Hello all! This may be a long post, but may hopefully attract some pretty informative answers from some really intelligent people 
It's been only a month and a half since I've started taking video making on a bit more serious level and I've been learning a TON, largely due to your guys' help and an obscene amount of internet google adventures.
My current goals are to try and make my videos play as crystal clear as possible on youtube. So if you guys wouldn't mind answering what you guys do for the settings/situations I'm about to list and why you do them, I would be supremely grateful.
Youtube Compression
I notice that when watching videos in 720p on youtube, the quality does not match the local playback quality that my computer has. I'm guessing the obvious reason is that Youtube probably compresses videos as they are uploaded (I'm assuming in not the most efficient way). I'm not entirely sure but I'm guessing that the larger the file is on my HDD, the more noticeable the compression from youtube would be? Does anyone know anything more about this? Such as bitrate per second playback thresholds for each resolution on youtube?
If that is true, do you think it makes sense to use a compression program that compresses things in a bit more efficient way than what youtube does, in an attempt to minimize the amount that youtube has to compress the video? (And there is of course the benefit of less HDD space being taken up in the long run).
Handbrake (Version 0.9.8)
Which leads me to Handbrake. Does anyone have experience with this program and perhaps some recommended settings? The current release is 0.9.8, and I couldn't find any previous versions to download, so I'll just talk about .9.8 settings.
My first question regarding handbrake is the "Anamorphic" Settings (Strict, Loose, None). Does anyone make any use of this setting? And perhaps have a paraphrased explanation? From my little knowledge on the subject, it appears it is a way to scale an image without losing quality? I'm not quite sure that it even really applies my videos since I render them out at the same exact size I want them uploaded (1280x720), so I don't really need to scale them in any way. If I were to guess, it is a feature more used on DVD's since they are stored at a 720/480 resolution? One thing I noticed is that handbrake likes cropping videos with the Anamorphic tool, which isn't helpful when trying to upload a video already prefitted for youtube standards. Anyway, some more knowledge on the subject would be supreme.
My next question focuses on the video settings/presets for handbrake. Which settings do you prefer in that area? I'm guessing the obvious answer for the Video Codec is H.264 and the frame rate option is "Match to source/Variable framerate". My question for the video tab sits more in the bit rate/quality options. I've read that using the Avg bit rate option in hand brake isn't really optimal, and that using the RF meter with Constant bit rate is a better option. Which RF do you guys use and why? I've read around and the lower the RF the less compression, but at which point do you feel the quality loss starts to show? I've read 18, 19 are good settings and the default is 20. I tested out between 18 and 19 and noticed no difference, but I I'll be playing around with it a bit more. Theoretically, the more compressed I can get it before uploading it to youtube, the less youtube's compression will go into effect, assuming my guess about smaller file sizes being less compressed by youtube has any merit.
And also the preset, do you guys use any particular preset? I chose regular. I'm guessing the nitty gritty of the presets sits in the "advanced" tab, and there are a ton of options in there. Do you guys have any recommendations on what to have set in the "Advanced" tab for any reason?
Rendering / Editing Options (Primarily in Sony Vegas)
Resampling
Do you guys touch this option at all in your editing programs? I read just about everywhere that disabling it is prime, it may help reduce file size and it reduces blur within videos. I guess the reason I even ask is that I'm not sure whether or not to disable it on my facecam. I went and disabled it and I occasionally had extreme quality loss on my facecam, But then again I did edit a few other options in vegas, so I can't really pinpoint the problem that time to resampling. It appeared to happen most when in areas where I had "splits" in the track. It appeared to be a bit rate problem, but anyway, what are your guy's opinions on resampling? Do you find it to be advantageous to be kept on in some situations?
Bit Rate settings
Do you guys have certain bit rate settings that you like when rendering out of your editing program? There are quite a few options for bit rate settings when rendering in MainConceptAVC mp4 format.
