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I have large (4 GB each) HD video files (.avi) recorded using Fraps.
What application and codec (freeware) can I use to encode these videos and make them smaller?
I'd like my videos to be watchable on Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and possibly in browsers with HTML5 support.
I've already made a search and found out that h.264 should be OK. But I can't figure out how to encode my videos using it. I've found x264 project and x264 unofficial binary. But it seems to be a command line utility which is hard to use.
Added: My OS is Windows XP or 7, but crossplatfrom solution would be preffered.
Dmitriy
Posted 2012-03-25T07:56:15.197
Reputation: 531
So we know what Os you want it to work for, but what OS are you on or prefer to do the encoding? I disagree that 264 is ok, there are many devices and computers not yet set up for that. Some older small devices (like our gpses) cant use that codec although they can easily use the standard Xvid and divx and MSes MP4 codecs, it would just depend on what software they have and use and what they will install. Check this, whatever you use see if it will work in a Stock MS xp and win7 and stock Mac and stock Iphone and ipad, without a single change, using built in players. – Psycogeek – 2012-03-25T08:35:50.080
possible duplicate of What is your favorite transcoding software?
– slhck – 2012-03-25T08:37:23.227Lame duplicate, but just try a few applications suggested there! See also, our blog entry: Video Conversion done right: Codecs and Software - Super User Blog
– slhck – 2012-03-25T08:37:39.297@Psycogeek, I've added OS – Dmitriy – 2012-03-25T10:18:08.730
What codec will you suggest? VP8 also seems to be good. @slhck, thanks for your links, I'll read and try. – Dmitriy – 2012-03-25T10:25:43.010
I am an old fan of virtual dub. I must have filters, must be able to control things as needed, and must do a 2 pass. I prefer xvid mp4 as balance of good vrses compatable (and set for a divx header for "more" compatable). temporal filter is an interesting item to apply when compressing, it can be nice to increase sharpness and color a bit when displaying smaller, and precise bicubic is my fav downsize alogrythm. Check it out, but there are things to learn with that. SLHCKs blog post is Very well done and thought up. All that is very good today info. – Psycogeek – 2012-03-25T10:49:53.103
1Depends on your application afterwards — x264 will offer better compression and quality, but it takes longer to encode and might be troublesome for legacy devices. Xvid is easier to encode but results in larger files, yet slightly better compatibility. – slhck – 2012-03-25T10:56:45.403