Windows Media Encoder 9 Series is a powerful tool for content producers who want to take advantage of the many innovations in Windows Media 9 Series including high-quality multichannel sound, high-definition video quality, new support for mixed-mode voice and music content, and more. Capture content with frame-accurate control. Protect live streams and initiate broadcasts. Author for a range of delivery scenarios including MBR streaming and CD/DVD. Create the clearest audio from multichannel to voice-only content. Encode to any level from HD quality (1080i/1080p) to low data rate screen capture. Fine tune compression using new encoding modes. Extend the Encoders functionality. Fully automate the encoding process.
Editor's review of Windows Media Encoder Slick on the outside, a monster on the inside, Microsoft's Windows Media Encoder is practically unbeatable at converting media files to Windows Media format. This is serious software, and the professional sheen is immediately apparent in the quick installation and the step-by-step wizard that walks you through such functions as broadcasting a live event, capturing audio and video online, and converting a preexisting file. Users can specify the content of ID3 tags and the quality of the output. They also can tailor the output file for various purposes, such as use in a file archive or on a Pocket PC. Unlike many competitors, Windows Media Encoder displays results of video conversions in real time. The heavy video demands could pose problems for users with older PCs, but the target audience of developers shouldn't mind. It's no surprise that Microsoft should have produced the 100-pound gorilla of Windows Media converters. The real surprise would be if serious Windows Media users (especially those on a budget) chose anything else.