Getting Better Quality Online Videos with Movie Maker

Getting Better Quality Online Videos with Movie Maker

Hello everyone! What's up? This is Rich, and I’m here with an update for my previously published Windows Movie Maker tutorial for PC MC, which was a long time ago. Today, we'll focus on enhancing your video quality for YouTube using the Windows Movie Maker version 2.1.4026.0, the one that comes with Service Pack 2 of Windows XP.

Objective

The main objective here is to optimize the export options in Movie Maker to improve video quality when uploaded to YouTube. Recently, YouTube has upgraded its support to 30 frames per second, whereas earlier, it only supported 15 frames per second. Additionally, exporting videos at a resolution of 640 x 480 results in better quality on YouTube.

Step-by-Step Guide

Let's assume you have already edited your video and are ready to export it for uploading to YouTube. Follow these steps:

1. Open Movie Maker: First, open your project in Windows Movie Maker.

2. Save Movie File: Click on File, then Save Movie File.

3. Choose Export Location: Choose My Computer to export it as a static file for later upload to YouTube, then click Next.

4. Title Your Movie: Enter a name for your video file. For instance, we’ll call it Movie, and then click Next.

5. More Export Choices: On the next screen, select Show more choices. If you do not see this option, expand the menu to get a detailed list.

6. Select Export Settings: Click on Other Settings and choose Video for LAN 768 kbps from the drop-down menu. This setting provides:

   • Bit rate of 768 kbps
   • Resolution of 640 x 480
   • Aspect ratio of 4:3
   • Frame rate of 30 fps

Additionally, you can opt for Video for LAN 1 Mbps, which offers slightly better quality with a bit rate of 1 Mbps. Although the difference may not be significant, it can be noticeable in intricate videos with a lot of details.

Cautions

• Ensure your video file does not exceed 100 MB, as YouTube won't accept files larger than this.
• Keep your video under 10 minutes because that's the maximum duration YouTube allows.

Conclusion

Instead of the earlier recommendation of exporting at 512 kbps, go with either 768 kbps or 1 Mbps for better quality. Your videos will look significantly better on YouTube with these settings.

That's all for now. Take it easy and happy video making!

Keywords

• Windows Movie Maker
• 768 kbps
• 640 x 480 resolution
• Export settings
• YouTube video quality
• Video bit rate
• Frame rate
• Video export

FAQ

Q1: What version of Windows Movie Maker does this guide target?

• A1: This guide targets Windows Movie Maker version 2.1.4026.0, which comes with Service Pack 2 of Windows XP.

Q2: What is the optimum frame rate for YouTube videos according to this guide?

• A2: The optimum frame rate for YouTube videos, as suggested in this guide, is 30 frames per second.

Q3: What resolution should I export my videos at for better quality on YouTube?

• A3: Exporting videos at a resolution of 640 x 480 yields better quality on YouTube.

Q4: What are the recommended bit rates for exporting videos?

• A4: The recommended bit rates for exporting videos are 768 kbps or 1 Mbps.

Q5: What is the maximum file size and video duration allowed by YouTube?

• A5: YouTube allows a maximum file size of 100 MB and a maximum video duration of 10 minutes.

Q6: What aspect ratio should I use for YouTube videos?

• A6: The preferred aspect ratio for YouTube is 4:3.