Format conversion

[windranger]

Hello,

I've got the CS3 suite and want to do some really simple tasks but don't know how..

1. I want to do a WMV to AVI and MPG to AVI conversion. The final file should have about the same size as the initial one, prefer a stream-type re-encoding (avoid redundant information as much as possible). I just need the conversion, no editing or anything, even not saving the project.
Should I do this in Premiere or AfterEffects, and how..?

2. How can I join two AVI or MPG files together with as less re-encoding as possible? The final file should have the size of the sum of the two files. I don't need to save the project, also.

If anybody knows, please advise.

Thanks.

[guns1inger]

AVI Demux will do step one in a lot less space (and at a much lower cost) than CS3. It will also join AVI files.

For mpeg2 files your should look at VideoRedo or Womble

[windranger]

Thanks for the tip, I may give these applications a try ultimately.
(I already have Adobe, so the cost-saving problem is not an issue.)
But I just thought that Adobe, with their Premiere, After effects or Encore can offer much better processing capabilities than the programs usually used...

[guns1inger]

Premiere and After Effects are for higher end work, using at a minimum DV quality/format video. WMV/Xvid/Divx etc are low/medium quality playback formats and are not designed for editing or re-encoding. Real editors do not work well with these formats because in the real world, where these tools are used, this type of video format is not.

Mpeg editing will possibly become more common at this level if it continues to be used for HDV, otherwise it will remain in the specialist and home user arena.