Using Windows Media Encoder

Windows Media Encoder must be configured prior to use. There are three wizards you can use to configure Windows Media Encoder:

• QuickStart. A template stream format (TSF) is used to configure the ASF stream. QuickStart assumes that you are encoding from a live source and delivering the content to a Windows Media server.
• Template with I/O Options. This method uses TSFs to enter codec and bandwidth settings, but you select the input devices and output locations.
• Custom. You have full control over the encoderÆs settings.

Windows Media Encoder does not deliver ASF streams to clients (except for testing). It delivers the ASF stream to a Windows Media server, which then can multicast or unicast the ASF stream over the network. If Windows Media Encoder creates an .asf file, that file is saved to a folder specified during configuration. To test an .asf file created by Windows Media Encoder, use Microsoft Windows Media Player to open the .asf file.