Windows Media HD

[Can Scanner]

One option for delivering HD content to the masses is with a high definition WMV file. You can get over 1.5 hours onto a 4.7Gb DVD. But how easy is it to play?

Anyone know the minimum system requirements for playing a high def WMV file? I think the average bitrate is 5000 bps (or am I way off? I'm looking at the settings of the Adobe Media Encoder in Premiere Pro 1.5).

If I were to hand off a completed project (like a wedding, say) to a client on a disc in this format, what would I have to be sure to tell them about it?

Are WMV files tricky to deal with on macs?
Do you need WMV 9 or higher? 8 or higher?
Is there a minimum CPU speed?
Obviously, you can only play it on a computer (or the few compatible DVD players- anyone know of any specifically?)

Any insight will help! Thanks!

 

[philnerd]

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/musicandvideo/hdvideo/buildingentertainmentsys.aspx

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/encoder/default.mspx

Should be some info in there I think

 

[THoff]

If you want to play WMV files from within the QuickTime Player on the Macintosh, you can download a free plugin to do that from Microsoft:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=915d874d-d747-4180-a400-5f06b1b5e559&DisplayLang=en

 

[TwistedLincoln]

Instead of WMV, I would go with high-def XVid.

That will be cross-platform (PC, Mac, Linux, etc).

Plus, high-def Xvid files will play in a number of standalone networkable DVD players (ie the Avel Linkplayer2). Standard-Def Xvid files now play in many, many regular DVD players, so you could also down-rez to standard-def and give the customer two discs...