Summary:
The Flix Pro 8.5 interface is clean and supports both a simple, preset-based workflow and a deeper, highly customizable workflow with several unique features. It’s also a good deal.
Target Apps
Internet video, mobile video
What It Costs You
Flix Pro 8.5, $249; Flix Exporter 8, $199; Flix Standard 8, $39
What's Cool
The resulting video is the best you can do in Flash. The file sizes for the new codec can be 30 percent less than in previous codecs.
What's Missing
This is a rapidly developing product line on the cutting edge and new versions seem to come out regularly. A couple of the ones I tried had minor bugs (which were quickly fixed).
SPECS
PC: Pentium II 233 MHz, Pentium 4 1.5 GHz or faster, Windows 98/ME/2000/XP (32-bit only); Mac: PowerPC G4 or later; Intel processors supported on Flix Exporter but not on Flix Pro or Flix Standard; OS X 10.3.x, 10.4.x
The innovators at On2 have been leading the pack in the development of Internet video codecs for years. Flix Pro 8 is an encoding environment that gives the user access to advanced video codecs for converting video files into Adobe Flash compatible FLV and SWF files. The primary use for Flash video is the Web, but it is increasingly used for other digital media applications (cell phones, iPods, etc.). The quality of the video made with Flix Pro 8 is significantly better than what you can get out of the Flash application alone.
While the latest version Flix Pro 8.5 includes the older Flash MX codec (also developed by On2), which is compatible with the Flash 6 Player that’s still on many computers, the real excitement is the VP6 codec. At higher broadband bandwidths, high-quality, large (up to full screen) VP6 encoded video can be delivered to most computers. At lower bandwidths, surprisingly good images at small and medium sizes can be delivered. Because of this, VP6 is gradually replacing MX as the go-to codec for Internet video ads.
VP6 encoded video requires the Flash 7 player installed on the Web browser for viewing. Compatibility is not really a problem, since most computers out there already have the Flash 7 Player installed. (The leading-edge among you, I realize, have already downloaded the Flash 9 Player.) Most Web sites that use Flash are programmed to detect the presence or absence of the Flash 7 player and guide the user into a quick, free upgrade, if needed.
Interface and Features
The Flix Pro 8.5 interface is clean and supports both a simple, preset-based workflow and a deeper, highly customizable workflow with several unique features. Taking the simple route is a matter of selecting a source file, a destination folder and an encoding preset, and then clicking the "encode" button. Presets are available for Flash 8 SWF and FLV Video; Flash MX SWF and FLV Video; Flash 3+ SWF Video; Vector SWF Video; and Audio Only SWF and FLV. Each group of presets has a range of bandwidth settings, from very low (dial-up) to very high (CD). The batch processor function is critical, as large files can take a long time to crunch. There are advanced controls for video functions, including cropping and simple editing, that are also essential when preparing videos for encoding.
There are filters for deinterlacing, noise reduction, brightness, contrast, hue and saturation. Other features include fine controls for data rate, streaming parameters and precise two-pass controls. An alpha channel encoding function lets you deliver partially transparent video images to a Web page.
Not ready to shell out $249? Flix Exporter 8 for Flash, a plug-in version, works with apps that accept QuickTime plug-ins, such as Final Cut Pro, Apple Compressor and Adobe After Effects. It lacks some of the advanced controls of the stand-alone application, however. A cheaper stand-alone version is Flix Standard 8, again with fewer features than the full version.
Comments (6) for "On2 Flix Pro 8.5"
1.
The author seems to be very confused about Flash video. As far as I know, Flash Players 6 and 7 used the Spark codec developed by Sorenson Media. On2's VP6 codec didn't take its place until Flash 8. This article has several errors about this history and I feel that this is critical information for people making decisions about video formats. One should not take Adobe's player penetration stats without a grain of salt and believe that "everyone" has the latest Flash installed. If you're trying to reach the broadest possible audience, it's wise to use older codecs (whenever feasible). I feel that these are not trivial details and am disappointed to see such errors in your publication.
Posted by Gerry Spears on Saturday, March 17, 2007 @ 09:34 PM
2.
"it's wise to use older codecs (whenever feasible)."
No way, YouTube and MySpace has the largest
Flash Video Playback base, period. There both Flash 9.
Posted by John Fellers on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 @ 06:58 PM
3.
Adobe Flash 8 and 9 use On2 Vp6 - it's the default codec in Adobe Flash and is also the codec in Flash Lite 3 - distributed to millions of handsets .. . Sorenson, Not. On2 Yes.
Posted by bILLY on Friday, December 28, 2007 @ 02:58 PM
4.
want to purchase on2 Flix pro 8.5 in India.Any contact number in India
Posted by sanjeev sharma on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 @ 04:14 AM
5.
Yes, Flash video is everywhere and virtually every machine has it installed. The "default" codec is Sorenson - not On2. To reach a broader audience you should use Sorenson H.263 codec which is the codec Flash 7 uses. YouTube uses Flash 7.
Flash 9 uses H.264.
A list of possible converters to Flash:
http://blue-pacific.com/products/turbinevideo/
http://www.swishzone.com/index.php?area=products&product=video
Posted by Fernandes on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 @ 05:20 AM
6.
On2 Flix Pro is the only program (except for adobe) that I've encountered so far that can handle _all_ of my files - all of the other programs that I've tried out have trouble with either error detection or cannot handle cropping/time cut functions.
Any reasons why I shouldn't be adopting this software in my organisation?
Posted by Rafe on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 @ 04:36 PM
Comments (6) for "On2 Flix Pro 8.5"
