Windows WMV to AVI

Dear Great Masters of DV:

I was asked to convert a WMV file to AVI. I didn't see any presets in Compressor 3, so I loaded the WMV in FC6 and exported using QT conversion to AVI. The file size went from 45.7 to 164.7 which confuses me since I don't understand how you can make something small bigger. Then I when I played the larger AVI file back it looked awful. The WMV file was nice and clean at 45.7. This reason I was aked to do this convesion is the AVI file was needed for editing in Premiere Pro. I would think Premiere Pro would accept WMV files but I'm told no, only AVI. That can't be right?

Shelley
MacBoo Pro 2015
16 GB Ram
OS X 10.13
Premiere Pro CC

> I was asked to convert a WMV file to AVI. I didn't see any presets in Compressor 3, so I loaded
> the WMV in FC6 and exported using QT conversion to AVI. The file size went from 45.7 to 164.7
> which confuses me since I don't understand how you can make something small bigger.

You can blow up a postage stamp to the size of a billboard; it just won't look very good. If you had a 320x240 image and then you used 1000 pixels to represent each pixel on the original image, you'd end up with a 320000x240000px image...but it would still look as bad as the original, only you're now using much more data to represent an already damaged image. If you had a tiny apartment with only one couch, moving to a giant house won't change the fact that you're still only looking at one couch, but the cost just skyrocketed. Makes sense?

> Then I when I played the larger AVI file back it looked awful. The WMV file was nice and clean
> at 45.7.

Two things here. One, Koz Wisdom® would tell you that AVIs need to be huge in order to look anything like decent. Using an Uncompressed AVI to represent a 45MB WMV file (probably intended for the web) is complete overkill.

Two, AVI is just the wrapper, like QuickTime. You still need to choose a codec, frame size, data rate, the works. What did you use?


www.derekmok.com

Yes that makes sense.

>>Two, AVI is just the wrapper, like QuickTime. You still need to choose a codec, frame size, data rate, the works. What did you use?>>

I just used the default Cinepak codec with best motion and best quality. Does that mean the AVI file I output/converted from WMV was uncompressed? That was my intention.

What is the best approach to give this Premiere Editor the best quality file to work with? I would think that Premeire Pro would be able to work with .WMV files. (The editor doesn't know)

I had to use Quicktime conversion to make the AVI file. I'm wondering why Compressor 3 doesn't have this output option?

Thanks

Shelley
MacBoo Pro 2015
16 GB Ram
OS X 10.13
Premiere Pro CC

> I just used the default Cinepak codec with best motion and best quality. Does that mean the
> AVI file I output/converted from WMV was uncompressed?

Hard to tell. Cinepak is a very old codec. How compressed it is depends on what settings you chose. Looks like you didn't limit the data rate, so the file size went through the roof!

> I would think that Premeire Pro would be able to work with .WMV files. (The editor doesn't
> know)

It's been a full seven years since I worked with Adobe Premiere, and way back in those days, Premiere was using QuickTime movies. It sounds to me like the other editor should have researched and tested things before sending you on a possible wild-goose chase! How can he not know which formats are compatible with his system? Ten seconds on Google...

[www.google.com]

[www.adobe.com]

I quote:

Support for any media -- Import and export major video, audio, and graphic file formats: QuickTime, Windows Media, AVI, BWF, AIFF, JPEG, PNG, PSD, TIFF, and more.

Looks like he may have made you a whole lotta work for no reason.


www.derekmok.com

I had a feeling converting to AVI was not necessary. He should have know that since he's been editing a lot longer than I have. I will send him the link -- and the bill

Thanks

Shelley
MacBoo Pro 2015
16 GB Ram
OS X 10.13
Premiere Pro CC