.mov, .avi, .mpg or .wmv? That is the question.

[TheG]

I am creating a CDROM for a band and want to add video to it. The video, currently stored on miniDV, is 3 minutes long.

I have figured out how to add it to the web page ie using the object, embed or a href="" html tags but what format do I want the actual video in to be compatible with most peoples computers .mov, .avi, .mpg or .wmv, etc?

AS its on CD, file size is less of an issue. Would I add a couple of formats or just the one?

So far I have sort of worked out that .wmv files play on XP and similar aged Windows Media Players but not 98 aged players (or they will if they perhaps download a codec). So in that case would .mpg be better as it would play on both new and old?


Thanks

Mike

[ormonde]

"So in that case would .mpg be better as it would play on both new and old?"

I'd go with mpeg-1...

[setarip]

As "ormonde" suggested, MPEG-1 is certainly the most "universal" format...

[TheG]

Hey thanks for the replies.

So mpeg-1 is the most universal disregarding file size. So which then is the most universal bearing file size in mind. I say this because later on I want to add a shortened clip to the website.

[reboot]

wmv probably. Everything from win98 up should play it, except Mac's.
You could try mov (quicktime) if you need Mac people to read it as well, but Windows users will have to download the Quicktime player.

[TheG]

For someone to view a wmv file on a media player as old as 98 they would probably have to download a codec or something I presume. That is fine for me and you perhaps but to some people wouldnt understand what they were downloading and cancel it for fear of not knowing what was happening.

Good point about having to download the quicktime player for Mac's although I asked a Mac user the other day who said he can use mpegs as well. So that is good.

I also spoke to someone else who said there were a few different "types" of avi files, so codecs may need to be downloaded in some cases using this format.

All this is good because I am getting a good overview of the pros and cons of the different formats which is exactly what I was after.

Thanks.

Any other comments are welcome as you can never know too much.

[ormonde]

"Thanks."

Glad (We) could be of help

[reboot]

Probably the most common today (for Windows machines) is DivX.
Everyone would be able to view it, windows or mac, but yes, they'd have to download the decoder (free).
WMV will work without downloading anything, for anyone running 98 or newer. It's built in to windows, even the old windows media player standard, however nobody on a Mac will be able to view it.
Mpeg-1 is still more universal, however the filesize may be prohibitive for internet use.

[ormonde]

"Mpeg-1 is still more universal, however the filesize may be prohibitive for internet use."

The KVCD templates for "TMPGEnc" solves that problem...

[reboot]

Yes, very true. I had forgotten!