How do I reduce a file to equal "streaming size"?

[VideoBeginner]

So here's what I don't understand but want to reproduce:

A person uploads a 300MB .AVI to a site that I can download directly. Instead, I decide to view the file through the site's player which has converted it to .FLV or .MP4 and with the use of a capture tool I see that the new file is only about 2/3rds to 1/2 the size. The quality was still very good, and I believe the video dimensions did not change. I am as happy with the new version as I was when I downloaded the original AVI file directly... but this way it saves space.

Is there some way that I can do this on my system computer? Any time I have ever tried to recode a file with the only random tolls that I know of, the only way I can get results like that is to obliterate the image quality.




(Only one post a year... I'm surprised my account is still open here!)

[sneaker_ger]

Any of the usual suspects (RipBot, MeGUI, StaxRip....) will do just fine or probably way better than those sites given the appropriate settings.
Use x264 and set bitrate to 1/2 or 2/3 of the original video. (and keep audio in mind)

[VideoBeginner]

Thanks for the tip. I'll dive in head first once I can get over not knowing very much and learn some things! lol


(Thanks to whoever moved the topic.)

[setarip_old]

@VideoBeginner

Hi!

Checkout the following Doom9 sub-forum:

http://forum.doom9.org/forumdisplay.php?f=78

[VideoBeginner]

In only three days I almost forgot about this topic. I have way too many hobbies!

Thank you, setarip_old. I'll learn one of these days.

[setarip_old]

Thank you, setarip_old. I'll learn one of these days. Good luck for when you decide to actively pursue this hobby ;>}

[VideoBeginner]

Just passing a note along. I started with RipBot since I found it first and the screenshots made it look easy enough.

Keeping in mind I had both versions of a file (as described above,) the smaller made a good control. I tweaked the options that I understood and left alone what I didn't (Tutorials? Psh! lol Only as a near-last resort.) On my first try I got a result very similar to my control. I am stunned. Usually I dive in and end up with a file 10 times larger and still bad quality.

Of course the next step is tweaking or trying other software to possibly get a better result with the same file size, but after a lot of time frustrating myself over this sort of thing, it looks like I can finally relax. Thanks guys for your suggestions and help.