Making Digital Video Smaller

[trigger222]

This has been a chore since I purchased the darn thing.
I'm taking great footage, but can't figure out how to make the video files smaller so they can be easily downloaded.
I don't want to make them smaller by cutting them down in time...just compression size, so people can enjoy the whole video.
I know the porn industry :whip: knows how to do it...lol
Any suggestions?:huh:

[bbertram]

Do you have Windows XP? If so use Movie Maker, its built into XP. You can find it here: Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> You should see it there. You can import the video into the progam or use Movie Maker to grab the video off the camcorder. I use 512kb broadband setting, you'll see what I mean when you get to that point.

If you don't have XP, I recommend upgrading, you can use any program that will compress the video into WMV format. Everyone seems have the codec required to view these videos. You can also use DIVX, its onpar with WMV for the most part but requires a special codec for people to view the video, I recommend WMV.

Once your done I can slap the videos on my website. If you can't figure it out burn the video onto a CD or DVD and leave it at the dealership in Brandon here and I'll do it for you. Or just give me the tape and I'll rip it off and put it on the web.

Have fun.

[Mudster]

Where could I find a quicktime to windows media convertor to do this? My digital camera records movies in quick time. Is there some freeware out there available to do this safely and simply? :badpc: :confused3

[trigger222]

thanks man.
I don't have XP, but I do have a prog that will allow me to change to wmv.
Greatly appreciated:D

[bbertram]

Originally posted by Mudster
Where could I find a quicktime to windows media convertor to do this? My digital camera records movies in quick time. Is there some freeware out there available to do this safely and simply? :badpc: :confused3


There are programs out there that will convert quicktime videos to WMV or other formats. I don't know any off hand but you can search www.Google.com for something. I gotta run.

[branthasadodge]

what about changing the extension from a quick time movie to media player.

try renaming it . it just might work.

[JeeperV6]

Convert it to Divx(avi). Look for a program called Dr.Divx. It'll pretty much make conversion to avi painless and easy. Best part is if you keep the quality(which windows media doesn't have) up fairly high you can re-convert into mpg and burn to (S)VCD and watch on your DVD player.

resolutions:

320 x 240 = VCD (vhs type quality)
480 x 480 = SVCD (s-vhs type quality)
720 x 480 = DVD (DVD/TiVo/HDTV type quality)

If you got more questions, check out:

www.divx.com
www.dvdhelp.com (or it's sister site www.vcdhelp.com)

Good luck,

JeeperV6


Originally posted by trigger222
This has been a chore since I purchased the darn thing.
I'm taking great footage, but can't figure out how to make the video files smaller so they can be easily downloaded.
I don't want to make them smaller by cutting them down in time...just compression size, so people can enjoy the whole video.
I know the porn industry :whip: knows how to do it...lol
Any suggestions?:huh:

[bbertram]

In recent tests its proven that DIVX is better for high quality videos, it has a better picture and smaller size. WMV is better for lower quality video, it produces a better picture and small size.

The main problem with DIVX is the average Joe doesn't have it installed on their machine. If you wanted your parents to watch a video you made they would have to go and download the DIVX codec to watch the video. With WMV its already installed and if it isn't Media Player will download and install it by itself, very easy.

With the videos I produce and most people produce for the interne the quality is lower, not DVD quality so WMV seems to be the way to go.

[branthasadodge]

http://www.jhepple.com/convert_apple_quicktime_to_avi.htm

Go here it has a good titoral on how to do it.

[trigger222]

thanks guys
I'll give them all a try and go from there.