Instructions for Uploading Digital Video to Associated Content

I must admit that I am intimidated by video. I was scared to try to upload a video to Associated Content. I knew that I didn't have the first clue as to how to upload video. However, I recently have been writing many articles and well I ran out of things to write about! So I decided to try my hand at submitting videos to Associated Content. After six hours of trial and error I learned how to upload my short digital video onto Associated Content. There's not much else to do today anyways since there is a blizzard outside...

Is your digital camera video capable?
The first thing you will need to check is whether or not your digital camera has video capability. Either read your cameras manual or look for a little video camera symbol on your settings dial.

What is the format of your video file?
My Kodak Easy Share camera records the video as a .mov file. When you connect your Easy Share camera to your computer the transfer window will appear. When the transfer window appears highlight your video file and select transfer. Once the transfer is complete you will need to click done. After clicking the done button the Kodak Easy Share image program will open.

How do I convert my video file to a windows format?
Now that you have transferred your video file and the Kodak image center is open you will need to convert your .mov file to a .avi file. This conversion is easily done within the Kodak image center. Locate your video within the Kodak image center and highlight the file. You can highlight the file by single clicking on the file. This will add an orange box around your file. Once you have highlighted your file move your mouse up to the top menu bar and click edit. Once the edit screen appears you will see a save as button in the lower right hand corner of your screen. Click the save as button, this will pop up a new screen with a drop down menu. Change the name of your file and them click the drop down menu titled 'save as type.' Select the .avi file type and then hit save. You have now converted your video file to a windows format. With this windows format you will be able to compress your file.

What is compression and why do I need it?
Associated Content does not allow you to upload files larger than 15 mb. Any video larger than one minute will likely be larger than 15 mb so you most likely will need to compress your video. The easiest way to compress your file is with Windows Media Encoder. If you do not already have Windows Media Encoder installed you can download Windows Media Encoder free from Microsoft Update. http://download.microsoft.com/download/8/1/f/81f9402f-efdd-439d-b2a4-089563199d47/WMEncoder.exe

I have Windows Media Encoder now how do I compress my file?
Double click on the Windows Media Encoder icon, this will open the program and pop up a quick start menu. From the quick start menu you will double click on 'Convert A File.' You will now have a new window that is your 'New Window Session'. The new window session will ask you for your source file and output file. Your source file will be the file name that you converted in the Kodak image center. The output file should change automatically with whatever source file you have selected.

Once you have selected your source file you will need to click next. The next menu will ask you, 'How do you want to distribute your content?' Since you will be uploading your content online to Associated Content you will need to select Windows Media Server. Once you have selected windows media server you will need to click the next button.

A new menu will appear that asks, 'How do you want to encode your audio and video?' Associated Content requires your video file to be 640 x 480 and under 15 mb so you will need to keep the correct screen size while also compressing the video. I chose 'Film Content Video' which kept my screen at 640 x 480 and lowered the file size from 16.7 mb to 8.47 mb. Once you have chosen your new file type you will need to click the finish button. Windows Media Encoder will now take a few minutes to convert your file to the new converted and compressed video file.

What is next?
Now that you have shot a quality video and converted and compressed the video you can upload your file onto Associated Content. Go to http://www.associatedcontent.com and log in to your account. Once you are logged into your account click on the publish tab. Once you are at the publish screen select the publish button under video in the Multimedia Submissions box. At this point the Associated Content publishing system will walk you through the next few steps until your video is uploaded and submitted.