Video conversion

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I have two questions about this.

1. When you convert video from one format to another why does the converted video end up larger than the original? I did a conversion of som .mov vids that I have to .mp4 and the resulting files were huge compared to the originals. For example one started off as roughly 500KB and after the conversion was around 25MB. the same thing happened for other formats too.:hhhmmm Is this normal?

2. In relation to the above, does anyone have a good recomendation for video format conversion software? Currently I'm using Xilisoft video converter but I'm open for suggestions.

 

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Could possibly be the settings your using. Are you trying to convert to high quality files or something?

 

Nope, no high quality for me as they are being converted to put on a handheld device. The quality setting is set to normal and even on the lowest setting it will still turn a half megabyte file into a 46 megabyte file.

 

Jim's (half) right.

The file's size after conversion is based on two things:-

1. Which encoder (codec) you're using to convert the file
2. Quality (bit-rate)

Some older codecs (such as some of the ones bundled with Windows) aren't very effiicent and therefore your post converted file will be far larger.

The best way to progress is to use a newer codec such as DivX/Xvid to do the conversion. E.G - This

Just make sure your handheld (or whatever you're planning to play it on) has the ability to play these files.

If all else fails, and you want to stick with your Xilisoft video converter, then just specifiy a smaller output size, which will reduce the file's bitrate therefore reducing the size of the file after conversion.

Hope that helps mate.

Qs

 

When you say hand held device, what is it going onto, a PDA.

I have used a program called DVDtoPocketPC, you basically tell it the source, then tell it what size memory card you have and away it goes, I converted a full DVD and told it I only had a 128MB card, worked a treat and on the smaller screen you dont notice the quality loss.

 

They are to go onto my new media player. I think it's just a case of finding the right format that will result in the smallest file. As you say Nelix, I shouldn't notice the quality loss on the small screen. I wasn't really concerned with that aanyway, more the surprise that what starts as a 0.5 MB file before conversion ends up as much as a 200 MB after conversion.

 

Could be the frame rate as well.

 

Some useful info here mate..

http://www.ehow.com/how_2054138_make-video-files-smaller.html