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  1. I have videos that I have imported onto my computer that I want to convert to transfer to friends. I was wondering what the best codec and format would be for audio and video, while maintaining a small file size, and high quality video with small loss in quality...while still remaining compatable with most peoples computer. I have tried converting to AVI with the Xvid and DivX codec, but it seems like they could be smaller. I haven't even really tried to compress the audio because there are so many options and a lot of times there's no sound at all in the finished file. The files are all 320x240 resolution non-interlaced if that matters. I'm kind of a newbie at this so don't flame me
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  2. Member edDV's Avatar
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    Keep experimenting with Xvid and DivX. Compress until you think the quality is compromised. Also try WMV. All are MPeg4 based and are in the same class of compression potential.

    Keep in mind that success at extreme compression demands a high quality source. If the source is already compressed, results will be less dramatic.
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  3. Thanks...i came to the conclusion that DivX or WMV are the best...although WMV can get amazingly small filesizes with only a bit of sacrifice in quality. But with the Store to Hard Drive setting in Windows Movie Maker, the sound is compressed quite a bit and it's noticably blurry and high action sort of blurs together. This isn't that bad considering how much smaller the file is. I guess if quality is crutial that DivX is the way to go, but expect larger file sizes.

    Is there a big difference between DivX and XviD? And also, I am using Nero Vision Express and Windows Movie Maker that don't really let you change the compression settings...is there a better program to use? There are so many conversion guides on here and programs that they use, it's all so confusing at times.
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  4. Divx and Xvid are both MPEG 4 part 2 implementations. Depending on what settings you use one or the other may be a little faster or a little better quality but overall they are very similar.

    h.264 (MPEG 4 part 10, aka AVC) will get you the smallest file sizes. Nero Recode supports it via the "AVC" templates.
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  5. Member edDV's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by kiwisoup

    ...and Windows Movie Maker that don't really let you change the compression settings...is there a better program to use? There are so many conversion guides on here and programs that they use, it's all so confusing at times.
    For WMV you should try Windows Media 9 Encoder. It's free and has a full range of settings. Audio and Video can be set separately. WMV is easiest for others to play.
    http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoder/default.mspx

    See Baldricks guide here
    https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=244268

    You can also experiment with MPeg4 AVC h.264 or advance profile Windows Media VC-1 but these require very long encoding times and may proove more difficult for others to play.
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  6. other format is the real media rmvb
    is the best for small size format i ever tried, the quality is very good,

    you can use the the free Easy RealMedia Producer encoder
    http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Encoders-Converter-DIVX-Related/Easy-Rea...Producer.shtml

    you can use settings like the resolution, frame per seconds, etc.

    enjoy it.
    Last edited by rsotol028; 26th Jul 2010 at 11:49.
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  7. Video Restorer lordsmurf's Avatar
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    H.264
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  8. if i want to use that format for free,
    what im gonna do?
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  9. Video Restorer lordsmurf's Avatar
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    Encode it.
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  10. Originally Posted by kiwisoup View Post
    ...while still remaining compatable with most peoples computer.
    I think that effectively rules out h.264.
    Pull! Bang! Darn!
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  11. Video Restorer lordsmurf's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by fritzi93 View Post
    Originally Posted by kiwisoup View Post
    ...while still remaining compatable with most peoples computer.
    I think that effectively rules out h.264.
    Use VLC.
    If the friends are too lazy to install VLC, then I guess they won't be watching it.
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    Originally Posted by rsotol028 View Post
    if i want to use that format for free,
    what im gonna do?
    Get the free encoder called x264 from this page.

    http://x264.nl/

    Look here for some help on what options to type. P.s. I would use 'notepad' for typing out your command liines in, and make bat files to run.

    http://mewiki.project357.com/wiki/X264_Settings
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  13. Or use a front end like MeGUI or Xvid4PSP. But, as has been pointed out, many people don't have an h.264 decoder installed and WMP won't automatically download one.
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  14. Originally Posted by kiwisoup View Post
    ... I was wondering what the best codec and format would be for audio and video, while maintaining a small file size, and high quality video with small loss in quality...while still remaining compatible with most peoples computer. ...
    The Best Codec Formats are...
    1) XViD + AC3 (5.1 or 7.1) gives freedom and flexibility for further editing.
    XViD Codec Setup Guide Here : http://www.divx-digest.com/articles/xvid_setup.html
    2) x264 + AC3 (5.1 or 7.1) , if you are looking for better compression, higher bit rate over the final size.
    X264 Codec Setup Guide Here : http://mewiki.project357.com/wiki/X264_Settings

    Take a small (1 or 2 min sample) video clip bearing extreme quality (Video Bit rate > 8000kbps and Audio > 448 kbps, 48 KHz) and, you can play around with different codec settings until you get desired quality.

    Above both Codecs with full size DVD setting 720x480 NTSC, or 720x576 PAL is the most compatible with most peoples computer and all most all video players.
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