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  • HD

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    • What is HD?

      HD stands for “high definition”, which is the highest quality form of video available today. HD video is richer, clearer, and more life-like than standard TV and even DVDs. It’s a major leap in technology that doesn’t take an expert to appreciate.

    • Is it the same as HDTV?

      HDTV is one of the first major applications of high definition video. Because HD requires so much more data than regular TV, engineers devised a way to broadcast TV signals as compressed digital information rather than directly over analog waves. They defined two video formats for HDTV called 720p and 1080i, which refer to the number of horizontal lines used to produce the image.

    • Is Vimeo HD the same as HDTV?

      Vimeo presents HD in the 720p format, exactly the same resolution (1280×720) used by major broadcast networks like ABC, FOX, and many cable & satellite providers.

    • How can I start watching Vimeo videos in HD right now?

      Visit the Vimeo HD Channel and watch any of the clips in full screen mode, you'll see why HD is amazing.

    • But wait, it can't really be HD… can it?

      Yes! It’s real, true, actual high definition. No tricks! Some other sites (we won’t name names) and even a few major media producers have been offering low resolution video as “HD” just because it’s slightly higher than the quality typically seen on video sharing web sites, hoping you won’t notice. Don’t be fooled, Vimeo HD is true 1280×720, up to 30fps in MP4 media format.

    • Can I upload in HD right now?

      Yes. To take advantage of HD, all you have to do is upload a clip that’s 1280×720 resolution or better. Our servers will make a standard quality version first, then a little later your clip will appear in HD.

    • Can you recommend some encoding settings for HD?

      Yes. Basic account members enjoy a weekly quota of 500MB, so it’s a good idea to compress your video down from phenomenally high quality to just amazingly high quality.

      We recommend using the H.264 codec at size 1280×720, bit rate 3000-5000 kbits/sec (optimized for “download”), key frame every 30 frames (frame reordering on), using whatever frame rate you shot in.

      For sound, use AAC at 128kbps in stereo.

    • Should I deinterlace before I upload?

      It's almost always a good idea. If you're outputting 1080i, deinterlace and resize to 1280×720 before you upload. In many cases if your final outcome is a progressive medium (web, LCD TVs, HD-DVD, etc.) you might be better off deinterlacing before you even start editing.

    • Why is my video only 640×368?

      HD video is so big that it can’t fit in the width of a regular web page, so we show it at half size. To see the whole image, go into full screen mode by clicking the full screen button in the lower right of the player. The native size of Vimeo HD files is 1280×720.

    • What happens when I upload my HDV and AVCHD videos in 1440x1080?

      Vimeo converts all HDV and AVCHD videos shot at 1440x1080 (aspect ratio 1.3333) to its correct and intended playback of 1280x720 (pixel aspect ratio 1.0000). What that means in English, is that 1440x1080 videos are shot in anamorphic (wide) standards instead of 16:9, and previously those videos would appear squished upon conversion to Vimeo. This change will affect anyone uploading their videos in letterbox 1440x1080, so we recommend not to letterbox videos at that aspect ratio.

    • What happens if I upload 1920 x 1080 footage, will Vimeo accept it?

      Vimeo will accept this footage and display it at 1280x720 resolution. However for better image quality we suggest resizing your video to 1280x720 prior to uploading.

    • Can I watch HD in native 1280×720 with no scaling?

      Yes, click the full screen button in the lower right corner of the player, then click the button right above it 'scaling off' to toggle scaling. Your preference will be saved for all HD videos you watch.

    • Do I need any special software to watch HD?

      Nope, all you need is the current version of the Adobe Flash pluggin, which you probably already have. If you're not sure you can check by clicking here: get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

    • Do I need a fast computer for HD?

      We’ve found that most computers made in the last three or four years (running either Mac OS X or Windows) are fast enough to play butter-smooth HD. In some cases, you may realize a major performance gain by quitting unused programs and closing extra browser windows. Our player is designed to degrade the video quality gracefully if it detects that it’s dropping frames.

    • Do I need a fast internet connection for HD videos?

      Most residential cable and DSL connections should be more than adequate. If HD feels slow to load, trying turning off any background downloads or peer-to-peer sharing applications. Or push the play button in the player and then pause to let the video buffer before viewing.

    • Is my monitor capable of showing HD?

      All modern computer monitors are similar in resolution to HD, if not better. Your computer is a sleeping HD beast, Vimeo will rouse it from its slumber.

    • Will Vimeo HD work with my HDTV?

      Absolutely. If you can connect your computer to your HDTV (for example, using an inexpensive DVI to HDMI adapter) Vimeo will look gorgeous in full screen, comparable with broadcast digital TV.

    • My HD video did not convert to an HD version on Vimeo, what should I do?

      Vimeo allows Basic members to upload one HD video per week, so if you upload two HD videos within the same week, only the first will show in HD, the other will appear in SD.

      If an unusual amount of time has passed, and the HD version is still not up, make sure you are using our recommended compression settings and try again. Please be advised that in order to receive the HD treatment, your HD video needs to be greater than 4:3 aspect ratio and at least 1280 pixels wide.

    • I just have a point and shoot pocket camera, can I still upload HD videos?/ Do I need a special camera to upload HD?

      Point and shoot cameras that can take video in 1280x720 resolution are becoming more common these days. Check the specifications on your camera for details.

    • Other sites have HD video and it's free, why should I use Vimeo?

      Because Vimeo is the awesomest!

      These days HD is becoming more and more common. What sets Vimeo apart from all the other sharing services is our amazing features for your videos and our wonderful community. You're not going to find a bunch of TV clips or video ads on Vimeo, but you will find creative videos and friendly people that you won't find anywhere else. Add to that an uncluttered design, tons of privacy options, great embedding features, amazing Channels and Groups for all sorts of interests, and friendly staff members who you can actually communicate with, why not join Vimeo?

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