Compressing video

[tzegha]

I've made some videos that I'd like to share, but they are too large to easily do so.

I even dl'd a codec that said it was good for lossless compression, but when I go to run it, nothing happens. Is this something that is supposed to work with another program? I made the video with Ulead Studio. I was told vaguely about this H.264 format, not a clue what he was talking about.

Besides that, what is the easiest, least complicated way for a luddite like me to compress my video files?

[edDV]

How do you want to share it?

Easiest for most folks is Windows Media Encoder 9
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/encoder/default.aspx

It offers many compression rates for different purposes and most important, it should play on most any player or via a web browser.

Your ULead Video studio should have an output option to wmv.

Other common sharing formats include

MPeg1: Less compressed but should play on most anything.
RealMedia: Fewer people seem to have the player installed.
VCD disc: Most computers and DVD players will play it
DVD disc: Many potential player issues

[tzegha]

I am uploading them to websites, but the DL time is glacial, and I am also going to burn to DVD.

Thanks, checking WME 9 out right now!

[edDV]

I am uploading them to websites, but the DL time is glacial, and I am also going to burn to DVD.

Thanks, checking WME 9 out right now!

Encode separately to MPeg2 for your DVD authoring.

For your purposes I would just output from ULead Video Studio 8 following their help section for "Posting your video on a Web page". They provide HTML tools to allow playback from the web page.

[mh2360]

For sharing videos try WM9 as suggested or either DIVX or XVID. These are ideal for compressing long recordings at low bitrates...

[tzegha]

Excellent, I'm on my way!

Thanks, hopefully this is enough and I won't have to come crawling back here :P