Newb...wmv: small yet clear file

Peter Vred wrote on 9/30/2005, 2:22 PM
New to the Video side of Vegas, shooting with sony mini-DV and making/posting to web, 3-5 minute music video clips. I am having trouble getting the look that I want.

I have video here

http://www.studio9music.com/drumsvids/Drumrsvids.htm

if you want to see what I've been getting so far. Clip 1 is good looking. clip 10 is not. Other are in between.

Problem is, I try lots of wmv templates and custom variations, but always wind up with either way too big a file, or too crappy video. Hard to find in between.

I would like to reduce the Screen Size of my video, so they can be sharper/smaller, but can't seem to do it. When played back in Win Media Player, they are always full size when I've tried to render at lower, say 320x240 size. They stay big and grainy instead of smaller and sharper.

I like to keep music about 160 - 192...good quality.

Any suggestions on getting smaller clearer picture and reduce file size?

thanks much.

Comments

Jsnkc wrote on 9/30/2005, 2:37 PM
What would be an ideal file size for your final files? That might help us to determine what settings you should use.
riredale wrote on 9/30/2005, 11:01 PM
Peter, your video player should have a setting somewhere that lets you keep either a fixed size, or allows the player to automatically adjust the window size to match the video. Sorry I can't be of more help here, but I don't use the Windows Media Player here.

As for encoding format, I use a custom WMV format that measures 320x240x29.97 and of the total bitrate of 200Kb/sec, 32 goes to the audio (WMA) and the rest to the video. You can see an example here (though the ISP is having server problems and it may take a while to download the WMV file).
Lili wrote on 10/1/2005, 6:37 AM
I get a really sharp picture using 512 kbps and 320 x 240 rendered in wmv.
Do a right click on your Windows Media Player video as it's playing and you will be able to change the video size window from the choices shown. you likely have yours set at 200 percent and thus getting an unclear image.
lili
Peter Vred wrote on 10/3/2005, 8:10 AM
Thanks for the tips...sorry I wasn't able to give you more information up front.
WIll try some of the suggestions.

I have downloaded the online manual...after 3 years of using Vegas. No wonder I missed so much, all I had was the starter book that came with the boxed CD rom.

Anyway, I found out about NOT stretching the video to fit the screen, using Letterbox instead. that solved the big grainy look.

Pete