Render wmv < 15 fps?

VirtualDavid wrote on 4/30/2002, 10:55 AM

Windows Movie Maker only renders 15fps movies for 56k video, regardless of the captured avi fps (please correct me if I'm wrong). I'm trying to create 56k wmv videos with the same quality you find at www.news.com. Their 56k videos are far superior to even the Microsoft video tags at the end of each news clip! As best as I can determine, news.com achieves their superior quality by reducing the fps. If you watch the "Statistics", you'll notice that the news clips are at 8fps while the Microsoft commercial is at 15fps.

Thus, my question: Does VF render wmv files at less than 15fps, if desired? I've discovered VideoWave5 does not allow any modification for wmv rendering (but they do for avi, mpg, etc.)?

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 4/30/2002, 11:12 AM

Unfortunately VideoFactory doesn't allow you to adjust much in WMV output besides the bitrate. Vegas will let you alter frame size, fps, and many other things at will.

VirtualDavid wrote on 4/30/2002, 2:07 PM

Thank you very kindly. Would you agree www.news.com 56k bitrate windows videos are superior to the Microsoft commercials at the end of those newsclips because of the reduced frame rate?

I'm wondering if Vegas would produce 56k bitrate wmv videos of equal quality (to www.news.com)...

discdude wrote on 5/1/2002, 6:33 AM

I just took a look at some of news.com videos. I do agree that the newsclips look superior to the Microsoft commercial.

This could be for many reasons.

The newsclips are encoded with Windows Media V7, 160x120 resolution, 8 fps.
The Microsoft commericals are encoded with Windows Media V8, 160x120, 15 fps.

They use two different codecs at two different frame rates and possibly at slightly different bit rates.

Also, you don't necessarily need to use Vegas to create Windows Media files as long as you don't mind rendering an extra time. You can render a DV file and then use the some of the free utilites available to create Windows Media files, namely Microsoft's own Windows Media Encoder.

However, don't let me steer you away from Vegas. It's a great product with many more features than VF.

VirtualDavid wrote on 5/1/2002, 8:50 AM

Thank you very much for your input. I have too much to learn but, as best I can tell, I have the "latest greatest" Microsoft encoder...assuming it's part of WindowsXP movie maker. Unfortunately, it only allows selection of bitrate; no other parameters can be selected. This means I can only encode at 15fps. Can you point me to an encoder that allows me to select different fps?

VirtualDavid wrote on 5/1/2002, 11:01 AM

Thanks for your great advice. I just downloaded the free Microsoft Windows Media Encoder 7 and, ta da, it allows selection of various fps, etc. Thanks again!

Unfortnately, my hypothesis that a smaller fps would improve quality may be incorrect. My new 8fps wmv file still comes closer to the Microsoft commercial than it does to the quality of the news.com newsclips. I really like the pixelation(?) effect that news.com clips have for 56k delivery.

In any case, please accept my thanks for pointing me in the right direction.