Adobe Premiere Pro Media Encoder versus Windows Media Encoder x64...

[riz]

Hi guys! new to encoding and have a few q's for you :)

Ok, to start... Windows Media Encoder x64 versus Adobe Premiere CS4 Media Encoder. I will be converting 1080p60fps mp4 24mbit files to WMV HD. I am looking for best compatibility among windows systems as well as best visual quality and I am not sure if it matters which I use for best overall quality and compatibility?

Money is not a factor BUT I don't want to spend $800 for no reason either! I want the best but if free is the best so be it lol so stupid question, can free windows media encoder be as good as the top windows program for editing and encoding (Premiere Pro)? For the purposes of this question I only want the encoding quality to be considered between Premiere and WMEncoder, I am well aware of the rest of what Premiere offers but again, for this question, just encoding quality is being compared :)

Please explain the pros and cons of both options if you would be so kind :)

Thanks!
riz

[Selur]

Never tried Adobe Premiere Pro Media Encoder, but Microsoft Express Encoder (http://www.microsoft.com/expression/products/Encoder_Overview.aspx) might also be worth to check out (http://www.microsoft.com/Expression/try-it/default.aspx#PageTop).

[Blue_MiSfit]

Expression Encoder is A HUGE step up from the old Windows Media Encoder, and is well worth its low cost.

Why WMVHD? It's a really old format that only allows CBR etc... If you just want to stream HD using Windows Media, use VC-1 encoded from Expression Encoder. It can even do Smart Streaming IIS support (Which automagically encodes several streams for each input, and adaptively switches streams during playback as bandwidth conditions allow). VC-1 in this scenario would blow WMVHD away :)

Also, Premiere Pro Encoder is FAR from the best app for encoding on Windows :p It's "kinda sorta enough for most people", but can't hold a candle to other encoding packages, open-source or otherwise.

~MiSfit

[riz]

Selur, thank you for the Expression 3 suggestion, I have downloaded the free trial and it is much nicer and feature filled when compared to wme! but so far on highest quality setting much slower than wme or adobe encoder, at this point same file simimlar encodes 3 times slower in expression for some reason :(

MiSfit, thanks for your response as well. i guess i don't really understand the difference between wmvhd and vc-1. Currently when using expressions vc-1 profile for my 1080p60fps mp4s, they can only be encoded at the vc-1 advanced profile and cannot be encoded at the vc-1 main profile level, is that a potential limiting factor when it comes to broad user compatibility? Are vc-1 and wmvhd compatibility across most or all windows pcs?

Whatever you can share to help me understand the differences and computability issues would be greatly appreciated

thx,
riz

edit, expression in normal 3 is the same speed of the other two encoders mentioned, on max quality 5 it i 3 times slower, guess that is the price to pay if i want the quality encodes unless you guys can tell me there is little difference between 3 and 5 besides 3 times the encoding time

[Blue_MiSfit]

quality 5 is extremely slow, like --preset placebo with x264. quality 3 (default) is a good balance, and quality 4 is a lot slower, but has nice quality gains.

VC-1 can be played on basically any PC with WMP installed, and is easier on hardware than H.264 is, for sure.

WMVHD is a specific standard that uses WMV9 Advanced (which is basically an early early version of VC-1 that may or may not actually conform to the VC-1 spec, I don't recall actually), and CBR encoding. It was an attempt to deliver 720p or 1080p video on a DVD9, before we had BluRay and HD-DVD. VC-1 advanced is a much better choice, since it's more flexible, and has more features.

~MiSfit

[Selur]

I agree with Blue_MiSfit, quality 3 or 4 is probably the way to go unless your sample is rather small. :)