There is an constant bit rate option and a variable bit rate option with a "Two-Pass" setting. Which do you prefer and at which quantities for minimum file size and minimum quality loss? I'm currently doing the variable bit rate option with Two-Pass checked. Max Bps at 16 million and Avg Bps at 8 million. Does having two pass enabled kind of eliminate the point of having those Bps numbers to begin with? (I tried setting the Avg BPS to 10 million once and that was also the same time I had the random quality losses in my video that I mentioned in the resampling section.)
Export Format
My guess from reading is that Mp4 is the best option out there. But I'm not sure why to be honest. It seems that using the MainConceptAVC is a much better option than using the Sony AVC provided with vegas. Anyway. Which format do you use? I was doing wmv for the longest time and after switching to MP4 i noticed a couple things. The image appears to be a tiny bit sharper, and significantly darker. Do you guys usually lighten up your video a little bit when exporting to MP4 in an attempt to avoid the darkening that comes with Mp4?
Anyway, I'm sure I have a ton more questions, but this is already a long enough thread as is. Hopefully some people have some input on some of these topics
Oh one more random thing. Does anyone use Windows Movie maker to record their webcam? It comes with a logitech software, but I'm curious as to whether or not Windows Movie Maker (Windows 7) has any advantages over the rather crappy logitech software.
My Hardware / Software stuffs in case they are relevant in answering any questions.
Recording Rig:
ASUS G60JX Laptop
Intel i5 430m 2.53 ghz
4GB DDR3 RAM
NVIDIA GTS 360M 1GB GDDR5 VRAM
500GB 7200RPM Seagate HDD
No idea what sound card I have
External Stuffs
-Webcam: Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000
-Headset / Microphone: Turtle Beach Earforce X12
-External HDD: 750GB Seagate Expansion Bay
-Hauppauge HD PVR 2 for console recordings
-Sometimes use a PS3 controller for certain games
Software
-Editing Software: Sony Vegas Pro 12 (64 bit)
-Image Manipulation Programs: GIMP 2.8 ...and sometimes Microsoft Paint xD xD
-Webcam Recording Software: Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000 Software
-Game Recording Software: FRAPS and sometimes SnagIt
-Audio Manipulation Program (used rarely) : Audacity
-PS3 controller software: MotionInJoy DS3 Tool
It's been only a month and a half since I've started taking video making on a bit more serious level and I've been learning a TON, largely due to your guys' help and an obscene amount of internet google adventures.
My current goals are to try and make my videos play as crystal clear as possible on youtube. So if you guys wouldn't mind answering what you guys do for the settings/situations I'm about to list and why you do them, I would be supremely grateful.
Youtube Compression
I notice that when watching videos in 720p on youtube, the quality does not match the local playback quality that my computer has. I'm guessing the obvious reason is that Youtube probably compresses videos as they are uploaded (I'm assuming in not the most efficient way). I'm not entirely sure but I'm guessing that the larger the file is on my HDD, the more noticeable the compression from youtube would be? Does anyone know anything more about this? Such as bitrate per second playback thresholds for each resolution on youtube?
If that is true, do you think it makes sense to use a compression program that compresses things in a bit more efficient way than what youtube does, in an attempt to minimize the amount that youtube has to compress the video? (And there is of course the benefit of less HDD space being taken up in the long run).
Handbrake (Version 0.9.8)
Which leads me to Handbrake. Does anyone have experience with this program and perhaps some recommended settings? The current release is 0.9.8, and I couldn't find any previous versions to download, so I'll just talk about .9.8 settings.
My first question regarding handbrake is the "Anamorphic" Settings (Strict, Loose, None). Does anyone make any use of this setting? And perhaps have a paraphrased explanation? From my little knowledge on the subject, it appears it is a way to scale an image without losing quality? I'm not quite sure that it even really applies my videos since I render them out at the same exact size I want them uploaded (1280x720), so I don't really need to scale them in any way. If I were to guess, it is a feature more used on DVD's since they are stored at a 720/480 resolution? One thing I noticed is that handbrake likes cropping videos with the Anamorphic tool, which isn't helpful when trying to upload a video already prefitted for youtube standards. Anyway, some more knowledge on the subject would be supreme.
