File Format for the internet - advice needed

[Jenny]

Hi people.

What type of format should I save my files as if I plan on making video for the internet?
I want to make sure the files look good, but aren't too too large in size.


Note: I do not plan on streaming, so I guess real video is out.

I plan on making short 2 to 10 minute videos for the web.


Thanks for reading!
Jenny

[buzzinhornets]

I use SonicFoundry Stream Anywhere to create .asf files, which are about 1/4 the size of divx Low-motion files, and still are high quality video, perfect for the internet. You don't need to stream these, you can just post them for download. I use the default 512k template that comes with that software, and get very good videos, yet small file size with them.

WMV8 is another option, but in my experience, it comes out very blocky compared with the .asf files above.

Divx Low-Motion 3.11 alpha, is good, but again the file size is bigger, so if webspace is limited, go with .asf

MPEG, is great, but way too big file size.

RealMedia is garbage, don't make those, no one likes them. You can't really convert well to .avi.

Divx5.0, again is too big, and in my opinion, crappier than divx3.11.

[Jenny]

Hi there.

I use SonicFoundry Stream Anywhere to create .asf files, which are about 1/4 the size of divx Low-motion files, and still are high quality video, perfect for the internet. You don't need to stream these, you can just post them for download.

I use Vegas Video 3.0. I just checked and I can't save in ASF format. Yucky.

I use the default 512k template that comes with that software, and get very good videos, yet small file size with them.

What do you mean default 512k template?

WMV8 is another option, but in my experience, it comes out very blocky compared with the .asf files above.

I know WMV is Microsoft Windows Media Video. But what is WMV8?

Divx Low-Motion 3.11 alpha, is good, but again the file size is bigger, so if webspace is limited, go with .asf

What does DivX Low-Motion mean? I guess what does the 'Low-Motion' part mean? Is there a 'normal-motion'?

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Can I see have your site address and look/test your videos?


Thanks buzzinhornets %-)
Jenny

[buzzinhornets]

First, my site is down, right now, but I can post a video in the next day or two. I got skool stuff right now to do... SonicFoundry Stream Anywhere, I can, ahem, give you some help with that...

512k template is the quality level of the output file... like made for dsl/cable 512 kbps connections as oppossed to 56k template made for dialup.

[buzzinhornets]

oh yeah, Divx Low-Motion is just the Divx 3.11 alpha codec ( www.digital-digest.com go to software > codecs ) which gives you the option to compress in either fast motion (like a racing video clip) or low motion (like a romantic love scene) to get better results.

WMV8 is just the newest version of wmv microsoft compression codec... you can still find the previous version WMV7, but I think 8 gives better results. Let me know if you want me to post an .asf clip or if its too late.

[Jenny]

Hi.

Thanks for the info in the last post. It helped me understand things better.

WMV8 is just the newest version of wmv microsoft compression codec... you can still find the previous version WMV7, but I think 8 gives better results.

Do you know how can I find out what version of WMV I have?

Let me know if you want me to post an .asf clip or if its too late.

No, it's not too late. If you could post one that'd be great :-)


Thanks buzzinhornets.
Jenny

[sean madison]

wmv is the best at doin small files.

Dl windows media encoder 7.1 and get the codec to use wmv8.

ASF- mp4 and divx are very bad quality vs wmv. wmv is great

u can get the wmv encoder at microsofts site

[buzzinhornets]

SOnicFoundry StreamAnywhere and a help file can be found here
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzzinhornetz2001_2/files/
get these file from there

stream_anywhere_asf_rm.zip.001
stream_anywhere_asf_rm.zip.002
stream_anywhere_asf_rm.zip.003
use hjsplit to join them, then unzip.
this is a help file:
e_sa10c.zip
get it too.

WMV8 encoder and GUI... allows you try both wmv7 and wmv8
http://www.divx-digest.com/software/wm8eutil.html

And here is a short clip (rename it from .txt to .asf to paly) of a PAL clip converted to .asf 512k... mind you the source was not perfect.
http://www.thecomputermechanics.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=206805

[buzzinhornets]

Perhaps, WMV gives you better results... I don't know, I never liked that format because it is very difficult for anyone to convert wmv files into any other format such as .avi or .mpg VCD... TMPGENC always freezes when I try to make VCDs out of .wmv... I have a method to convert them, but it is quite tedious. with .asf, VirtualDub can convert them in a snap. Basically I suggest .asf because it really reduces file size, yet doesn't render the video useless to others.

[Jenny]

Hi guys.

Buzzinhornets,
Thanks for postin' the video clip. It worked great!


Will all of my website visitors be able to view WMV files?
Will all of my website visitors be able to view ASF files?


What would happen if I just used the WMV version that's on my PC?

Thanks again.
Jenny

[buzzinhornets]

For both those codecs, WMP will automatically contact microsoft and download them, if they are not already installed on the persons system

[Jenny]

Hi again.

Is there a way to make sure the Windows Media Player is used when my video files are opened on a website? Can that type of thing be controlled?

Do you know what the difference is between MPEG 1 and MPEG 2?

Thanks buzzinhornets.
Jenny