Create Video File - AVI Compression

bunclark · Post by **bunclark** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 6:23 pm

I have a .AVI video file which I wish to put 30 seconds of it on my Web Site which I can do with Front Page Web Authoring software provided I keep to .AVI.

When I create my 30 second video file can you please advise on the best AVI Compression and Audio Format in the Options of the 'Create Video File' dialogue box to produce the smallest acceptable file size?

Thanks in anticipation, Regards JB

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 7:21 pm

I would not neccessarily use an AVI file for this, because AVI files are container files. They can contain optionally compressed audio and video streams, but the computer that attempts to view the AVI files has to have the required codecs (encoders/decoders) installed, or the user won't hear/see anything.

The only truly universal AVI format is thus uncompresses RGB for video, and LPCM audio, but the files are huge. Slightly better are the common AVI codecs such as Microsoft's Video 1 and RLE, and Intel's Indeo codecs, but their compresison efficiency is still quite poor. DIVX and XVID offer the best tradeoff between file size and quality, but not everyone has these installed. The tech-savvy computer crowd usually does, however, so you'll have to keep your target audience in mind.

My own preference would be to create a WMV file, since Windows Media Player is the most popular media player today (at least in terms of installations), and this format has excellent efficiency and quality.

bunclark · Post by **bunclark** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 8:11 pm

THANKS for your advice.

What I'm wanting to do is have a Video on my Home page which automatically starts as the page loads. I think it's called 'embedded'. My Web Authoring software, Front Page will only handle AVI.

Meanwhile I've down a couple of test and find the 'Microsoft Windows Media Video 9' Compression is the best for my purposes and is 4MB for 15 seconds compared to 445MB Uncompressed - And it works on my Site.

Any more views/info would be appreciated

Post by **Ken Berry** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 9:40 pm

Bunclark, I am wondering which version of FrontPage you are using. I use the 2003 version, but have used previous versions as well. As far as I was aware, you can embed a variety of video formats with FrontPage, and while these include AVI, they also include the Windows Media File streaming format .asf, as well as Real Audio streaming files. I would imagine most people would have one or the other. There is also the capacity to insert 'flash movies'.

bunclark · Post by **bunclark** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 9:05 am

Ken,

It's Front Page 2000 and unfortunately it will only handle AVI and not .asf, wmv, or .rm

As can be seen by clicking my 'www' button below you can see that I've managed to get a test Embedded Video to work by compressing the original AVI using 'Microsoft Windows Media Video 9'

Tell me, what's 'flash movies' and how do I do that?

Thanks again, Regards JB.

Gra · Post by **Gra** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 12:08 pm

Hi Bunclark
Frontpage can have its limitations in this area. If you plan to add animations regulaly, why not try and get hold of Macromedia Dreamweaver.

I know FP has its advantages with its wizard & things (and like all these things a new programme takes a bit of getting used to) but after I switched over, last year, it was a different world. Using Flash, where you can combine different animation possibilities, I easily embedded an animation trick that opens on entry to the site, which goes far beyond what I could have done with FP.
regards.
Gra

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 5:28 pm

Hi JB

Hi JB

When viewing your site I noticed that you had used Real Player for JB’s Video Page.
I assume that the whole site was made with Front Page.

So what’s the problem with using Real Media on your Home Page??????????

Or am I missing something

Trevor

bunclark · Post by **bunclark** » Sat Mar 19, 2005 8:30 am

Hi Trevor (& Gra),

I'm not the expert in this subject, although learning quickly with the help of all you guys and will certainly try and follow up on Gra's advice on Macromedia Dreamweaver.

The difference between my Home Page Video is that it loads automatically and plays on the Page (Embedded) without having the launching of a Real Media Player or other software as can be seen in my other examples in JB’s Video Page.

Have a God blessed day Guys.

Regards JB.

MikeGunter · Post by **MikeGunter** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 4:23 pm

bunclark wrote:
Meanwhile I've down a couple of test and find the 'Microsoft Windows Media Video 9' Compression is the best for my purposes and is 4MB for 15 seconds compared to 445MB Uncompressed - And it works on my Site.

Any more views/info would be appreciated

Hi,

I prefer WM for web site movies.

