Windows Media Encoder
Encyclopedia
Windows Media Encoder is a freely downloadable trial version media
encoder
developed by Microsoft
which enables content developers to convert or capture both live and prerecorded audio, video, and computer screen images to Windows Media
formats for live and on-demand
delivery. It is the successor of NetShow Encoder. As of October 2010, it is still available for download, but cannot be found in the Microsoft download search index: it has been replaced by a free version of Microsoft Expression Encoder
. The Media 8 Encoding Utility is still listed.
The latest version, Windows Media Encoder 9 Series, can encode video using Windows Media Video
version 7, 8 or 9. Audio encoding uses a number of Windows Media Audio
version 9.2 or version 10 (if the version 10 codecs are installed) profiles and a Windows Media Audio 9 Voice speech codec. Content can also be created as uncompressed audio or video. It is available in both 32-bit
and 64-bit
versions.
Windows Media Encoder 9 Series enables two-pass encoding to optimize quality for on-demand (streamed
or download-and-play) content. It also supports variable bitrate
(VBR) encoding for download-and-play scenarios. True VBR can be applied over the entire duration of a high-motion sequence, ensuring the highest quality. This version also enables scripted encoding with the wmcmd.vbs VBScript
file allowing content developers to encode large numbers of prerecorded media files. Bundled with the program are the applications Windows Media File Editor, Windows Media Profile Editor, and Windows Media Stream Editor.
The GUI encoder application is actually a "wrapper" of the encoder
itself. Developers can write their own applications using Visual Studio to perform the same functions found in the application. These applications can be used to automate audio and video production. An SDK is also available.
as part of its Expression Studio
suite.
Multimedia
Multimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which use only rudimentary computer display such as text-only, or...
encoder
Codec
A codec is a device or computer program capable of encoding or decoding a digital data stream or signal. The word codec is a portmanteau of "compressor-decompressor" or, more commonly, "coder-decoder"...
developed by Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
which enables content developers to convert or capture both live and prerecorded audio, video, and computer screen images to Windows Media
Windows Media
Windows Media is a multimedia framework for media creation and distribution for Microsoft Windows. It consists of a software development kit with several application programming interfaces and a number of prebuilt technologies, and is the replacement of NetShow technologies.The Windows Media SDK...
formats for live and on-demand
Video on demand
Video on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand...
delivery. It is the successor of NetShow Encoder. As of October 2010, it is still available for download, but cannot be found in the Microsoft download search index: it has been replaced by a free version of Microsoft Expression Encoder
Microsoft Expression Encoder
Microsoft Expression Encoder is a Windows-based program for encoding digital video for web-based video. Expression Encoder can be used to create video compressed VC-1 as well as H.264 for distribution via Microsoft Silverlight. Expression Encoder features a WPF-based modern graphical user...
. The Media 8 Encoding Utility is still listed.
The latest version, Windows Media Encoder 9 Series, can encode video using Windows Media Video
Windows Media Video
'Windows Media Video is a video compression format for several proprietary codecs developed by Microsoft. The original video format, known as WMV, was originally designed for Internet streaming applications, as a competitor to RealVideo. The other formats, such as WMV Screen and WMV Image, cater...
version 7, 8 or 9. Audio encoding uses a number of Windows Media Audio
Windows Media Audio
Windows Media Audio is an audio data compression technology developed by Microsoft. The name can be used to refer to its audio file format or its audio codecs. It is a proprietary technology that forms part of the Windows Media framework. WMA consists of four distinct codecs...
version 9.2 or version 10 (if the version 10 codecs are installed) profiles and a Windows Media Audio 9 Voice speech codec. Content can also be created as uncompressed audio or video. It is available in both 32-bit
32-bit
The range of integer values that can be stored in 32 bits is 0 through 4,294,967,295. Hence, a processor with 32-bit memory addresses can directly access 4 GB of byte-addressable memory....
and 64-bit
64-bit
64-bit is a word size that defines certain classes of computer architecture, buses, memory and CPUs, and by extension the software that runs on them. 64-bit CPUs have existed in supercomputers since the 1970s and in RISC-based workstations and servers since the early 1990s...
versions.
