Audio/Video format help

[sikming]

What are the best format(s) to save audio and/or video files? I have Window XP and is using Window Movie Maker to capture video/audio from VCR. It looks like Windows Media supports .asf, .asx, .wax, etc.

Second question is after importing the audio/video, how to I save it as an .asf or an .asx. Because the default file format is always wma or wmv.

I guess it all boils down to me wanting the best quality audio/video files that doesn't have a huge file size. I'm a beginner in this, so I'll need clear instructions. Thx!!!!!!

[Darren]

Hi sikming

The best format can be hard to tell, as it all boils down
to what codec (video compression) is the most popular,
when users are downloading/watching videos from the
internet.

The Windows Media Encoder will probably give you the best
result, as it can make small size streaming videos in a good quality. You can download it here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/wm7/encoder.asp

There is also QuickTime using the Sorenson codec, however
the QuickTime player is not as popular as the Windows
Mediaplayer.

The RealOne player and codec, can also give you small size
streaming videos, but again this is not as popular as the
Windows Mediaplayer.

If you are on the look for great products that can handle
the encoding, I can highly recommend Adobe Premier and
Macromedia Flash MX. These products can help you export
your videos into small size sequences, which is the best
way to get the most viewers.

Hope it helps.
Good luck.

Darren

[sikming]

Hi Darren,

First of all. thank you for the tips. Secondly, you will have to pardon me for my stupidity, but I have a few questions:

1 - Can you explain to me what exactly is streaming? Within the past 1-2 weeks that I have been working with video/audio files, I have seen this term quite a bit but I'm not too sure what it is.

2 - After using Windows Movie Maker (or MGI VideoWave) to capture video/audio from VHS, I'm assuming the file has not been streamed yet. And this is something I need to do through Windows Media Encoder correct?

Hopefully, you will have some time to explain this to me.

Thx!
Sikming

[Darren]

Well the only way to get answers, is to ask. So there is
no stupidity done here;)

1 - Can you explain to me what exactly is streaming?

By streaming a video, the video is placed in the computers
cache (memory or temporary folder). This gives internet
viewers the option of viewing videos instantly instead of
downloading and then viewing the movie.
The movie will be played while being placed into the
computers cache.

2 - After using Windows Movie Maker (or MGI VideoWave) to
capture video/audio from VHS, I'm assuming the file has not
been streamed yet. And this is something I need to do
through Windows Media Encoder correct?

That is correct. Other compression tools couls also be:

The RealSystem Producer to procuce these streaming videos,
*.rm or *.ram.
A registered version of the QuickTime Player or third party
tools such as Adobe Premier to produce *.mov, *.avi.
The MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 technologies, *.mpeg, *.mpg,
*.mpa, *.mv1, *.mv2.
I just thought I would mention the other possiblities out
there, however I would recommend you use the Windows Media
Encoder.

The smaller file size you make, the bigger audience you
get.

Hope this will guide you on your way.
Good luck

Darren

[Oscar Petti]

in Movie Maker it was something like:
open the project (MSWMV file) and then click
File -> save as -> choose .wmv - choose profile ->
type a file name and press Enter!
Yes, it's that easy :( or :) ...
I think within few years there will be some "great" programs
that will need you jast to say "I want a video" - and it'll make it.

After you save your wmv file you can rename it to .asf and creat the asx pointing to your asf. (wax is the "old" name of asx)

O

[Darren]

That is a way to do it as well, but I don't know if movie
maker can provide the same compression oppurtunities as
with Windows Media Encoder, making better and smaller
movies with various modems and bandwith streaming options,
audio compression, keyframes, and movie quality.

Darren

[Dr. Web]

to clarify a bit: flash is not intended for full motion video, and will not hlep you in the quest for smaller filesize in video. Flash is a vector graphics animation program. What you may be looking for is macromedia director, which is built just for video... and can help to integrate video with shockwave. You might also check out macromedia authorware.

[Darren]

Well the newest features with flash MX allows you to import
mp*,mov,avi. Flash will, when exporting the video, encode
the video with the Sorenson codec, within your swf output,
making small output videos. I know it wasn't designed for
doing this for prior flash versions, however it can be done
now, even keyframing the video.
Flash's intentions with this is also to provide the
streaming video technologies.

To see and read more about these technologies, you can
visit Sorenson Media and look for the Sorenson Squeeze
and Macromedia Flash MX.
http://www.sorenson.com/

Darren