Codec question

[billyc88920796]

Okay, I am not an expert when it comes to codecs. In fact, don't that much about them.

I installed a couple of codec packs that I found free on the Internet. Even after installing

all of these, I still have the same choices when rendering an avi movie. (DV, DV NTSC, Intel Iyuv,

or V210-10bit yuv, and uncompressed). I trying for the smallest size file I can get. I mainly use

them for Character Animator files for the grandkids.  What I have been doing is rendering them

uncompressed and dropping them into Sony Movie Studio and then rendering as a .wma file

which cuts the file size down from several gigs to just a smaller file.  Is there a way to add codecs

to After Effects and what would be the best for a smaller file?

Thanks.

[Rick Gerard · Accepted solution]

You want to use the Adobe Media Encoder to render your deliverable file. I would pick h.264 and render an MP4 using one of the YouTube presets that matches your frame rate. If you have an older version of AE that does not talk to the AME then your workflow is OK but I'd use something like Handbrake and render an h.264 MP4. That format is a lot more compatible with mobile devices, YouTube, and the internet than a WMA file. You are severely limiting your audience and not delivering a product that is not as good as it could be.

Here's a video on rendering by my friend Roei:

Enjoy.

[billyc88920796]

Thanks I learned a lot watching the video.