Windows Media Encoder 9 Series enables two-pass encoding to optimize quality for on-demand (streamed
Streaming media
Streaming media is multimedia that is constantly received by and presented to an end-user while being delivered by a streaming provider.The term "presented" is used in this article in a general sense that includes audio or video playback. The name refers to the delivery method of the medium rather...
or download-and-play) content. It also supports variable bitrate
Variable bitrate
Variable bitrate is a term used in telecommunications and computing that relates to the bitrate used in sound or video encoding. As opposed to constant bitrate , VBR files vary the amount of output data per time segment...
(VBR) encoding for download-and-play scenarios. True VBR can be applied over the entire duration of a high-motion sequence, ensuring the highest quality. This version also enables scripted encoding with the wmcmd.vbs VBScript
VBScript
VBScript is an Active Scripting language developed by Microsoft that is modeled on Visual Basic. It is designed as a “lightweight” language with a fast interpreter for use in a wide variety of Microsoft environments...
file allowing content developers to encode large numbers of prerecorded media files. Bundled with the program are the applications Windows Media File Editor, Windows Media Profile Editor, and Windows Media Stream Editor.
The GUI encoder application is actually a "wrapper" of the encoder
Codec
A codec is a device or computer program capable of encoding or decoding a digital data stream or signal. The word codec is a portmanteau of "compressor-decompressor" or, more commonly, "coder-decoder"...
itself. Developers can write their own applications using Visual Studio to perform the same functions found in the application. These applications can be used to automate audio and video production. An SDK is also available.
Versions
- NetShow Encoder 3.0
- NetShow Encoder 3.01 (comes with Powerpoint 2000)
- Windows Media Encoder 4.0 (also as part of the Windows Media Tools) Windows Media Tools 4.1 was the last release for Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0.
- Windows Media Encoder 7.1 (for Windows 98, Windows Me and Windows 2000)
- Windows Media 8 Encoding Utility (command-line) for Windows 98, Windows Me and Windows 2000
- Windows Media Encoder 9
Windows Media Encoder Studio Edition
Windows Media Encoder Studio Edition was a separate planned version of Windows Media Encoder 9 Series with support for segment encoding and multiple audio channels. After beta 1, it was eventually cancelled. Microsoft later released the commercial application, Expression EncoderMicrosoft Expression Encoder
Microsoft Expression Encoder is a Windows-based program for encoding digital video for web-based video. Expression Encoder can be used to create video compressed VC-1 as well as H.264 for distribution via Microsoft Silverlight. Expression Encoder features a WPF-based modern graphical user...
as part of its Expression Studio
Microsoft Expression Studio
Microsoft Expression Studio is a suite of tools for designing and building web and Windows client applications and rich digital media contents.- Overview :...
suite.
See also
- WMV HDWMV HDWindows Media High Definition Video is the marketing name for high definition videos encoded using Microsoft Windows Media Video 9 codecs...
- Windows Media PlayerWindows Media PlayerWindows Media Player is a media player and media library application developed by Microsoft that is used for playing audio, video and viewing images on personal computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system, as well as on Pocket PC and Windows Mobile-based devices...
- Windows Media ServicesWindows Media ServicesWindows Media Services is a streaming media server from Microsoft that allows an administrator to generate streaming media . Only Windows Media, JPEG, and MP3 formats are supported...
- Windows Movie MakerWindows Movie MakerWindows Movie Maker is a video creating/editing software application, included in Microsoft Windows Me, XP, and Vista. It contains features such as effects, transitions, titles/credits, audio track, timeline narration, and Auto Movie. New effects and transitions can be made and existing ones can be...
- Microsoft Expression EncoderMicrosoft Expression EncoderMicrosoft Expression Encoder is a Windows-based program for encoding digital video for web-based video. Expression Encoder can be used to create video compressed VC-1 as well as H.264 for distribution via Microsoft Silverlight. Expression Encoder features a WPF-based modern graphical user...
External links
- Windows Media Downloads (Windows Media Encoder has been removed)
- Microsoft Expression Encoder Homepage at Microsoft
- Windows Media Homepage at Microsoft
- Fix for issues with Windows Vista