Movie maker/editor question

[boing]

I am currently using Womble Mpeg editor (great bit of kit) to edit my films, Womble has great functioanlity and an easy to use intuitive interface but obviously it only allows for the editing and outputting of Mpegs

However, I wouldnt mind outputting to Windows media because of the much smaller file size and as such [my question is] does anyone know of an editor that can output to windows media and is easy to use?

Windows movie maker is out because of its crap features so I essentially need a product that does what Womble does but outputs a windows media file

If there is one that is free or has a fully functional trial as Womble does then that would be great

I tried Zweistein but couldnt fathom it at all

[thecoalman]

Just about every editor can output to WMV, if womble only does mpeg why not just edit with womble and encode the resultant mpeg file with Windows Movie Destroyer. I'm assuming your only reencoding the parts that have been edited on your source mpeg, the results will be the same as using any other app. You can also use MS's Media Encoder which is more robust than MM to encode to WMV. it's available free on the MS site.

[Raga]

If you're happy wiht your editor, why bother changing? Just export in high quality mpeg, import in Windows Movie Maker and save as wm.

[thecoalman]

If you're happy wiht your editor, why bother changing? Just export in high quality mpeg,

You don't do that, use the same settings as the source. I'm not familiar with Womble but I'm pretty sure it only reenecodes where the edits are. To maintain the best quality you do not want to renecode if you don't have too. The more conversions it goes through the worse it gets.

[boing]

At the moment I have some windows files that I need to edit, at this point I am converting them to Mpeg and editing them in Womble which results in an Mpeg that is MUCH larger than the original Windows file

Now at this point if I were to covert the file back to windows media (as per the idea above) it wouldnt reduce in size would it? or do I have that wrong?

If I am not wrong that is the basis of my problem and why I need an editer capable of taking the original UNCONVERTED windows file, letting me edit it and then simply save the noe edited file as a windows file thus leaving me with a file that isnt to large

I am about to Download Vegas and give that a go

Is anyone here familiar with Wax? would that be suitable?

[edDV]

To edit wmv, you are going to have to decompress them to larger size. Windows Movie Maker is good enough at editing wmv.

If you want to convert MPeg or other formats to wmv, best to use the free Windows Media Encoder 9. Its a great little program.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/encoder/default.aspx

Most editing programs can output to wmv, but often with fewer features and use an older version of windows media than the encoder above.

[thecoalman]

If I am not wrong that is the basis of my problem and why I need an editer capable of taking the original UNCONVERTED windows file, letting me edit it and then simply save the noe edited file as a windows file thus leaving me with a file that isnt to large

Your right but for the wrong reason. The file size is determined by the bitrate. Lower bitrate equals smaller file but less quality. The reason you want to edit it as is is so you reduce the quality loss that is inherent too converting the video.

Vegas will do that but if your buying it just to do simple edits and convert to WMV I'd look at the stripped down consumer version for $99 or something similar. Purchasing the full version is would be like using a sledge hammer to put a tack on the wall.

[thecoalman]

To edit wmv, you are going to have to decompress them to larger size. Windows Movie Maker is good enough at editing wmv.
.

I have to admit I don't have much experience editing WMV, I assumed it was similar to editing mpeg. Anyhow boing take Ed's advice over mine, he's much more knowledgeable than me.

[boing]

To edit wmv, you are going to have to decompress them to larger size. Windows Movie Maker is good enough at editing wmv.

If you want to convert MPeg or other formats to wmv, best to use the free Windows Media Encoder 9. Its a great little program.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/encoder/default.aspx

Most editing programs can output to wmv, but often with fewer features and use an older version of windows media than the encoder above.

Is the windows media encoder 9 used to [as you say] encode files to wmv? oh and is it something totally different from the media player 9? (Im still new lol)

[boing]

LOL, ok ive just downloaded the encoder so that answers the above lol

I have also downloaded Wax and wil now spend the next couple of hours having a play about with them

If I get stuck I will return, cheers for the help so far

[edDV]

LOL, ok ive just downloaded the encoder so that answers the above lol

I have also downloaded Wax and wil now spend the next couple of hours having a play about with them

If I get stuck I will return, cheers for the help so far

If you are new, you must understand that wmv and Mpeg are intended for distribution of your final product. Edit in your highest quality format first (DV, wideband MPeg, etc.) then do your major compression. Compression gives best results off the highest quality input you can provide to the encoder*.

Save the origial material if you intend to re-edit. Avoid editing the highly compressed distribution wmv if you can.


* that is why 3CCD DV cameras and DV editing is used to prepare commercial quality webcast wmv. The better signal in, the better signal out after compression.

[boing]

If you are new, you must understand that wmv and Mpeg are intended for distribution of your final product. Edit in your highest quality format first (DV, wideband MPeg, etc.) then do your major compression. Compression gives best results off the highest quality input you can provide to the encoder*.

Save the origial material if you intend to re-edit. Avoid editing the highly compressed distribution wmv if you can.


* that is why 3CCD DV cameras and DV editing is used to prepare commercial quality webcast wmv. The better signal in, the better signal out after compression.

So basically I should edit in the format that allows the best quality and then save then finshed edit and ONLY THEN save to a compressed wmv, is this right?

If so, would I be better of editing in Womble and then copying the output Mpeg from Womble then converting it [the copy] with windows enocder to compress it for distribution etc

Is this right? lol

[thecoalman]

So basically I should edit in the format that allows the best quality and then save then finshed edit and ONLY THEN save to a compressed wmv, is this right?

If so, would I be better of editing in Womble and then copying the output Mpeg from Womble then converting it [the copy] with windows enocder to compress it for distribution etc

Is this right? lol

What he's saying is edit the best most original source you have, if the footage came from a DV cam use the DV-AVI if you have a higher quality mpeg use that as the source. The better qulaity that your source is the better result your end product will be. This is why I suggested you just edit your mpeg's in womble then convet using either MM or MS's encoder. Of course if have acces to a better source such as a DV-AVI then all the better.

[edDV]

what coalman said

[thecoalman]

One other thing to note....if you only have access to mpeg's as a source make sure that after you do your edits that you output the new video using the same properties as the original. Same resolution, same bitrate. By doinf g this womble will only reencode what it needs such as where you made transitions etc. The rest will be left "as is" preserving the original frames preventing quality loss.