windows media encoder

[rikit]

Is there a calculator, like the bitrate calculator, to help with deciding what to set window media encoder settings at? Just wondering,or is it trial and error?

[jimmalenko]

Bitrate calculators are simple mathematical equations, and as such, stand true irregardless of the encoder used, the source, or any other variable.

[guns1inger]

The difference is more in understanding how a particular encoder handles a given bitrate. What Divx can do with 1500 kbps is very different to what mpeg-2 can do with the same bitrate.

[rikit]

so, as far as windows media encoder, location 442 tab, under these various drop down menus: audio format, video size, frame rate, video bitrate, the bitrate calculater would still be my answer?
I am new to WME and am just trying to get familiar with the settings as far as preparing an avi for the web.
Do you know the mathmatical way of figuring out the above?

[jimmalenko]

It's just like any other encoder - audio format, video size (aka resolution) and frame rate are all your own choice. The Bitrate calculator can only help you in determining what bitrates to use to hit a given filesize. This then has implications in that you need a bitrate sufficient for your resolution in order to retain quality and overcome issues such as macroblocking and pixelation due to insufficient bitrates.

TBH I think you'd be better off using Windows Movie Maker while you get familiar with the whole WMV set-up, which is essentially the same as WME but is a lot more user-friendly. I normally use the "High quality video - large" or "High quality video - small" templates, which use VBR encoding and offer me the best bang for my buck while also requiring the least knowledge. The downside is that you don't have much customisation available in WMM - that's about the only time I use WME over WMM, is when I want full control.

Knowing what bitrates will provide good quality output at given resolutions is pretty much a trial and error thing, as "good quality" truly is in the eye of the beerholder. With all conversions I do, I always ask myself "Is the quality more important than the filesize ?" - If the answer is yes, then I match the video size of the input, and then use bitrates suitable for that resolution. If the answer is no, then I calculate the bitrates I need to use, then choose my resolution such that it will be as good a quality as I can hope for given my size constraints.

[rikit]

You said beerholder, hah. Thanks for that info, it was the answer I was looking for. Quality is everything. I kinda gathered as far as settings it would be a trial and error thing. Good enough for me.
Here is my situation: My cousin has asked me to take a 1 min avi clip with audio and prepare it for a web page she is setting up for a client. This clip will be viewed using windows media player. My cousin has never put any video clips on a web page before, so this will kinda be a learning experience for the both of us.
Is there any specific setting in WME that you recommend or any certain steps to preparing for this? How should I save this when I give her the the finished avi after using WME, cd disk? Will she be able to take it from that and put it on her web page, ok? I don't know anything about the setup of web pages, this will all be a first for me. All info appreciated.

[jimmalenko]

As I said, I'd use Windows Movie Maker instead, and you'll actually export to a WMV file (as opposed to an AVI file). I believe that WMV is better than XviD or Divx in terms of the whole Filesize vs Quality debate.

Once you've imported your file onto either the storyboard or timeline, press Ctrl-P or go to File > Save movie file.

Select "My Computer":




Enter a filename and choose a location to save the file:




Choose the "template" you wish to use:



If you want to hit a specific target size, then choose the 2nd option. If you choose this option, it automatically chooses a resolution and bitrate that will provide a suitable result - you can see the settings changing down the bottom as you change the target size. I prefer not to use this, as I like to only use enough bitrate as required (this enables me to hit the smallest size possible while retaining premium quality).

I like either of the two templates I've highlighted (if you don't see the 2nd and 3rd selections, you might need to click on the "Show more choices" link). The large one will do 640 x 480 while the small one does 320 x 240, and both use VBR so it uses only as much bitrate as it needs to retain the same quality as your source, and keeps the filesize as small as it can.

As for your cousin putting this into a webpage, there's a number of ways to do it. Probably the easiest way is to just hyperlink to it using an <a href> link, just like he/she would when linking to another page. Then your he/she just needs to FTP the file to his/her webspace, just as he/she would when he/she creates a new page.

[rikit]

Thanks a million, that is some awsome info, and thanks for taking the time to explain in such detail So putting the movie file will be ok to put on disk and give to her that way? My work station is not hooked to any internet so ,internet is not a option.

[jimmalenko]

yep, just burn it to CD as a data CD and give it to her - that'll be fine.