How to Compress Your Videos with MS Windows Media Encoder 9
a) Go to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/encoder/ and download the latest version of Window Media Encoder
1) Open Window Media Encoder 9
2) Select “Custom Session” and then click the OK button
You’ll see the following window:
3) Select “File” from the “Source From” section and then use the “browse” button to find your .avi file (this is the original file you will be compressing)
4) Click on the “Output” tab
- Uncheck “Pull from encoder the con……”
- Check “Archive to file” and put the desired path to your destination file (NOTE: If it does not exist it will be created automatically.)
Your window should look like this.
5) Click the “Compression” tab
6) Click the “Edit” button and the following window will pop up.
7) Leave the default Audio Codec (Window Media Audio 9 is 100% backwards compatible so don’t change it!)
8) Click the drop-down box for the video.
Listed below are two settings that I like to use.
Option 1
NOTE: I like the use CBR (constant bit-rate) setting of “ISO MPEG-4 Video V1” because it fairly universal and backwards compatible with all the Window Media Players (so even those friends who are slaving away on their NT workstation at work can still watch my videos……)
Option 2
NOTE: Windows Media Video v8 is compatible with most users’ players on wakepics.com and wakeworld.com
9) Now click on the 282 Kbps tab
NOTE: You’ll see a large list of choices for your audio format. Any selection between “32 kbps, 44 kHz stereo CBR” to “64kbps, 48 kHz stereo CBR” is good!
Once you select your Audio Format you’ll see the rest of the settings again:
10) I like to use the following settings for my Wakeboard videos. These values are a good starting point and feel free to play around with the Video Bit Rate and Video Smoothness settings. Please note that increasing these will also increase the overall file size, so don’t go overboard!
- Video Size: 320 x 240
- Frame Rate: 29.97
- Video Bit Rate: 250K or greater (Keep in mind that increasing the Video Bit Rate will increase the overall file size)
- Key Frame Interval: 1 sec
- Buffer Size: 5 - 7 seconds
- Video Smoothness: 85 or greater. (Keep in mind that increasing the Video Smoothness factor will increase the overall file size)
NOTE: For more info about each of the settings just click on the “help” button
This is a sample of the settings what my settings look like for wake boarding video (fast action, quick pans, etc…)
11) Click the “OK” button
12) Click the “Apply” Button
You’ll see the following window
13) Click the “Start Encoding” button
If you close the property window (by clicking the x) and then selecting “both” from the display drop-down you can watch your original video and output during compression. Pretty cool.
NOTE: Compressing video files is CPU intensive, so it’s recommended that you do not run other applications while performing a compression.
Once your compression is done you will see your “encoding results” as follows:
FAQS
Q: My Video still looks like crap!
A: Fancy effects, moving titles, fast action, and quick pans are the enemy of compression; they are the main reason for pixilation at lower Video Bit Rates. Since we cannot take the fast action and quick pans out of wakeboarding, try trimming the fat by removing the fancy effects or minimizing them. Also try increasing your “Video Bit Rate” in Step 10 to somewhere between 290 and 370.
Q: How big should my video files be?
A: Expect your video to be anywhere between 3 to 5 mb per minute. (e.g. 3 min video = 9 to 12 mb)
Q: What about Mac Users, how can they watch my .wmv videos?
A: Lucky for us and your Mac friends! Microsoft offers a version of Windows Media Player for the Mac OS. You can direct your friends here to download a FREE copy.
Q: How do I get a .mov (a.k.a Quicktime video)?
A: For best results you will need to use a 3rd party tools like Sorenson or Discreet. If you have a program like Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro, Vegas, they do offer quicktime export presets, but you will be limited with the control over the settings.
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