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XviD codec
XviD is the open source version of "DivX" and is
a very high quality MPEG-4 based codec. It is probably not as
easy to use as DivX but it is free and unlimited. You can
download the latest stable release of the XviD codec here:
http://www.xvidmovies.com/codec/
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DivX
6 "Create Bundle" DivX
Networks now releases version 6 of its codec as part of a "bundle".
You get a 6 month trial of the DivX 6 Pro codec as well as a 15-day
trial of "DivX Converter". You can download it here:
http://www.divx.com/divx/create/
MacOS versions are available as well: http://www.divx.com/divx/mac/
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LAME MP3 ACM
Codec The included MP3 codec in Windows is
extremely limited in its range of bitrates and settings. "LAME" is an open
source MP3 encoder and this ACM codec version allows you to use much higher MP3 bitrates
for the audio in your DivX video.
Click here for a guide on how to install
the LAME MP3 ACM Codec.
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VirtualDub VirtualDub is one of the best linear video editing programs. It comes
with many useful included plug-ins and there are many more third-party plug-ins on the
internet.
VirtualDub can be used to convert your video to DivX AVI with the
above two codecs installed.
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Windows
Movie Maker 2 Non-linear editing (NLE) has
traditionally not come cheaply. However, this Microsoft product is quite reasonable
and comes at a price that cannot be beaten!
Searching the Microsoft download website yields
several add-ons to WMM2
here.
Unfortunately, Microsoft being Microsoft, only allows you to export
to WMV format or DV-AVI (Type 1). To be able to edit further, you will need a VFW DV
codec and a DV Type-1 to Type-2 converter (the two below programs).
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Panasonic
VFW DV codec This handy little codec allows you
to open DV-AVI files with VirtualDub. Very useful!
Click here for a guide on how to
install the Panasonic VFW DV codec.
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DV Type-1 to
Type-2 Converter VirtualDub can't open DV Type-1
AVI files (which is all that Windows Movie Maker 2 will produce) so if you use WMM2, then
you will need this little program to convert types first.
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Bitrate
calculator Just a tiny handy little application
to help you calculate what you should set the average video bitrate to. The settings
are preset for the VideoHelp.com Short Film Competition.
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