Compressing video for e-mail

[KeithTalent]

Hi All,

So I am in a class where we have to do all kinds of group presentations. These presentations are videotaped using a Sony Handicam and the tapes are handed over to the groups at the end of each class. The problem is there is only one tape for a five person group, so I was hoping to convert it to a small enough AVI or MPEG that I could e-mail out to the rest of my group.

So far I have been able to get it on to a DVD-RW using my Pioneer DVR and I have also been able to convert it to AVI using AutoGK, the problem is I could not get the file smaller than 172MB which is way too big to e-mail. I have tried different setting in AutoGK and tried compressing the file further with WinRAR, but it does not get any smaller than 170MB.

Does anyone know of a free program or any tips/tactics that will help me get this file to my group?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
KT

 

[KeithTalent]

I really hate to do this, but........bump!

 

[akugami]

There is a limit to how small you can get these files before it all goes to heck. I don't know how long your presentation video is but for the average 30min sitcom, roughly 150MB-200MB is the minimum you want it to be if you want it to retain any type of detail.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: akugami
There is a limit to how small you can get these files before it all goes to heck. I don't know how long your presentation video is but for the average 30min sitcom, roughly 150MB-200MB is the minimum you want it to be if you want it to retain any type of detail.

Yeah, it is around 24 minutes in total, so I guess the 170MB is about right. I was hoping I would be able to at least compress it down further using WinRAR or WinZip, but I guess not.

Is there any sort of free, secure, file-hosting site on the web? If not I guess I will have to burn some DVDs and throw them in the mail.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[cpacini]

You should be able to email them through gmail (assuming your not running on a dial up connection or something). PM me if you would like an invite.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: cpacini
You should be able to email them through gmail (assuming your not running on a dial up connection or something). PM me if you would like an invite.

Thank you for the suggestion! Luckily I am already a gmail member so I will give that a shot. I have been trying to send it using Outlook and it locks up everytime. I just assumed the file was too big, but maybe there is something else at work here.

 

[TheRyuu]

http://www.yousendit.com/

Use that, Send files up to 1 gig.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: wizboy11
http://www.yousendit.com/

Use that, Send files up to 1 gig.

Wow, that looks fantastically simple! Thanks wizboy I will try it when I get home.

Cheers, KT

 

[Hacp]

Originally posted by: wizboy11
http://www.yousendit.com/

Use that, Send files up to 1 gig.

Thats what I always use. Great site!