[Home] to paraglide.net [SD Log] [Amigo] [Activity] [Photo] [Comments] [Incidents] [Weather] [SBSA] [SCPA]

Vimeo / Download vs Streaming
Updated 8/2015

Web Streaming a high resolution / high frame rate video over a slower internet can result in stuttering.  The Vimeo Player does offer "SD" playback, but if stuttering is an issue a better option is to simply download the video file rather than streaming via the web player.

In Vimeo's Web Player a Solid Blue HD Button indicates you are in "HD" (High Definition / 720P or 1080P)
Note: the HD button status indicates the current state, not the "Toggle To" target state
A Grayish HD Button indicates you are in "SD" (Standard Definition / 480P or lower)
If HD is available, TOGGLE by clicking on the HD Button / Recommend Full Screen (Button to the right of the HD Button)

When using Vimeo's player, the actual  viewing resolution is a bit ambiguous compared to YouTube and sites like Lynda.com.  In Vimeo Player a Solid Blue HD Button indicates you are in HD, but that can be either 720P or 1080P.  The definition of HD for each video is determined by the owner, and as of 2015, there isn't an easy obvious and intuitive method for the end viewer to determine what resolution is actually playing.  I generally configure my uploads as Full 1080P HD if the source material is adequate.
[additional discussion on the Vimeo Player resolution ambiguity]

For smooth playback on slow internet, I recommend downloading rather than streaming. Click on Download Link below the Vimeo Player
and select the highest resolution available, but not the original source file unless you want to edit the work.

If you download the file, it should route via TCP (Transmission Control Protocol, an exact copy of the file) compared to UDP (a streaming protocol used by the "Player" that might have lost frames). UDP is used for streaming to a web player. Downloading will use TCP.
You are welcome to download the original file, but the difference in quality between Vimeo's compressed version and the original file is usually minimal. The original file is larger than optimal to minimize cascading successive compression degradation when uploading to Vimeo.  Vimeo will do a 2nd compression to achieve an acceptable bitrate for streaming web delivery via their player in real time, so the uploaded original file's bitrate and corresponding size is larger than the optimal balance between compression and quality because there will be a 2nd compression by Vimeo (or YouTube or any site that streams video via the web).  If you download the file, it does not need to be delivered in real time, so if there is transmission hiccup you won't drop the frames.

YouTube may arguably have a more intuitive web player, but YouTube doesn't permit downloading files, it only supports streaming.  You can capture the streaming file with programs like http://keepvid.com.  YouTube is philosophically different than Vimeo.  Vimeo is a paid service.  They do offer free accounts, but you really need a "Plus" or "Pro" account (I have a Plus account).  Vimeo promotes the "art" of video and encourages sharing actual footage.  YouTube (owned by Google) is advertisement driven, which arguably will generate more revenue which may lead to enhanced site development, but the focus is on volume and digital copyright.  Due too high volume driven by an advertisement and promotional objective, YouTube isn't providing a "storage" solution, whereas Vimeo makes it easy to "download" various versions of the video, including the "original" uploaded version (if the owner permits).

When testing on various browsers, high bitrate streaming had quite a bit of stuttering on IE9, but it played smooth on Chrome, so... ?.  I still use IE8 and 9 because they are compatibly with the functionality on some older websites, but for general browsing I'm currently using Chrome and occasionally Firebox.