Best video output 4most compatibility of use from Premiere

[uwrazor]

I want to "Make a Movie" from Premiere Pro 1.5 & would like it to be as easily viewed & downloaded from the net by a number of different users.

With the vast amount of codecs available, what is the best one to use from Premiere? Or perhaps is there a better one than the standard ones avaialble from Premiere that would be more commonly accepted by many different computer systems. If so, which one, where to download & any special install tips to push out a video file from Premiere?

Of course, I would like it to be as small as possible since users will have to download over the net, but my primary concern is more compatibility.

RAzor

[dipstick]

WMV9

[uwrazor]

Seems many people are saying that WMV9 is the best codec to use for the most accessibility for many users.

However, when I "Make Movie" from Premiere Pro 1.5 & pick the WMV9 encoder, I get the following message when I click the [Configure] button next to "Compressor" line in "Export Movie Settings" window:

You have not istalled the complete Microsoft Windows Video 9 VCM pakcage in your system. In order to use this codec effectively, plzease download the complete pakcage from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/9series/codecs/vcm.aspx.
The package includes help documentation and samiple parameter files.

So, I downloaded "Windwows Media Encoder 9 Series" - this title is from the install window title - installer (9.45Mb) & installed it onto my Windows XP Home PC. However, even after installing this package, I still get the same message as above.

Do i have the wrong install package?? Can anyone plz lead me to the correct installer if so? or enlighten me as to what I'm doing wrong??

Much appreciated.....

[uwrazor]

I just found the correct VCM installer which Premiere Pro is now happy with & no more error message....

But after rendering several version of AVI files w/ this codec, none of the settings I've tried so far gives me a good clean render.

Does anyone have tips or a web page or something that can help me get decent quality WMV9 avi's??

[harley2ride]

Post a screen shot of you video. It is very likely that you are going from a dvd format (which is interlaced), and your pc version WMV may need to be non-interlaced. Easiest way to tell, would be to look at the pc version with PowerDVD. If it looks better in PowerDVD, then your problem is likely interlace related. IF not, it could be other problems.

[wrazoru]

I've noticed that since the ipod video is out, mp4 seems to be more up & coming...having tested it on the main video players (CyberLink, WindwosMP, QuickTime,...) & it being compatible with all of them, would anyone disagree that mp4 format is now a possible contender for better portability & more importantly, compatibility than WMV formats?

XiliSoft does a fantastic job at converting video for the ipod, but offers very little configuration. QT seems to render badly as most of what i've tried gives jumpy video & audio. Any commments?

[edDV]

I've noticed that since the ipod video is out, mp4 seems to be more up & coming...having tested it on the main video players (CyberLink, WindwosMP, QuickTime,...) & it being compatible with all of them, would anyone disagree that mp4 format is now a possible contender for better portability & more importantly, compatibility than WMV formats?

XiliSoft does a fantastic job at converting video for the ipod, but offers very little configuration. QT seems to render badly as most of what i've tried gives jumpy video & audio. Any commments?

Wmv, xvid, divx, h.264, ... are all MPeg4 based.

The advantage wmv has is instant playback from most Windows or MAC computers. Most computers come preconfigured to play wmv and players such as Windows Media Player will automatically grab revised decoders if necessary.

The other formats require codec download and configuration. Most computer users will ignor such files as unplayable.