How can I compress a large .avi file? Right now it is huge, and won't upload or attach.?

I recorded some footage with my camera and I attempted to upload it to You Tube. Let the record also show, when I uploaded it to my computer, it was an .avi file (whatever that is). I changed it to a .wmv file, however, both played just fine through the media player (I only changed it because I didn't know how .avi works and I was concerned that the people I would be sending it to couldn't open it. It didn't change the file size, though). Anywho, after waiting an hour to upload 57 seconds of footage, that the file what 31+ million bytes!!!! How do I shrink it?? Is that what compressing a file means? Please help....



Signed - Computer IlliterateHow can I compress a large .avi file? Right now it is huge, and won%26039;t upload or attach.?
If it is an .AVI file that large for a mere 57 seconds of footage... it would have to be the uncompressed form of Windows .AVI file wrapper.



AVI is an extension that can represent a variety of Audio/Video Interleaved formats. Windows original form of this %26quot;wrapper%26quot; was uncompressed and thus the end results were files that are extremely large. Windows Media Video [or .WMV] is similar [also by Microsoft] and if the quality settings are at the high end the result will also be a very large file.



There are a number of things that you could actually do to reduce the size of the file.



1. Since .AVI is only a %26quot;wrapper%26quot; for such formats as AVI, DivX, Xvid, MPEG-4, H-264... etc. any one of these codecs [short for compression/depression] can be used to re-encode the file to a much, much smaller size with little to no discernible loss of quality.



2. Since you are concerned with others being able to open it... you can use Microsoft's Media encoder to re-encode at a much lower quality and bandwidth size. You will find that this will greatly reduce the files original size.



3. Since almost all the codecs are FREE if you know where to look... I would suggest either H-264 [if the people you send it have fairly new pcs ~ as this codec requires a great deal of pc power to actually decompress the video %26quot;on the fly%26quot; as it plays... and just tell the people you send it to what codec was used and where they can locate it.] With this particular codec you will achieve astounding file reductions. I have seen 25 gigabyte video files reduced to a mere hundred or so mega bytes [approx 250% reduction in size]

... or if they have older pcs you could use the Xvid/Divx codec [which is just microsoft's MPEG-4 codec with distinctly different external settings upon entry...] Almost everyone has this codec as it is the most popular ~ it provides a relatively decent reduction in size and doesn't require an enormous amount of cpu time to decompress and play. Again you can simply tell them where to obtain the proper codec [if they even need it]



4. Most sites such as Youtube, Google... etc will convert your %26quot;compressed%26quot; AVI files to a more readily watchable type of file known as FLASH Video... it comes in several flavors as well, such as .FLV, .SWF, etc...

If you have a high-speed internet connection it is not very difficult to upload videos... however, if your connection is much narrower [as in bandwidth] say as in a Dial-up connection, it can be quite cumbersome to even upload the smallest of videos. Once the site of your choice has converted they generally provide you with a %26quot;link%26quot; ~ which is a web url that can be placed as a link in an email... etc. Your friends simply click on the link and they are taken to the site that is hosting your video footage.



And of course there are a number of other methods to reduce the size through manipulation of the framerate, bitrate, etc... but that is getting a bit too technical [I think?]



For further information you can try the following site...



http://www.videohelp.com/convertHow can I compress a large .avi file? Right now it is huge, and won%26039;t upload or attach.?
yes compress the file. you can use any number of free programs to do this. look on google and download a freeware one.How can I compress a large .avi file? Right now it is huge, and won%26039;t upload or attach.?
http://www.altools.com



Download and install ALZip. Use it to compress the file.How can I compress a large .avi file? Right now it is huge, and won%26039;t upload or attach.?
Isn't 31 million bytes only 31 megabytes? That's...not that much. You can put it on YouTube if it's that small.



But, if you really want to make the file smaller, you'll have to physically reduce the quality of the video. You can do that with any video editor.How can I compress a large .avi file? Right now it is huge, and won%26039;t upload or attach.?
Find the file in your directory. Right click and then left click properties. At the bottom click advanced. One of the options towards the bottom of the advanced pull down is compress file to save space. Then see if you can upload it. I have never dealt with an AVI file from a camera but generally I have found avi files are already max compressed. AVI stands for audio visual interface.