wmv for MS Zune and Creataive Zen...

[iThinkYouBrokeIt]

I'm interested in converting some videos to wmv because it's the only mutual format for both the Zen Vision M and the Zune. I'm the owner of a Zen, and i know two Zune owners.

From my understanding, the Zen is alot pickier about wmv videos. not every .wmv video i get from the internet works on my zen, regardless of whether the resolution is supported or not. While i'm on the subject, why does it max out at a measily 320x240? I can play divx/xvid videos at 720x480, so why not the same for wmv?

Anyway, back to the point. If i use Windows Media Encoder, (or another wmv converter?), what specifications would i have to apply to the encoding to make it mutually compatible with both players? I can't seem to be able to find any info on this. Perhaps i'm not looking hard enough... i dunno. Any help?

[churchie04]

Well,

I currently have both of them at my home as I'm testing which I actually want.

I got the Zune first and converted a bunch of xvid's to WMV since the Zune requires that. I then got the Vision W and tried to copy those same files over...NO GO.

Problem was that the Vision requires WMV9, while the Zune can take 9,8, or 7 (i believe). I converted to 8 since it was faster though.

So, with WME you'd at least make sure you are going to WMV9.

It can max out at a total of about 780kb/s max bit rate because of the Zune's limitations. So I use 700kb/s for video and 64kb/s for audio (seems low, but sounds just fine for videos).

Zune won't take anything that is VBR, so it needs to be CBR for video.

So, in short: WMV9, max 780kb/s , CBR video, and as you stated max 320x240 resolution, that should get you started.

[iThinkYouBrokeIt]

Well,

I currently have both of them at my home as I'm testing which I actually want.

I got the Zune first and converted a bunch of xvid's to WMV since the Zune requires that. I then got the Vision W and tried to copy those same files over...NO GO.

Problem was that the Vision requires WMV9, while the Zune can take 9,8, or 7 (i believe). I converted to 8 since it was faster though.

So, with WME you'd at least make sure you are going to WMV9.

It can max out at a total of about 780kb/s max bit rate because of the Zune's limitations. So I use 700kb/s for video and 64kb/s for audio (seems low, but sounds just fine for videos).

Zune won't take anything that is VBR, so it needs to be CBR for video.

So, in short: WMV9, max 780kb/s , CBR video, and as you stated max 320x240 resolution, that should get you started.

I tried using Windows Media Encoder to convert some stuff to wmv9, etc and it still didn't work in my zen. I could use the Creative video encoder, which is really not a very good encoder, to convert stuff to wmv. but i don't know if the files it produces are zune-compatible, since i havent had a chance to give said files to any zune-owning friends.
Also, i can't do much with WME at the moment, because it has vista compatibility issues. A MICROSOFT PROGRAM doesn't work properly in Vista. ugh.... I haven't run into very many programs that didnt work right. This is probably the second. But i just can't get over the fact that it's a MS program that doesn't work.

If you can find out what program works very well, and produces mutually compatible files, please let me know

[kevo777]

It can max out at a total of about 780kb/s max bit rate because of the Zune's limitations. So I use 700kb/s for video and 64kb/s for audio (seems low, but sounds just fine for videos).

From the official Zune website (http://www.zune.net/en-us/support/howto/play/enjoyvideo.htm)

The Zune device supports the following video codec:

* Windows Media Video: up to 320x240, 1.692 Mbps, Main profile, files with extension .wmv

[theewizard]

have you tried gspot on a file that works, or media info, to get the exact specs..

then try duplicating those settings, you might try super, it can do a large number of formats, and lets you set the video and audio bit rates and Frame rates
FPS

[RogerTango]

I am encoding my WMV with WM9 audio and video, both CBR... Video at 300kbps, video is very good quality. I am using AviSynth to feed to Nic's WMEnc, results are VERY GOOD.

Using this, I would suspect that both the Zen and Zume would play it fine. I however only have the Zen (and love it!!).

HTH,
RogerTango

[iThinkYouBrokeIt]

I've found that the creative video converter seems to create wmv files that are cross compatible.