Author Topic: Video compression (Read 285 times)

Ripsnort · « **on:** April 23, 2004, 08:17:53 AM »

I've been using Movie Maker 2 (on XP) and I want to compress my movies down to a reasonable size. Any recommendations on how to do this, and what to use? I enjoy using MM2 because its easy to use, doesn't require alot of thought or time (of which I have neither ) Is it possible to compress the video after its been made into a mpeg or AVI?

Vipermann · « **Reply #1 on:** April 23, 2004, 09:29:33 AM »

AVI is uncompressed, I'm not sure it's possible to compress avi and keep it avi. MPEG is compressed, but you can compress to different levels.

I use MPEG-VCR to edit shows recorded with my Tivo. The program allows me to cut parts of the show out(the commercials) and then recompress what's left. The program automatically picks the same compression that the original file is in, but also gives you a menu with about 8 other compression levels. I've been creating Twilight Zone DVD's and one 30 minute show comes from the Tivo at 1.8 GB, using MPEG-VCR I can compress it down to 250MB with no loss in quality.

Website for MPEG-VCR http://www.womble.com

Check out http://www.dvdrhelp.com/

Siaf__csf · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2004, 01:44:00 PM »

Eh.. avi is not uncompressed by all means.

You can use several efficient compressions with .avi like DivX ;-) or XViD.

Do a google search for 'Ace mega codecs pack'

It will install most codecs known to man on your computer after which you can pick your codec from dozens of options.

You could also just download XViD codec as it's about as good as it gets. However it's highly possible they won't work with MM2. If I recall right the resolution was artificially reduced in MM in order to limit the usage to amateur level. I might be wrong though.

Anyways if you have uncompressed formats already available, you can compress them using free tools downloadable from http://www.virtualdub.org and http://www.avisynth.org

They're a must unless you own Adobe Premiere or the likes.

Gunslinger · « **Reply #3 on:** April 24, 2004, 11:47:28 AM »

rip I havnt updated to MM2 but I know when I made a video of my kids to send to the family It came out to be around 11M and its about 5 minutes long. I tell eveyone to run it at about 200% and it still looks really decent.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #4 on:** April 26, 2004, 11:27:24 AM »

Thks all, used MS Encoder, this has everything I needed.

I'm making a movie full of stills from all the little league game this season I started off this project with some 1925 Baseball footage and some voice clips from "Field of Dreams" (James Earl Jones "They'll come, Ray, They will come..." ), then the video transitions to the pics. Fun project, I'll play the final cut at our Championship party after the playoffs (Okay, I'm an optimist) and all the parents will get a copy when I'm complete.

Reschke · « **Reply #5 on:** April 26, 2004, 12:03:02 PM »

Sounds like something we did for our 75lb football team this past fall Rip. We made a DVD for everyone on the team to have and they all loved them. We charged $20 and of that money all of it but $5 went to a fund for this coming season's 75lb team to have new equipment. The other $5 per copy went to the guy with the Mac who added the music and other edits then burned the 60 or so DVD copies.

One other thing we did was get two guys from the local NBC affliliate sports department to do a little talking about the team.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #6 on:** April 27, 2004, 10:51:33 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Reschke
Sounds like something we did for our 75lb football team this past fall Rip. We made a DVD for everyone on the team to have and they all loved them. We charged $20 and of that money all of it but $5 went to a fund for this coming season's 75lb team to have new equipment. The other $5 per copy went to the guy with the Mac who added the music and other edits then burned the 60 or so DVD copies.

One other thing we did was get two guys from the local NBC affliliate sports department to do a little talking about the team.