Author Topic: 2007 AMV Contest: NEED HELP REDUCING FILE SIZE ASAP  (Read 4088 times)

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Offline animeangelash

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2007 AMV Contest: NEED HELP REDUCING FILE SIZE ASAP
« on: July 21, 2007, 09:30:04 pm »
As those of you who are entering the AMV contest know, the deadline is fast approaching. It is now less than a week away. Currently, I'm just putting the finishing touches on the AMVs I intend to submit. However, I realize I have a problem. Since they're all game AMVs, and saved in the .avi format, they are HUMUNGOUS, way beyond the limit. The one I just finished, for instance, is 425 MB, and another half-finished one is 700 already. I've been running around trying to find a way to reduce the file size, but everything I've found is full of jargin that I don't understand and INCREDIBLY unhelpful. Can anyone here help me? I'd be eternally grateful if you could.

Offline dakrum

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Re: 2007 AMV Contest: NEED HELP REDUCING FILE SIZE ASAP
« Reply #1 on: July 21, 2007, 09:57:16 pm »
i don't know that much about this stuff but what i do know is that if encode in h.264 there is good chance that u could use a lower bit rate (kb/s that sort of thing) and still have the same quality video  :D
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Offline EveofAbyss

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Re: 2007 AMV Contest: NEED HELP REDUCING FILE SIZE ASAP
« Reply #2 on: July 21, 2007, 11:26:27 pm »
Okay, I think I can help you out. I entered my AMV's and they are all top-notch, so you know I know what I am talkin about, lol. But yeah, my AMV's were video game clips, also. Here is what I did:

- I imported/downloaded the fmv clips from the video games.
- I made the AMV in Windows Movie Maker.
- I saved the AMV, as an original, in WMV format. This tends to turn out a relatively small-sized file, even if the length is long, up to 4.5 minutes. (The size is approx. 30-40mb)
- I take that original, the WMV, and I convert and encode it using EO Video (http://www.eo-video.com/ - This is a free convertor that in my experience works amazingly).
- Setting the particulars for the video, I set the screen dimensions to 720x540. (These are the dimensions that I have heard work best for a live setting, aka a projector and screen.) I also set the video compression to Xvid or Divx (they are from the same program).
- I then encode it with Divx (http://www.divx.com/) and convert it to an AVI. With this process, the output file should be of a size that fits the Kumoricon regulations (no bigger than 125mb or so). The output should be clean and presentable, depending on the original quality of the clips you used.

So, I wouldn't expect you to do your AMV's all over, but if you do have, like I said, an original or some non-final version of your AMV's, then using EO Video should be no problem. You can still try to encode and compress the final versions if you don't, but I have found that working with the original gets it at an earlier stage and leaves less probablity for error or any problems.

Anyway, so I hope this helps you out a bit, and sorry if there was any jargon in there, heh. It is pretty techy stuff, lol


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Offline Kimiski

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Re: 2007 AMV Contest: NEED HELP REDUCING FILE SIZE ASAP
« Reply #3 on: July 22, 2007, 11:11:44 pm »
As those of you who are entering the AMV contest know, the deadline is fast approaching. It is now less than a week away. Currently, I'm just putting the finishing touches on the AMVs I intend to submit. However, I realize I have a problem. Since they're all game AMVs, and saved in the .avi format, they are HUMUNGOUS, way beyond the limit. The one I just finished, for instance, is 425 MB, and another half-finished one is 700 already. I've been running around trying to find a way to reduce the file size, but everything I've found is full of jargin that I don't understand and INCREDIBLY unhelpful. Can anyone here help me? I'd be eternally grateful if you could.

You seriously have my sympathy.
I cant enter this year
I tried EVERYTHING imaginable to get mine down, (its 900MB)
And nothing worked without tottaly ruining the resolution
I honestly dont know of anything.
I asked on Kcon forums, Gaia online, other forums, Video Production teacher, friends, ect.
I hope the min MB limit gets killed in the future someday.


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Offline Prinz Eugen

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Re: 2007 AMV Contest: NEED HELP REDUCING FILE SIZE ASAP
« Reply #4 on: July 24, 2007, 06:42:54 am »
I will be doing a demo on compressing & encoding during the AMV Clinic.
I believe that event will be set up in the Fan Creation Station.

- Guy L.

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(Named after a very well-built and brilliantly engineered ship.)

Offline Pie Row Maniac

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Re: 2007 AMV Contest: NEED HELP REDUCING FILE SIZE ASAP
« Reply #5 on: July 24, 2007, 01:57:06 pm »
angelash, are you using Windows Movie Maker or something else? What format did you export the video as?

Offline Kimiski

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Re: 2007 AMV Contest: NEED HELP REDUCING FILE SIZE ASAP
« Reply #6 on: July 27, 2007, 05:51:17 pm »
I will be doing a demo on compressing & encoding during the AMV Clinic.
I believe that event will be set up in the Fan Creation Station.

- Guy L.

(Note - 'Geirr' account did not work with the 'new' system, so I am now using 'Prinz Eugen.'
(Named after a very well-built and brilliantly engineered ship.)

*raises hand high* Im so going!!!! O.O


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