video help

[dombanks]

this is a pre-emptive question as i think i may need help ... (yes i know generally this is the case)

I need to do a presentation at work which i will have to include a video in. I'm creating the video using a logitec 1080p webcam, i need tthe clarity it provides so am using it in 720 or 1080 mode. The file this generates is quite large.

I know i can edit it in windows movie maker, all i will be doing is just chopping bits out here and there so nothing fancy.

what i need to know is how do i make the file smaller? i think the camera  chucks out a wmv file, can this be converted to a MP3 (or eqivalent) easilly to reduce the size and still be able to be put into a power point presentation?

Ive never done this and have no idea if what im asking is just rubbish?

thanks

[Captain Colonial]

Windows Movie Maker has options for output to a particular file type when you save it that will reduce the size, and you should be able to get it on to a memory stick unless it's more than about 15 minutes long.

[Blatman]

You need to look at DVD ripping. I'm looking myself at the moment.

Currently I'm looking at how a Blu-Ray can be compressed from what is gonna be over 40Gb to about... well, there's the rub. What file to rip it to? There are lots of options, and unsurprisingly lots of programmes to do it with.

Depending on your PC savvy, you could rip your WMV using a programme called Handbrake, which is a Linuxy type thing but it has a GUI and is a free download. Investigate ripping the WMV file to an H.264 file. Then once you have an H.264 file, right click the file, hit "rename" and simply swap the file extension from H.264 to MP4 and voila, a "small" but perfectly formed hi def file that'll fit on a thumb drive, or if it's not too lengthy, an ordinary CD...

BUT, it's a minefield, I've been researching / learning for nearly a month, and I'm still not 100% confident that I know enough. Google DVD ripping and check out AVForums for ripping threads and advice. But I expect you'll be a few days checking things out unless someone else can come with a definitve how to. I wouldn't mind one meself...