This guide outlines how to use MediaCoder to compress or convert audio or video files. You may want to do this if your file is very large or you need to convert it to a different format to more easily share with others. If your file is already in a standard format with good compression, then the process described here is not necessary. This guide does not address how to import the video from a camera, which should be performed with video editing software. Even though MediaCoder is specifically used here, similar principles can be applied to other media converters and encoders.
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Processing a Video File
This process converts a video to MPEG-4 format, which has excellent compression, yet retains a good quality image.
- Find the video file (e.g. AVI, WMV) on your drive that you want to covert.
- Drag the file into mediacoder or click the add file button.
- Download the video preset file below (note that you may need to right click and "save as"). If your video is in widescreen format, use the 16:9 file. For traditional, use the 4:3 file.
- In MediaCoder, use the File menu to "load preset" and select this file.
- If you want to add audio, select the "Audio" tab and check the "enable audio" box. The file will be smaller without audio, so leave it unchecked if audio is not important for the clip.
- Click the start button to begin the converting process.
- Once the processing is complete, open the file in a media player to make sure it is the quality you are looking for.
- If the file needs to be smaller, try reducing the quality setting or removing audio.
- Settings to look at for reducing size even more: lower the bitrate, resample audio.
- Also, MediaCoder is also able to do some simple movie editing like exporting a short section of a longer video during the conversion process. From the menu, select Features >> Clipping and Effects to find this option. There you will also find a de-interlace option that may be helpful if horizontal lines are showing on your video output.
- Due to the thousands of video formats available, this process may not work on your particular video. Video is notoriously difficult to work with. Some troubleshooting and possibly use of another video converter or editing software may be necessary.
- Dedicate extra time to your project and don't expect the video editing process to work flawlessly.
Processing an Audio File
This process converts an audio file to the popular MP3 format, which has good compression characteristics.
- Find the audio file (e.g. WAV, WMV) on your drive that you want to covert.
- Drag the file into MediaCoder
- Download the MP3 audio preset file below (note that you may need to right click and "save as").
- In MediaCoder, use the File menu to "load preset" and select this file.
- Click the start button to begin the converting process.
- Once the file is saved, check it by playing it in a media player of your choice.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Video conversion MPEG4-v2 mediacoder 4-3 no audio.xml | 807 bytes |
| Video conversion MPEG4-v2 mediacoder 16-9 widescreen no audio.xml | 856 bytes |
| audio conversion to mp3 mediacoder preset.xml | 367 bytes |
| Media Coder Preset All Files.zip | 1.92 KB |
| Screencast Encoding to FLV mediacoder preset.xml | 464 bytes |