Compression for output can be the trickiest step and requires the most trial and error to preserve the delicate balance between quality and performance. ΓÇ£But I already compressed my video when I captured it.ΓÇ¥ Correct. But for your video to play without special hardware assistance, the final clip must be compressed again with a compressor/decompressor algorithm (ΓÇ£codecΓÇ¥). Many are available and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. At this point, you also have to decide the format in which to save your video. Many formats and codecs are available within Premiere, and the manual offers more in-depth direction for both decisions. Experimentation is definitely the order of the day. As a starting point, I recommend using either AVI or QuickTime for Windows file formats, and either the Cinepak or Indeo compression codecs.
Beyond this, youΓÇÖll also want to constrain the playback data rate when you output your final video. Why? Consider the aforementioned 27MB/sec data rate of raw video. Depending on its speed, a CD-ROM drive can pump out between 90K/sec and 900K/sec (which is a real world fraction of its theoretical potential). For playback on single-speed drives (remember them? Some of your potential audience might still own one), the data rate should be no more than 90K/sec. For 2x drives, set the data rate option in your editor between 150K/sec and 200K/sec, and for 4x drives, use 300K/sec to 450K/sec. For 6x drives, try 450K to 600K, and 600K to 900K for 8x drives.