Here is the embed code:

<OBJECT
ID="mediaPlayer"
CLASSID="CLSID:22d6f312-b0f6-11d0-94ab-0080c74c7e95"
CODEBASE="http://activex.microsoft.com/activex/
controls/mplayer/en/nsmp2inf.cab#Version=5,1,52,701"
STANDBY="Loading Microsoft Windows Media Player components..."
TYPE="application/x-oleobject">
<PARAM NAME="fileName"
VALUE="yourfilehere.wmv">
<PARAM NAME="animationatStart" VALUE="true">
<PARAM NAME="transparentatStart" VALUE="true">
<PARAM NAME="autoStart" VALUE="true">
<PARAM NAME="showControls" VALUE="true">
</OBJECT>

You should be able to access the code to cut and paste.

Mike

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 10:57 pm

Hi,

I would try this website and learn how to author Multimedia on the web.

http://www.macromedia.com/

Hope this helps,

MD

bunclark · Post by **bunclark** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 7:33 pm

Mike,

Unfortunately

after cut n pasting your suggested WM embed code it just shows the 'code on my JB's Video page on my Site:
http://fp.bunclark.f9.co.uk

Can you please check it out to see if the code which I pasted into the HTML folder of Microsoft Front Page is OK.

Regards JB

MikeGunter · Post by **MikeGunter** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 7:50 pm

Hi John,

You have some kind of circular command thing going on. It is constantly seeking something.

I will stream my media using this:
+++++++++++++

<OBJECT ID="MediaPlayer1" classid="CLSID:22D6F312-B0F6-11D0-94AB-0080C74C7E95"
CODEBASE="http://activex.microsoft.com/activex/co ... =6,4,5,715"
standby="Loading Microsoft® Windows® Media Player components..."
type="application/x-oleobject">
<PARAM NAME="AutoStart" VALUE="True">
<PARAM NAME="FileName" VALUE="http://www.yourdomain.com/yourfile.wmv">
<PARAM NAME="ShowControls" VALUE="False">
<PARAM NAME="ShowStatusBar" VALUE="False">
<EMBED type="application/x-mplayer2"
pluginspage="http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/MediaPlayer/"
SRC="http://www.yourdomain.com/yourfile.wvx"
name="MediaPlayer1"
width=448
height=304
autostart=1
showcontrols=0>
</EMBED>
</OBJECT>

+++++++++++

The *wvx* file is a pointer to the media and will be a text file that looks like this:

+++++++++++++

<ASX version="3.0">
<Entry>
<ref HREF="youfilename.wmv" />
</Entry>
</ASX>

++++++++++++++

It assumes that *yourfilename.wmv* is in the same folder at the server.

Good luck!

Mike

ps, I can't recall if this was a *find and paste* thing or something I got from Microsoft's site. I've been using the same code for 5 years.

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 7:54 pm

bunclark wrote:Mike,

Unfortunately after cut n pasting your suggested WM embed code it just shows the 'code on my JB's Video page on my Site:
http://fp.bunclark.f9.co.uk

Can you please check it out to see if the code which I pasted into the HTML folder of Microsoft Front Page is OK.

Regards JB

I think you pasted the code you were given in the normal editing mode of FrontPage -- you need to click on the HTML tab at the bottom of the FrontPage window so that you can see the underlying raw HTML code, and paste the code there.

bunclark · Post by **bunclark** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 9:38 am

Mike & THoff,

Once again, THANKS.

I'm having no success and fully understand if you wish to just give up on me - I'M A BIT THICK!

I've Pasted your new code into the HTML tab at the bottom of the FrontPage window so that you can see the underlying raw HTML code as THoff suggested (which is what I'd done previously).

Questions (if you can be bothered):

(1) Have I got the right 'Domain' name & 'File' name info inserted?

(2) What am I meant to do with the code:

<ASX version="3.0">
<Entry>
<ref HREF="youfilename.wmv" />
</Entry>
</ASX> ?

As I said earlier, I "fully understand if you wish to just give up on me"

Regards JB.

MikeGunter · Post by **MikeGunter** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 4:10 pm

bunclark wrote:
(1) Have I got the right 'Domain' name & 'File' name info inserted?

(2) What am I meant to do with the code:

<ASX version="3.0">
<Entry>
<ref HREF="youfilename.wmv" />
</Entry>
</ASX> ?

Hi,

1 - will be up to your domain.
2- is to allow for streaming. Make a text file with the code, fill in the "yourdomain.wmn" information and save the file as yourname.wvx

Mike