The problem with the video you guys put together was that each image was on the screen for between 4 and 8 seconds. that’s something like 120-240 frames per image. I’d bet that if you created that same video, except using 1/2 second clips right at the key moments, YouTube would totally miss them. Just look at the video attached to my name above this. I have a universal time code display on there, and the “center” frame, the one your tool says should be at 5 seconds even, is at 3 seconds and change.

There was a time when you could literally plan your thumbnail out to the frame. If you had a 5010 frame long video (2:47 long), that frame 2505 was going to be the one used. Apparently now, on that same video, it could be give or take a good 35 frames or so.

Yeah, you can still work with this, but it means that you won’t know *Exactly* where that keyframe will be. If you’ve got a video in motion, 35 frames each way is over two seconds. A lot can happen in two seconds.

Anyway, I read your post, and I liked it, but I think the reality is that at least for now, YouTube is no longer using the center frame of your video, and instead using the closest snap point to that center frame. The formula seems to be that they set one of these snap points every one second, 29 frames in a video, so I suppose if you divide your video into 59 frame increments, and then pick the closest one to the actual center, you could still set the thumbnail exactly, but that sounds like a lot of work.

Peace!

On my test clip, which is 10 seconds and 0 frames long, the thumbnails fell at 1 second 29 frames, 3 seconds 28 frames, and 5 seconds 27 frames.

If YouTube were on a 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 ratio, you should see thumbs at 2s15f,5s, and 7s15f.

If it was a 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 ratio, it would be more like 3s10f,5s, and 6s20f.

Obviously, the keyframes came nowhere near these. Interestingly enough though, the keyframes all coordinate to the keyframe “drag points” YouTube sets up. (You know, those parts of the clip the video snaps to when you drag the cursor across the timeline.)

My guess is that for some reason, YouTube is now associating these snap points as the thumbnail options.

You be the judge. The linkon my name goes to the clip. Check it out and see what I’m talking about.

Sorry!

Really, I am!

PS: I have also looked at a post after clicking “say it” and wished I could get it back after noticing a typo. I feel your pain.

Nalts there’s this really cool WP Plugin that lets users edit their (see I get it, “their” not “there”) comments – it’s called something like “Ajax Edit Comment” or something.

It might save Marilyn’s nerves and my embarassement