Tech: A few questions on video formats

Subject: Tech: A few questions on video formats
From: Gulliver
Date: 30 Nov 07 - 07:37 PM

Firstly, I'm not very familiar with the different video formats (not to mention codecs!), so if anyone could recommend a site that explains this I'd be grateful.

Afer receiving a few requests from foreign visitors, I've started making short videos of our sessions using my digital camera. Videos of just a few minutes take up anything from 60 to 100 megs, in MPEG format. However, I've noticed that if I use Movie Maker (comes with Windows) to convert the video to WMV format, the resulting size is only a fraction of the original. Does this mean that quality is compromised, or is the WMV format just compressed?

I want to eventually upload some of these videos to YouTube. What is the best video format to have the file in before uploading?

The original MPEG videos need to be edited (shortened, etc) before uploading to YouTube. Is Movie Maker adequate for the purpose or should I look for something better?

Finally, I've got videos I made of gigs using my (analog) camcorder. I want to digitize these. Do I have to record them to DVD, using a DVD recorder, to do this, or are there other methods?

Thanks in advance, Don

Subject: RE: Tech: A few questions on video formats
From: Nick
Date: 01 Dec 07 - 06:07 AM

All the files on Youtube are .flv files so you could convert to those

There is a handy program called Super which converts between most formats and is free which you can find here. It works on a one-click basis.

If you haven't come across another freebie called VirtualDub it's also easy to use and useful - it's features are described here.

I would think that your idea of recording your video to DVD sounds practical ut oters may be able to suggest other ways as I know little about video.

Subject: RE: Tech: A few questions on video formats
From: nickp
Date: 01 Dec 07 - 09:13 AM

What... another Nick with interests in that field...

Gulliver, Movie Maker should be well able to do what you want for editing. I use it a lot.

Subject: RE: Tech: A few questions on video formats
From:
Date: 01 Dec 07 - 09:23 AM

Youtube recommends that YOU don't convert to FLV before uploading. They will do the conversion. Check Youtube for info on what formats to upload with. If I remember rightly, WMV IS a compressed format. Probably more compressed than whichever of the MPG formats your recorder uses.

Subject: RE: Tech: A few questions on video formats
From: mack/misophist
Date: 01 Dec 07 - 09:47 AM

Most formats are somewhat compressed. Afner all, codec stands for 'compression/decompression algorithm'.

Subject: RE: Tech: A few questions on video formats
From: katlaughing
Date: 01 Dec 07 - 10:24 AM

I have a few amateur videos on youtube which I made using my small digital camera and MovieMaker. I had no problem with the format, though didn't notice if youtube converted them as I was uploading. MovieMaker is a fun and easy program to use and the quality is a lot better than some of the stuff I've seen on youtube.