what compression is the smallest in size

[diablo]

i want to know about AVI format compressions i got ulead and it can convert it to avi but i dont know what compression to pick.. i have several options DV video encoder- type 1, dv video encoder - type 2, mjpeg compressor, cinepak codec by radius, intel indeo video r 3.2, intel indeo r video r 4.5, intel iyuv codec, microsoft video 1 , indeo video 5.10, divx pro(tm) 5.11 codec, microsft windows media video 9. microsoft mpeg4 vki codec v 1, microsoft mpeg4 vki codec v 2, microsoft mpeg4 vki codec v 3, microsoft mpeg4 vki codec v 4 .

which one compresses it to the smallest size file?

i had to install some other codecs to play certain videos but what formats are playable on someone elses computer who hasnt installed any codecs they just have windows media without any installed codec ohter than what was included when downloaded from microsoft.. say i email the compressed file to someone with windows media player which compressed codec format out of the list above will play on someone elses computer that might not have all the extra codecs installed..

thanks

[reboot]

Smallest file size, and mutually playability are exclusive.
Smallest file size is probably DivX, at a very low bitrate (correct me if I'm wrong here). Mutual playability is probably WMP9 or MSV1, and possibly the 4 msmpeg ones.

[teegee420]

I would output as DV AVI, then re-encode to WMV using Windows Media Encoder. I'm pretty sure Ulead doesn't allow you to output as WMV. Most people should be able to play that without installing anything.

[reboot]

WMP9 is WMV, I mistyped. :P

[teegee420]

WMP9 is WMV, I mistyped. :P

I figured that. I was just agreeing with you.

[diablo]

<output as DV AVI?>
do you mean DV video encoder, if you do, do mean type one or tpe two?

[teegee420]

Type two should be fine. I believe it's the most compatible for video apps. Just so you know, file sizes for DV are in the neighborhood of 13gb per hour of video. That's not really a problem because you'll be converting to a more compressed format. WMV in this case, that is if you follow our suggestion. You always want to have the highest quality source file that you can manage. DV is about as good as it gets.

[bugster]

Teegee420, why output as DV and then re-encode. Double encoding is going to reduce quality, at least a little.

Isn't "microsft windows media video 9" simply another name for one of the many variants of wmv?

Output direct to that would be my suggestion.

[teegee420]

Teegee420, why output as DV and then re-encode. Double encoding is going to reduce quality, at least a little.

I may be wrong here, but I was under the impression that diablo was using Ulead to capture and edit. I'm relatively sure that it doesn't allow you to output as WMV, so that's why I suggested outputting as DV and using that as the source for Windows Media Encoder.

Isn't "microsft windows media video 9" simply another name for one of the many variants of wmv?

Yes, but it is one of the newer versions and probably the best. I suggested it because diablo wanted something that can be played on most machines without any additional downloads while maintaining a small file size. WMV is a good marriage of both. MPEG-1 is another option too but I think WMV can achieve better quality for similar file sizes. That's my opinion, anyway.

[DivXExpert]

Compress XviD! Best quality and best filesize.

[SatStorm]

Xvid is great

[reboot]

which compressed codec format out of the list above will play on someone elses computer that might not have all the extra codecs installed..

Xvid won't do it.
The closest thing is going to be WMV, and that's not transportable to mac.

[hexxisoft]

wmv can be played on mac.

[reboot]

OK, I stand corrected! I had no idea

[Muppet Meat]

any mpeg4 codec like xvid, divx or wmv9