Ask Charly Leetham - Latest Comments

Re: Your Business, You and Credit Card Security

Charly Leetham — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:55:38 -0000

That was my other thought Kathie --- were's the equality for the merchants? I know how many hoops I had to jump through to get my merchant facility and take payments online -- and I'm pretty certain that I wouldn't be able to say "no PIN".... There is something sadly lacking in the whole process.

Re: Your Business, You and Credit Card Security

Kathie — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:39:05 -0000

It's not just the customers who suffer but the merchants too. I had a situation last year when someone was processing stolen credit cards (many of them) on my shopping cart and I had no way of knowing that was the case, till I got chargeback requests several weeks later through the NAB. I was not happy and it seems that the banks do nothing to protect the customer or the merchant. They're basically just in it for themselves. Not happy Jan...

Re: Podcast: Sharing A DropBox Folder

Wendy Moore — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 02:29:35 -0000

Hi Charly,
Very informative, as always. You really do have a knack for explaining things very well.

Thanks so much.
Wendy

Re: What’s The Best Way To Sell Online?

Shirley — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 07:28:32 -0000

Wow Charly, This is an awesome overview of how to start a successful business online and continue to profit even more. I love this. Awesome writing and sharing. Thank you. Warmest Regards Shirley

Re: Using JW Player, WordPress, Amazon S3 & Youtube

Bdpelton — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 01:56:59 -0000

Hi Charly,
Thank you for your response. I did not realize that M4V was the MAC version of MP4. I have switched my procedure since my post. So thank you for that! Yes, the problem was PC people getting a Black Screen.

If I may, I would start with explaining what I was told to do but is now having the effect of getting Video and Audio Playback on Safari, but The Black Screen with Sound Only on FireFox. I still need to check on the sizing as you mentioned for the quality...but Not sure where I do that either. I made my JW Player the custom size you recommended in your Video. So I am doing something wrong there as well.

....This is what I have been doing....By first inserting the DVD into my Mac and loading into Handbrake. I select Video_TS.BUP from the Video Folder.
I now select in the Output Settings Box...MP4 file. I then select the Web Optimized Box.
The Video Codec reads H.264(x264 ( don't know what that is, size?) anyway, Frame Rate says, Same as Source...Video Quality : Constant Quality...

I don't touch any other settings. Then I hit Start....And I get a MP4 on my desktop. I then Upload to Amazon s3...(Following your wonderful instructional video) I add the link dropping the https to http.
The video plays on my Mac...But...at first is sits with 00.00 on counter, then the screen Blinks and the Video Starts...Another issue. But at least I am this far and a Novice at That.
Then I switch to FireFox....and get the Black screen with Sound Only.
So..I am quite frustrated.
You are the only source I have found that knows what you are doing. Really, don't laugh...You are my HERO!
So any advise on this is greatly appreciated.

Warmest Regards,
Bev Pelton
California

Re: Using JW Player, WordPress, Amazon S3 & Youtube

Charly Leetham — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 19:16:42 -0000

Hi Bev,

M4V is the MAC version of a MP4. You could literally upload the M4V files and link to those.

If you've run the M4V's through Quicktime and some people are reporting a blackscreen, I'm going to assume the following:
1. You're using a MAC and have some QT plugins installed
2. Those that are reporting problems are likely using a PC.

I've had this problem a lot when I receive videos created from video production houses where they use HD plugins. Being a PC user, I can't use these files because they aren't transportable. Very, very frustrating.

When you transferred from M4V to MP4 using Quicktime, did you use Export For Web?

When you say the playback is terrible, is that on your computer or after you upload it and display it on your site?

If it's after putting it on your site, you've likely uploaded a larger size video and trying to resize it in the player. You are best served exporting the Video to the size you want to display on your site and trying that.

