Windows Media Encoder x64 now available - with VC-1 support!

zambelli · 18th November 2005, 22:17

This morning Microsoft released a new x64 version of its Windows Media Encoder 9 series. You can download it from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...r/default.aspx. Here are the details on the differences between the x86 and x64 version:

Comparing 32-bit and 64-bit Versions
You can encode audio and video content in Windows Media Video (WMV) format using either the 32-bit version or the 64-bit version of Windows Media Encoder 9 Series. The version you choose will depend on your encoding scenarios.

The new Windows Media Encoder 9 Series x64 Edition contains the same feature set as the widely used 32-bit version of Windows Media Encoder 9 Series as well as the following updates:

VC-1 video codec. Windows Media Encoder 9 Series x64 Edition includes support for a fully SMPTE-compliant version of the new VC-1 video codec. Windows Media Video 9 Advanced Profile is Microsoft’s implementation of VC-1, which is the proposed SMPTE standard that delivers high-definition quality with highly efficient compression rates. It requires less computational power and can be decoded at full 1080i/p resolution on a typical computer. Windows Media Video 9 Advanced Profile delivers high definition (HD) content at bit rates as low as 6 Mbps to 8 Mbps.
Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM). In contrast to the 32-bit version of Windows Media Encoder 9 Series, the 64-bit version includes a separate DRM Protect Utility that allows you to apply DRM protection to your content files after the encoding process is completed. The DRM Protect Utility uses the information in the DRM profile you select to encrypt your content with a key, and other digital rights management settings that are specific to that DRM profile.
The DRM Protect Utility is available only for the 64-bit version of the encoder and cannot be used with the 32-bit version. Additionally, the DRM encryption functionality in the 32-bit version of the encoder does not work with the 64-bit version.

Encoding Scenarios
Windows Media Encoder 9 Series x64 Edition is designed to introduce you to the x64 support found in Microsoft Windows Vista. Therefore, some encoding scenarios are not yet fully optimized for the 64-bit version of the encoder. You should determine whether to use the 32-bit or 64-bit version depending on your encoding scenario and on your plans to migrate to x64 versions of encoding applications.

Scenarios that are optimized for the 64-bit version include:

Encoding 720p HD 2-pass PVBR content on quad-processor and dual-processor computers.
Encoding 720p HD AVI using the new VC-1 codec on quad-processor and dual-processor computers.

Scenarios that are not yet fully optimized for the 64-bit version include:

Resizing content from AP HD to AP standard definition (SD).
Encoding high-quality SD content.

Valeron · 19th November 2005, 02:09

Q1: Does the Advanced Profile support 2 pass encoding now?
Q2: There's no updates for the 32bit version encoder. I've check for the player update, there's new version available. A big 10M package, is it the Advanced Profile update?

Thx

JuanCC · 19th November 2005, 03:02

This means that there is a 64bits version of windows media codecs?

zambelli · 19th November 2005, 03:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valeron

Q1: Does the Advanced Profile support 2 pass encoding now?

I'll have to get back to you on that one. I'm guessing it's fully supported now since that's what most content authors will be using, but I'll double check that - I haven't had a chance to install it yet because I don't have x64 hardware in my office.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valeron

Q2: There's no updates for the 32bit version encoder. I've check for the player update, there's new version available. A big 10M package, is it the Advanced Profile update?

The 32-bit encoder hasn't been updated.

acidsex · 19th November 2005, 03:34

Not trying to hijack the thread but what happen to the announcement at NAB this year between MS and Gridiron and their partnership on grid encoding? It said Q2 and this year is almost over. Has it been scrapped?

CruNcher · 19th November 2005, 04:00

acidsex "The Grid" isn't even existing yet ;P

Sirber · 19th November 2005, 04:16

VFW? or the big GUI?

Valeron · 19th November 2005, 04:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirber

VFW? or the big GUI?

They haven't upgrade the vfw, but the WME GUI~

acidsex · 19th November 2005, 04:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by CruNcher

acidsex "The Grid" isn't even existing yet ;P

What I meant was the Xfactor program that was first used in Adobe After Effects.

