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.

This pack contains :

- Windows Media Encoder 9 Series
- Windows Media File Editor
- Windows Media Stream Editor
- Windows Media Profile Editor
- Windows Media Encoding Script
- User documentation

Some features:

- More Control and Flexibility: 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.
- Unmatched Audio and Video Quality: Create the clearest audio from multichannel to voice-only content. Encode to any levelfrom HD quality (1080i/1080p) to low data rate screen capture. Fine tune compression using new encoding modes.
- Extensibility and Automation: Extend the Encoders functionality. Fully automate the encoding process. Includes 4 new utilities.

Changes in Windows Media Encoder 9 Series :

- Targeting various encoding scenarios has been made easier with the addition of new destinations. In addition, four quick starts are available that help you begin encoding without delay. Each quick start is designed to address a common encoding scenario.
- New codecs have improved the quality of encoded audio and video content.
- Support for dragging source files and session files to the encoder window makes it easy to begin encoding quickly.
- New constant-bit-rate (CBR) and variable-bit-rate (VBR) encoding modes enable you to fine-tune settings depending on the playback scenario you are targeting.
- A device control feature enables you to run devices directly from the encoder. (The device must be connected to an IEEE 1394 digital video port, or you can use a video tape recorder (VTR) that supports the Sony RS422 protocol and that is connected through a COM port.) You can also use the built-in edit decision list (EDL) to arrange and encode clips in any order.
- Multichannel audio encoding is available through the Windows Media Audio 9 Professional and Windows Media Audio 9 Lossless codecs.
- Digital rights management (DRM) is available for you to protect encoded content.
- New push distribution feature helps you to initiate the connection with a Windows Media server from the encoder.
- Language support lets you specify the language of your content.
- Four utilities are included to provide additional features such as creating custom profiles, splitting and combining streams in different files, and indexing files after encoding.
- Temporary storage of content to hard disk helps you to ensure the quality of encoded content.
- Support of transform plug-ins enables developers to write plug-ins that modify audio and video content, which you can use to add special effects during encoding.
- Support for sourcing from additional file formats has been implemented.
- Support for nonsquare pixel output helps you to encode letterboxed content while maintaining the aspect ratio of the source video.
- Frame-level seeking can be implemented by creating or preserving time codes for some sources.
- Multiple bit rate (MBR) content now supports multiple audio formats and video resolutions.
- Support for the Microsoft Windows XP Plug and Play feature enables devices to be automatically detected by the encoder when running. In addition, the encoder is automatically launched when a new device is connected to the computer.