HTH

Re: Using JW Player, WordPress, Amazon S3 & Youtube

Bdpelton — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:53:42 -0000

Hello Charly,
I am new to adding video to Wordpress. A friend asked me to create a website where she can promote film festival shorts. I decided to go with Amazon s3 , and the JWPlayer. I followed your tutorials to a T...But, there are some issues...
Since I have to transfer the films from a DVD, I use Handbrake. I checked the recommended settings to do so. Now, Handbrake creates a M4V...of the disc. Is this the Format I should be using? I transfered the M4V using Quicktime to get an MP4...but the quality on Playback is Horrible. Is there a better way to transfer a disc to the format that works best with Amazon? Also, I can see the Playback just fine, but others are getting Sound only with a Black screen. I know I am doing something very wrong here. So your help is much needed for a very 'Green Gal' in the States! I am proud that I got this far though.
Thanks,
Bev Pelton
California USA

Re: Podcast: Sharing A DropBox Folder

Nicola — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 01:38:31 -0000

Hi Charly!
Thanks for sharing this info :)
Your instructions were super easy to understand.
Thanks.

Re: Podcast: Sharing A DropBox Folder

Shirley — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:33:27 -0000

Hi Charly, I love this idea. Haven't heard of it before so will definitely be looking into it. Thank you. Warmest Regards Shirley

Re: Using JW Player, WordPress, Amazon S3 & Youtube

Hoangthachit — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 14:04:12 -0000

i can't do nothing ? please help...
http://phim.vinagiaitri.net

Re: Using JW Player, WordPress, Amazon S3 & Youtube

Ratanak — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 01:14:55 -0000

It seems so great to watch your tutorial but how can I do a playlist with Jw plugin. I am just new in designing a video blog and I hope that you can guide me more. I think that using Jw plugin is so easy but I don't know how to do it well.

Thank, Charly !

Re: Using JW Player, WordPress, Amazon S3 & Youtube

Keala Kanae — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 05:42:38 -0000

If you're trying to convert to MP4, you can upload to youtube and then download it as an MP4. Let YouTube do the hard work.

Re: Using JW Player, WordPress, Amazon S3 & Youtube

Keala Kanae — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 05:40:48 -0000

This has been extremely helpful. Thank you, Charly.

Re: Using JW Player, WordPress, Amazon S3 & Youtube

Charly Leetham — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 03:54:54 -0000

Hi Elena,
It really depends on what you're using to convert the video. I've had issues with AVS, and some Quicktime encoded videos because of the encoding used.

The link you provided is invalid.

If you can tell me how big the video is - the filesize - and what you're using to encode the video, that will help.

Cheers,
Charly.

Re: Using JW Player, WordPress, Amazon S3 & Youtube

Charly Leetham — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 03:32:35 -0000

Hi amediaguy,
Sorry for the delay in responding, it's been a pretty hectic time.
I use a mix of products. Mostly I use Camtasia and select "produce for WEB".

I've had trouble with using Quicktime encoded videos if they use extensions specifically for MAC's only.... the video just stays black.

If you can give me some details on what you're using and the settings, I'll do my best to help.

Re: Using JW Player, WordPress, Amazon S3 & Youtube

Elena — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 01:00:12 -0000

Hi, Charly! Thanks for your help and nice tools!!! But my video in a jwplayer is black loading for 1 hours and still nothing. What can be an a problem? I m using PC--Can you explaine what to do..
Here is the link https://s3.amazonaws.com/turbo...
B.r Elena

Re: Using JW Player, WordPress, Amazon S3 & Youtube

Isaac — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 08:13:46 -0000

I was dealing with the same problem with slow loading videos. Thank you very much for the advice. I found this very helpful! I did a test and my video loads much faster after encoding it with handbrake! I was just wondering if you actually set your bitrate in handbrake to 200 for video? Or just use one of their preset options? In other words, how do you know what your users will use?

My other question I would like to figure out is how do you get your videos to be a managable size to fit in Wordpress but then have the options to have them click on the maximize button and view it larger?

