Encoding Sample Content

After configuring your session, encode some test content. You can encode it to file and play it back locally, encode a broadcast and use your Windows Media Player to connect directly to the encoder to play it back, or stream it using your Windows Media server. If you are encoding content to a file, you can save the file to either a local hard drive or to the %systemdrive%\WMPub\WMRoot folder on your Windows Media server. If broadcasting live, you can either push the content to your server or use the server to pull it directly from the encoder.

Encoding some test content enables you to get a feel for how the encoder works, how the various features interact, and how changing settings affects the encoded output. For example, if you are using VBR encoding, consider adjusting the quality level with each subsequent encoding test and observe how the size of your encoded file changes. It’s also a good idea, if you’re planning to encode MBR files, to experiment with the range of bit rates and output sizes you use in each MBR stream in order to find the optimal combination of encoding efficiency and CPU performance.