Choosing an Encoding Mode in Camtasia Studio 8

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If you have been through the custom production settings in Camtasia Studio, you have probably come across this and wondered what it really meant for your video:

Video Settings Tab

I wondered the same thing, so I went straight to Camtasia Studio Lead Developer, Dave O’Rourke. He broke it down like this:

The Quality-based encoding mode allows you to leave the default at 50% and you should be fine for all video dimensions. The defaults we’ve chosen (at 50% quality) are what we felt was the lowest we could go without noticing a drop in quality. This is subjective. So if users want a higher quality, they can adjust up. If they want to try for a smaller file, they can adjust down.

Seems simple enough, but he also went on to note that using the ‘Quality’ encoding mode will produce a Variable Bit Rate video file. OK Dave, next round of explaining:

VBR should produce a smaller file with better quality, as compared to (its counterpart) Constant Bit Rate. The difference is that VBR allows the bitrate to vary over time, as needed, using more/less bits when the content is more/less complex. By contrast, CBR is more of a one-size-fits-all kind of solution.

Still mixed up? Want to know how to produce a CBR instead? I attempt to explain things further in this short video walk-through:

Can’t see the video? Watch it on YouTube!

  • Ronnied@mweb.co.za

    Hi Josh Please help me (although I know I am just stupid!) I have two questions:
    1.I produce videos for training, but the MP4 file is huge (on a Corporate newtwork). I see there is also a SWF file. Is that a shockwave file, and will it run the video – if a person has ShockWave loaded?
    2.If I have produced a video, how do I go back and correct minor things that I have noticed AFTER I have produced it (eg there is a one third box at the bottom of a screen shot which is not nicely lined up and I want to correct this.
    Thanks in advance!
    Ronnie denton
    ronnied@mweb.co.za

    • Josh Holnagel

      Glad to help!

      1. Getting the right MP4 size is key. The SWF file that you are likely seeing is just the Flash controller (the file that includes the play button, replay button, etc.). That file will not play the video unless the actual video file video – the MP4 – is also included. To reduce the MP4, try adjusting the Quality slider to the left and see how far you can go while maintaining acceptable results. The other variable you might take a look at is your actual video/editing dimensions. The smaller you can make these, the smaller your end MP4 will be.
      2. If you need to make changes to a video that you have already produced, you will need to open the .camproj again. Make the necessary changes and save as an updated .camproj – usually with an updated file name as well. Then, produce your updated .camproj to a separate folder.

      Hope that helps.

    • jholnagel

      Glad to help!

      1. Getting the right MP4 size is key. The SWF file that you are
      likely seeing is just the Flash controller (the file that includes the play
      button, replay button, etc.). That file will not play the video unless the
      actual video file video – the MP4 – is also included. To reduce the MP4, try
      adjusting the Quality slider to the left and see how far you can go while
      maintaining acceptable results. The other variable you might take a look at is
      your actual video/editing dimensions. The smaller you can make these, the
      smaller your end MP4 will be.

      2. If you need to make changes to a video that you have already produced, you
      will need to open the .camproj again. Make the necessary changes and save as an
      updated .camproj – usually with an updated file name as well. Then, produce
      your updated .camproj to a separate folder.

      Hope that helps.

  • Daniel Muse

    I have tried to use the constant bitrate mode and I have moved the Slider all theway to the right (20000). When I upload my video to vimeo it says the bitrate is much lower (around 2500) and it is never constant (fluctuates between 2500 and 2900). Any idea what is going on? Thank you in advance for your response.

  • james corn

    HI josh.i m glad to come across your tips.Thanks so much

  • funnybeep

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