Reducing file size of AVI.

[de8212]

I took a short 24 second video of my daughter that my my wants to put on her facebook page. The file is 46MD though. I think that's just the way my camera (Canon S3 Is) is. It takes videos but they are huge. What's the best (preferably free) software to reduce the file size but yet keep the most quality out of the video?

 

[vj8usa]

Try Handbrake. You could also give Windows Movie Maker a shot. It's a lot less versatile than Handbrake when it comes to formats and settings, but it's also built into Windows.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: de8212
I took a short 24 second video of my daughter that my my wants to put on her facebook page. The file is 46MD though. I think that's just the way my camera (Canon S3 Is) is. It takes videos but they are huge. What's the best (preferably free) software to reduce the file size but yet keep the most quality out of the video?

Handbrake or SUPER would work.

Encode it as H264 and you'll probably end up with something less than 10 MB.

Alternatively, you could send it straight to Youtube and it'll reduce the size for you

 

[de8212]

OK, I used Handbrake but I dodn't know what file to convert it to. I just shose avi (even though it was already an avi??). Filesize did drop and quality looks good but since b0mbrman posted about H264 that got me curious as to how to convert it to that?? I don't see it as an option in Handbrake. I see :
M4V
MP4
MKV
OGM
AVI

 

[Ken g6]

Those are container formats. I think Handbrake uses H.264 automatically.

 

[0roo0roo]

well no, handbrake gives the option of using mpeg4 or h264. the high profile settings are h264 default of course. h264 will preserve far more quality per bitrate. but what matters is if facebook accepts the file.

stay away from super, poor interface, lousy coding, general botchiness.

 

[de8212]

OK, so waht is the best format to save it in that I listed above?

And

What is the best file format to save it in that I listed above for facebook?

 

[0roo0roo]

if its already avi, its already mpeg4, you'd need to lower bitrate or use h264 to cram it into a smaller file.

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: de8212
OK, I used Handbrake but I dodn't know what file to convert it to. I just shose avi (even though it was already an avi??). Filesize did drop and quality looks good but since b0mbrman posted about H264 that got me curious as to how to convert it to that?? I don't see it as an option in Handbrake. I see :
M4V
MP4
MKV
OGM
AVI

Those are envelopes.

Use H264 as the codec and whatever you like as the envelope. I'd recommend .avi so you don't run into compatibility issues...

So I just checked out Facebook's video upload page and it says this:

Please upload a file only if:

* The video is under 1024 MB and under 20 minutes.
* The video was made by you or your friends.
* You or one of your friends appears in the video.

It looks like your 42 MB (I assume MD means MB) file is well within those parameters. Are you sure that the size is the issue?

Or am I even asking the right question? Do you just want to shrink it so that it takes less time to upload?

 

[de8212]

I got it. I just saved it back to an avi and the file size dropped to ~4MB. That was the whole purpose is to have it a smaller file size so when people open her page and want to see the video, it doesn't take forever to load. Of course, facebook might do its own conversion but I have never used facebook and my wife has never uploaded a video to it (only pics).

Thanks for all the help.

 

[0roo0roo]

well i don't think they use the original...
don't they reencode video like youtube? avi isn't streaming after all. the file size limits tend to be there to keep the load down for them, they dont want u doing something stupid like uploading raw or 1080p footage wasting their bandwidth. they probably crunch it down to their own format upon receipt. in that case reencoding the file yourself if the file is within size limits and doesn't strain your upload is pointless..and only degrades the file before they take a turn at crunching it down. u know..photocopy a photocopy......