Here is the link to the press release back on April 17, 2005/Gridiron software

acidsex · 19th November 2005, 04:34

Question. How much of a speed improvement should I expect to see with A AMD64 3700+ using x64 encoder on XP64 as opposed to using 32bit encoder on XP Pro 32bit? Is it significant?

Elias · 19th November 2005, 10:20

Can this Windows Media Encoder be used with Windows Movie Maker? If not, how about future versions? Or is it a completely independent GUI?

Valeron · 19th November 2005, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elias

Can this Windows Media Encoder be used with Windows Movie Maker? If not, how about future versions? Or is it a completely independent GUI?

AFAIK, WMV encoder is a DMO based encoder.
The WME is just a GUI.
Maybe you can find the encoder object as an option in the encoders' drop down list of Movie Maker.

Elias · 19th November 2005, 11:15

What's DMO?

Valeron · 19th November 2005, 11:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elias

What's DMO?

Direct Media Object, according to DirectX's document.
They recommend the developers to build their encoder in this way better than VFW.
UC, this is just the recommendation file in DirectX's docs, few people implement their encoder in this way.

Elias · 19th November 2005, 11:48

Is DMO the new vfw? Can VirtualDub use DMO?

Valeron · 19th November 2005, 12:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elias

Is DMO the new vfw? Can VirtualDub use DMO?

No, it's part of DirextX, there's large gap between VFW and DMO.
So you can't use it in VirtualDub or any other vfw base program.

bond · 19th November 2005, 14:42

does the tool output vc-1/wmv9 in the .mpg container as smpte defines it? or only m$ own .wmv container?

guada 2 · 19th November 2005, 14:51

Hello zambelli;

You said that:" The 32-bit encoder hasn't been updated "

And i have a small question:

What is the difference between these 3 versions?
- 5.50.4134.600
- 6.0.2600.0
- 9.00.00.2980

Thank you to clarify.

Bye.

guada 2 · 19th November 2005, 15:51

apparently, they are all identical.

very very strange, But why?

Valeron · 19th November 2005, 17:04

@bond:

WMV is aka ASF, it's also a specs-open container.
The specs can be found here.

18th November 2005, 22:17	#1 \| Link
zambelli Doom9ing since 2001 Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Bellevue, WA, USA Posts: 1,910	Windows Media Encoder x64 now available - with VC-1 support! This morning Microsoft released a new x64 version of its Windows Media Encoder 9 series. You can download it from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...r/default.aspx. Here are the details on the differences between the x86 and x64 version: Comparing 32-bit and 64-bit Versions You can encode audio and video content in Windows Media Video (WMV) format using either the 32-bit version or the 64-bit version of Windows Media Encoder 9 Series. The version you choose will depend on your encoding scenarios. The new Windows Media Encoder 9 Series x64 Edition contains the same feature set as the widely used 32-bit version of Windows Media Encoder 9 Series as well as the following updates: VC-1 video codec. Windows Media Encoder 9 Series x64 Edition includes support for a fully SMPTE-compliant version of the new VC-1 video codec. Windows Media Video 9 Advanced Profile is Microsoft’s implementation of VC-1, which is the proposed SMPTE standard that delivers high-definition quality with highly efficient compression rates. It requires less computational power and can be decoded at full 1080i/p resolution on a typical computer. Windows Media Video 9 Advanced Profile delivers high definition (HD) content at bit rates as low as 6 Mbps to 8 Mbps. Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM). In contrast to the 32-bit version of Windows Media Encoder 9 Series, the 64-bit version includes a separate DRM Protect Utility that allows you to apply DRM protection to your content files after the encoding process is completed. The DRM Protect Utility uses the information in the DRM profile you select to encrypt your content with a key, and other digital rights management settings that are specific to that DRM profile. The DRM Protect Utility is available only for the 64-bit version of the encoder and cannot be used with the 32-bit version. Additionally, the DRM encryption functionality in the 32-bit version of the encoder does not work with the 64-bit version. Encoding Scenarios Windows Media Encoder 9 Series x64 Edition is designed to introduce you to the x64 support found in Microsoft Windows Vista. Therefore, some encoding scenarios are not yet fully optimized for the 64-bit version of the encoder. You should determine whether to use the 32-bit or 64-bit version depending on your encoding scenario and on your plans to migrate to x64 versions of encoding applications. Scenarios that are optimized for the 64-bit version include: Encoding 720p HD 2-pass PVBR content on quad-processor and dual-processor computers. Encoding 720p HD AVI using the new VC-1 codec on quad-processor and dual-processor computers. Scenarios that are not yet fully optimized for the 64-bit version include: Resizing content from AP HD to AP standard definition (SD). Encoding high-quality SD content.