Here's what I'm currently doing. Recording with HD camera, inserting my AVCHD clips into preimer elements 9, then edit and encode to H.246 640X480 then reencoding again with handbrake with a preset normal option and weboptimizer. Then load up to Amazon S3 as Charly's video tutorials show. I also use the JW player.

I like how fast they load now (I have DSL) but I would like the videos to be able to be maximzed like you can on Charly's site. Nice and small but option for viewer to maximize. Maybe you know Charly?

Also eventually I would like to just edit and then encode once. Do you know of any program that can do that with AVCHD?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Isaac

PS Loretta what is your site? I'm curious to see how your videos look and stream.

Re: Using JW Player, WordPress, Amazon S3 & Youtube

Niiki — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 04:21:26 -0000

Thanks Loretta. Like you, I've learned far more than I wanted to in this regard. I'd just about gotten it working but your tip on the moov atom saved me many more hours of work!

Re: Podcast: Removing & Modifying Commissions With iDevAffiliate

Wendy Moore — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:55:11 -0000

Fabulously helpful video Charly. I was able to easily edit one of my affiliate commission $ amounts easily by watching the video and following the steps. Thank you!

Re: Using JW Player, WordPress, Amazon S3 & Youtube

amediaguy — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 18:25:18 -0000

Charly, what do you use to encode your mp4 for use with JWPlayer. The player will only play sound and it stays black

Re: Using JW Player, WordPress, Amazon S3 & Youtube

James Reeves — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:50:13 -0000

Thanks for the video tutorial Charly. That's just what I was looking for. I don't know why it was so hard to find this info. You made it easier to find this info than the developer did. Keep up the good work.

James Reeves

Re: Using JW Player, WordPress, Amazon S3 & Youtube

Loretta — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:54:34 -0000

GOT IT! I worked on this day and night for DAYS. Here's the deal. People have to encode their MP4 videos so that their combined bitrate for audio and video does NOT exceed their viewers' internet connection speed. So, let's say your user of the lowest internet connection has a connection of 256 kbps. You need to encode video around 200 and audio around 56 each for the bitrate settings.

NEXT and most importantly, this thing called the "moov atom" has to go the FRONT of the video instead of the back - where it makes the video fully load before playing. Moov atom is some indexing thing for the video. Normally it's at the end, but must go at the beginning in order to "stream" the video. Some people use QTindexSwapper free software, but if you use Handbrake, just checkmark the "web optimized" box to do this.

Flash is becoming obsolete - because it does not play on many mobile devices, whereas mp4 formats play on almost anything.

www.handbrake.fr has FREE video encoding software for both Mac AND PC. It's awesome and user-freindly. Also lets you burn/copy your DVD's, etc., nicely.

I hope this helps everyone who may ask you similar questions! I now have NO problems with my videos on JW Player and Amazon S3 and I don't even use Cloudfront to optimize speed - although you could use that with A S3, to make video delivery even faster.

Whew! I really learned far more than I wanted to!

-Loretta

Re: Using JW Player, WordPress, Amazon S3 & Youtube

Charly Leetham — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:26:46 -0000

Hi Thomas, I thought I had responded to your question but obviously not! In general, most video players will co-exist with each other but you do need to check it out.

I've used JW Player with two or three other plugins and haven't had any issues.

Re: Using JW Player, WordPress, Amazon S3 & Youtube

Charly Leetham — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:24:29 -0000

Hi Jesse - glad it helped. I know exactly waht you mean by the nudge in the right direction.

Re: Using JW Player, WordPress, Amazon S3 & Youtube

Charly Leetham — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:23:20 -0000

Hi Loretta! Thank you for kudo's.

Yeah, encoding videos is normally the issue. I've spent hours reviewing issues for some of my clients.

I'm assuming that your video player shows the swirly thing that indicates that the video will start playing? But it just shows the black screen - and if you wait long enough, it will eventually play.

I'm not familiar with Handbrake - and only use a PC.

Perhaps you could share a link to a video that isn't working and we can take a look?
And hopefully, MAC Users who also use Handbrake will chime in too!