Automatic video conversion/compression?

[cadunkle]

I would like to know if it's possible to set up Windows Media Encoder (or any other conversion program) to automatically compress video that is transferred into a network share. Perhaps with a specific quality of conversion specified, then a file (video.avi, for example) is placed into a shared directory, the server (Windows Server 2003) will start converting to WMV (or perhaps another format) and when done spit out a file (video.wmv, for example). We deal with some fairly large video files, so I'd like to use our higher powered servers to convert this video automatically without the need to babysit the conversion, or tie up my own or other peoples workstations.

Is this possible with Windows Media Encoder? If so how? I recall reading something about doing this with WME but can't find any more documentation on it. Or should I be looking at other programs? Thanks!

[Soopafresh]

I would use a more batch oriented method to convert via command line. Look at this page

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/howto/articles/AutomatingEncoding.aspx

and the section "Using the Command Line Encoder Sample"

The latest version of wmcmd.vbs is at

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=123812

What you'd do is to set up a looping batch file which

1) looks for the presence of an AVI in the folder

2) runs the command line encoder

3) moves the source file to a "completed" folder so it isn't encoded again

4) loops back to step 1

If that's too much work, Grass Valley Procoder has a "watch folder" automater built into their program. Not free, however. (around $450)

http://www.canopus.com/products/ProCoderSW/closeup.php

Sorensen Squeeze 5 is another app with watch folder capability

http://www.sorensonmedia.com/