Compressing or splitting .mov files

[Alex]

lcruizer,

If you want to recommend software, just post links. We don't wan't .RAR files or program files posted as attachments here.

Thanks,

[Sarratt]

If you have Windows XP just use Movie Maker .

It's quite good in either splitting a video or editing or even compressing size wise.

I've seen videos here that are 10mb but when converted via Movie Maker to a lower compression are 2-3 mb.
There is a degredation in quality but .... um .... it's erotica here, not sunsets.

Mark (Sarratt)

ps .... I put my name both ways because I am about to add a harddrive and I fear I will be loosing everything

[mysticalos]

I'm a mac user myself and i just use quicktime pro. Then you can use the export format. The format i use the most is MPEG-4 improved (i don't use 264 all that much yet because that sometimes requires people to get updated software for it). You can experiment with different bit rates and sample rates for audio and usually get some very small sizes..Quicktime is also an old fashioned editor. Cropping and splitting files is simply done by copy and pasting...Just do a new movie, then select part of video you want, say from start to 1/4th. While holding shift (multi select multiple frames at once) drag the slider to the spot you wish first video to stop at. Then choose "cut" and paste it in new movie window. Save the output new movie as a SELF CONTAINED movie or export it only...otherwise it will link against original file and not actually be a clip in itself...continue splicing further parts of movie. until you are done, don't save original clip after you've bisected it too much. Why i suggested cut vs copy is cause in case you accidentally deselect any portions you've already split, you don't include them in other movie segments again..But if you use mpeg 4 option you really won't have any problems getting movie small..just follow simple instructions

1. Open video clip in quicktime player (has to be pro registered)
2. choose Export from file menu.
3. pick Mpeg-4 from popup then customize options
4. Leave frame rate and size options set to "current" so they are unmodified. then go to video tab and choose various settings for bit rate. start lower and work up until size/quality tradeoff matches something desirable...on audio tab, make sure to switch to mono if you only had one input track. No sense in doubling size of audio track when source file wasn't even stereo...Also don't let it put 44.1khz sample rate for audio either if you recorded it with a typical camera mic...use 22.05 mono...hmm guess my simple instructions getting complex...

But fiddle with it until you get outputs that work for you and have good size..

If you want me to convert em I can always do that too..Once i do one, if your capturing with same source every time, then i could give you optimum settings to use once i see one clip and you can do it yourself from then on by using same settings every time..