: Download the freeware RIVA FLV encoder, (NOTE: RIVA doesn't like WMV ver9 so save your Windows Movie Maker video as "DV-AVI" or use another app which can save in AVI, MPG, or WMV format 8 or ealier), then encode using these RIVA settings: Movie size=320x240, framerate=30, bitrate=230 (type it in the box), de-interlace box checked. Audio: bitrate=80, sample rate=22050Hz, Stereo button clicked. I left all the other settings at their default.

Then upload the resulting .FLV file (WAY faster than sending the original AVI or other large-format file!) For quality comparison, see this YouTube re-encoded version of the same video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0abUh1utY8

The YouTube-re-coded mono version is better quality all around, it's just not stereo. Other encoders may work, using the same (or similar) settings as shown above. It's also possible that these RIVA settings might result in a bitrate that YouTube re-codes anyway if your video is really complex, but they worked for me using several test videos. If YouTube makes your upload mono, back the video bitrate down to 225 and try again. You can make your test uploads private so your subscribers don't get hit with all your test uploads. Good luck! :-)

Soundtracks available on CD at JCMDI.COM

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• stereo
• test
• upload
• youtube
• bug
• video
• jcmdi
• technician
• lepidoptera
• caterpillar
• insect
• flv
• file
• encode
• mono
• sound
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• jcmdi.com
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• clarita
• JCMDI
• small critters
• wildlife
• nature
• pet videos

[miracleK7]

Anyone who used the flv stereo trick like I did are now getting screwed :S I've recently lost stereo on a few of my videos, just like this one. Video quality has degraded too. To make matters worse, many older videos that were uploaded normally are now being converted to stereo by default! LOL Guess that taught me not try and get clever with youtube! XD

[jcmegabyte]

Well, at least it was cool at the time. I get the feeling the YT highly trained monkeys (as they jokingly refer to themselves sometimes) are continuously working to improve the quality. Playback has been pretty inconsistant lately but I have to say that overall I'm VERY happy with the changes- especially the HD stuff. Yea, the old stuff may be pooped now, but worst case you just re-make your vids and send up the new version. That way, I get to fix some of my old mistakes too! :-)

[miracleK7]

Yeah, i'm happy with most of the changes too. i might remake some of those videos again, if i get the time, but i would have to start from scratch. or maybe those YT monkeys might decide to convert them back to decent quality in the future.

[jcmegabyte]

I'm definitely leaving my old vids online. Like you say, chances are good they will continue to retro-actively improve the playback quality of them. Besides, I'd rather not lose the aggregate view count and comments.

Fortunately for me, I kept the original hi-quality finished vids as master copies, and WMM timelines w/original clips intact after I generated the LQ FLV stereo versions, so re-make and/or re-upload is a no problem. Sure takes lots of space to store all that footage tho!

[djthproductions]

I don't get it (watch/listen to my test video). When I play it back I only hear mono sound without the switch (with I hear it in stereo). I upload WMV files 2.1 MBps. Does I do something wrong here?

[jcmegabyte]

The reason I get stereo by default on this video is that it was specially encoded at a low bitrate to avoid YouTube upload conversion - that's why the audio and video quality are so poor.

The way you are doing it now is much better quality, and all you have to do is provide your viewers with the link and &fmt=18 switch for them to get the stereo.

If you want to encode your own .FLV files, the info is in the details of this video. :D

[jcmegabyte]

This vid was encoded in RIVA low bitrate .FLV format to "trick" the old YT U/L system to avoid re-encoding into mono. (See vid details)

Stereo is automatic now: just upload any stereo vid. YT makes at least 3 versions of it; 1)standard quality mono, 2)HQ video mono, and 3)HQ video/stereo. Which one you see depends on your playback and bandwidth settings (in your YT menus) and the &fmt=18 modifyer. Some users (like me) must add &fmt=18 to get the stereo version every time. :D

[GasMedia]

Thank you My friend Im sub you ..)

[StreetCam]

WHAT? This audio is clearly in stereo as is. But when I add &fmt=18 to the video ID like you suggest to it becomes mono for me. This seems to be the exact opposite of what you say should happen in your latest post. How do you explain this?