My next question focuses on the video settings/presets for handbrake. Which settings do you prefer in that area? I'm guessing the obvious answer for the Video Codec is H.264 and the frame rate option is "Match to source/Variable framerate". My question for the video tab sits more in the bit rate/quality options. I've read that using the Avg bit rate option in hand brake isn't really optimal, and that using the RF meter with Constant bit rate is a better option. Which RF do you guys use and why? I've read around and the lower the RF the less compression, but at which point do you feel the quality loss starts to show? I've read 18, 19 are good settings and the default is 20. I tested out between 18 and 19 and noticed no difference, but I I'll be playing around with it a bit more. Theoretically, the more compressed I can get it before uploading it to youtube, the less youtube's compression will go into effect, assuming my guess about smaller file sizes being less compressed by youtube has any merit.
And also the preset, do you guys use any particular preset? I chose regular. I'm guessing the nitty gritty of the presets sits in the "advanced" tab, and there are a ton of options in there. Do you guys have any recommendations on what to have set in the "Advanced" tab for any reason?
Rendering / Editing Options (Primarily in Sony Vegas)
Resampling
Do you guys touch this option at all in your editing programs? I read just about everywhere that disabling it is prime, it may help reduce file size and it reduces blur within videos. I guess the reason I even ask is that I'm not sure whether or not to disable it on my facecam. I went and disabled it and I occasionally had extreme quality loss on my facecam, But then again I did edit a few other options in vegas, so I can't really pinpoint the problem that time to resampling. It appeared to happen most when in areas where I had "splits" in the track. It appeared to be a bit rate problem, but anyway, what are your guy's opinions on resampling? Do you find it to be advantageous to be kept on in some situations?
Bit Rate settings
Do you guys have certain bit rate settings that you like when rendering out of your editing program? There are quite a few options for bit rate settings when rendering in MainConceptAVC mp4 format.
There is an constant bit rate option and a variable bit rate option with a "Two-Pass" setting. Which do you prefer and at which quantities for minimum file size and minimum quality loss? I'm currently doing the variable bit rate option with Two-Pass checked. Max Bps at 16 million and Avg Bps at 8 million. Does having two pass enabled kind of eliminate the point of having those Bps numbers to begin with? (I tried setting the Avg BPS to 10 million once and that was also the same time I had the random quality losses in my video that I mentioned in the resampling section.)
Export Format
My guess from reading is that Mp4 is the best option out there. But I'm not sure why to be honest. It seems that using the MainConceptAVC is a much better option than using the Sony AVC provided with vegas. Anyway. Which format do you use? I was doing wmv for the longest time and after switching to MP4 i noticed a couple things. The image appears to be a tiny bit sharper, and significantly darker. Do you guys usually lighten up your video a little bit when exporting to MP4 in an attempt to avoid the darkening that comes with Mp4?
Anyway, I'm sure I have a ton more questions, but this is already a long enough thread as is. Hopefully some people have some input on some of these topics
Oh one more random thing. Does anyone use Windows Movie maker to record their webcam? It comes with a logitech software, but I'm curious as to whether or not Windows Movie Maker (Windows 7) has any advantages over the rather crappy logitech software.
My Hardware / Software stuffs in case they are relevant in answering any questions.
Recording Rig:
ASUS G60JX Laptop
Intel i5 430m 2.53 ghz
4GB DDR3 RAM
NVIDIA GTS 360M 1GB GDDR5 VRAM
500GB 7200RPM Seagate HDD
No idea what sound card I have
External Stuffs
-Webcam: Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000
-Headset / Microphone: Turtle Beach Earforce X12
-External HDD: 750GB Seagate Expansion Bay
-Hauppauge HD PVR 2 for console recordings
-Sometimes use a PS3 controller for certain games
Software
-Editing Software: Sony Vegas Pro 12 (64 bit)
-Image Manipulation Programs: GIMP 2.8 ...and sometimes Microsoft Paint xD xD
-Webcam Recording Software: Logitech Quickcam Pro 9000 Software
-Game Recording Software: FRAPS and sometimes SnagIt
-Audio Manipulation Program (used rarely) : Audacity
-PS3 controller software: MotionInJoy DS3 Tool