19th November 2005, 04:00	#6 \| Link
CruNcher Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Germany Posts: 2,704	acidsex "The Grid" isn't even existing yet ;P __________________ all my compares are riddles so please try to decipher them yourselves :) current Main XviD PSNRLab version 1.1 current XviD PSNRLab update 1.1.3 MT1389xx Player Infos XviD EDP Build CVS (CruNchers Visual System ©) V 1.4 new with predefined profiles ;) Code: Olivera: "We're expendable assets" "and we've just been expended" "It's not a trick it's a Sony Rootkit" pwnz :devil: :angry: :rolleyes: Last edited by CruNcher; 19th November 2005 at 04:02.

19th November 2005, 04:16	#7 \| Link
Sirber Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 8,732	VFW? or the big GUI? __________________ download RealAnime and Bencos

19th November 2005, 14:42	#17 \| Link
bond Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 9,780	does the tool output vc-1/wmv9 in the .mpg container as smpte defines it? or only m$ own .wmv container? __________________ Between the weak and the strong one it is the freedom which oppresses and the law that liberates (Jean Jacques Rousseau) I know, that I know nothing (Socrates) MPEG-4 ASP FAQ \| AVC/H.264 FAQ \| AAC FAQ \| MP4 FAQ \| MP4Menu stores DVD Menus in MP4 (guide) Ogg Theora \| Ogg Vorbis use WM9 today and get Micro$oft controlling the A/V market tomorrow for free

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19th November 2005, 02:09	#2 \| Link
Valeron Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Canton Posts: 227	Q1: Does the Advanced Profile support 2 pass encoding now? Q2: There's no updates for the 32bit version encoder. I've check for the player update, there's new version available. A big 10M package, is it the Advanced Profile update? Thx

19th November 2005, 03:02	#3 \| Link
JuanCC Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Spain Posts: 99	This means that there is a 64bits version of windows media codecs?

19th November 2005, 03:34	#5 \| Link
acidsex Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 492	Not trying to hijack the thread but what happen to the announcement at NAB this year between MS and Gridiron and their partnership on grid encoding? It said Q2 and this year is almost over. Has it been scrapped?

19th November 2005, 04:34	#10 \| Link
acidsex Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 492	Question. How much of a speed improvement should I expect to see with A AMD64 3700+ using x64 encoder on XP64 as opposed to using 32bit encoder on XP Pro 32bit? Is it significant?

19th November 2005, 10:20	#11 \| Link
Elias MPEG-4 Crazy Lunatic! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,088	Can this Windows Media Encoder be used with Windows Movie Maker? If not, how about future versions? Or is it a completely independent GUI?

19th November 2005, 11:15	#13 \| Link
Elias MPEG-4 Crazy Lunatic! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,088	What's DMO?

19th November 2005, 11:48	#15 \| Link
Elias MPEG-4 Crazy Lunatic! Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,088	Is DMO the new vfw? Can VirtualDub use DMO?

19th November 2005, 14:51	#18 \| Link
guada 2 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lyon Posts: 718	Hello zambelli; You said that:" The 32-bit encoder hasn't been updated " And i have a small question: What is the difference between these 3 versions? - 5.50.4134.600 - 6.0.2600.0 - 9.00.00.2980 Thank you to clarify. Bye.

19th November 2005, 15:51	#19 \| Link
guada 2 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lyon Posts: 718	apparently, they are all identical. very very strange, But why?

19th November 2005, 17:04	#20 \| Link
Valeron Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Canton Posts: 227	@bond: WMV is aka ASF, it's also a specs-open container. The specs can be found here.