H.264 encoding for Vimeo

This article describes how to encode videos to be hosted on Vimeo using Windows applications. Vimeo is a video hosting service targeted to filmmakers and video artists. It has the advantage of offering a high picture quality and clear requirements regarding media to be uploaded to the site.

All tests were done to comply with the specifications of the Vimeo site for 4:3 SD material. I used the following workflow:

1. Edit, de-interlace and scale to 640x480 with Adobe Premiere. Export as PhotoJPEG Best Quality to a Quicktime file.
   
2. Transcode to H.264 / AAC with Handbrake or SuperC to a mov,mp4 or avi container.
3. Test with Quicktime Player 7.6 , VideoLAN VLC 0.9.9 and upload to Vimeo

Here are the test results / compatibility matrix:

With Handbrake, I used the Quicktime Preset and changed the Audio options

SuperC is a GUI for ffmpeg and mencoder. The interface can be confusing, and their website certainly brings as much confusion.

Conclusion:

1. VLC seems to be a very good platform to test material before uploading it to Vimeo.
2. Quicktime Player has many issues with H.264/AAC material: the audio is out-of-sync in many cases, images are displayed with incorrect gamma and look slightly washed-out.
3. SuperC is not taking advantage of the 2 cores of my Athlon X2 processor.
   
4. Handbrake is easier to use. The files playback properly with VLC and Vimeo but not with Quicktime Player.