Re: .MOV compression Question

The short answer is that yes it is possible to satisfy your client.

Here's the much too long answer:

You're really dealing with 3 components in your question. One is frame size, second is clip length and third is compression. We'll divide them up to get an answer.

Frame Size does have an impact on the final size of your file. The larger the frame size, the more information you are storing. A 720p image has a frame size of 1440x720. It is a fairly large frame. But that's actually a small part of the equation.

The second component is file length. Obviously, the longer the content, the greater the file size. You didn't state the length of the clip that you're compressing, but if it's under 5 or 6 minutes, you should be able to achieve your desired final file size and still have reasonable video quality.

The third component is compression format and ratio. The amount of compression that can be accomplished in a frame of video is dependent on many factors including the complexity of the image, the color palette and the amount of motion.

Remember, an MOV file is just a container. It can contain one of many types of compression. Obviously the one you have now isn't very compressed or it's very long. If you create your final file with a more compressed format, say H.264 (the first format I'd try), you can create a compressed version of your content that will fit in the required final file size.

Here's the part you probably won't like. There's really not a "flip a switch" kind of solution. There is necessarily some trial and error. The more you compress a file, the more likely you are to see pixelization and other artifacts. You will have to do some experimentation to find the right trade-off of video and audio quality and file size. You should test different compression codecs to see which one gives you the best results - but be aware of the final destination of your file so that you don't create something your client can't play. And yes, there's a bit of black magic in compression that nobody can explain!

If you're using Final Cut Studio, Compressor can handle this process for you. If you're using an Avid product, you most likely have Sorensen Squeeze on your computer and it can also handle creation of this file.

One more tip: if the content length of your file is long, try compressing a shorter version of it and then multiply the resulting file size by the length of the entire clip. It's not the most accurate process, but it will give you a reasonably reliable answer without wasting a lot of time.