Valve.avi opening video

OK...this isn't a map editing question, but it IS an editing problem. Go ahead and move the post accordingly if needed.

I just extracted the Valve.avi found in:

SteamApps/source engine.gcf/HL2/Media/ folder.

What I wanted to know was what codec was used to make that video. I did some research and found some other site that said it uses the Cinepak codec (or some form of it).

My problem is this.....the Valve.avi has a res of 1024x768 and is approx. 11 seconds long and has a file size of approx 11.3 megs. Now....when I make a video that is the same length, same res, and (supposedly) the same codec, why is my filesize 30 megs!? I have tried adjusting the quality...and I got it down to like 16 megs and it looked like s**t.

I have been editing videos for years and used ALL sorts of codecs. I usually use DivX or Cinepak or Xvid or something. I used Adobe Premiere 6.5 or VirtualDub for my processing.

so I guess my question is: Does anyone know how to compress video without making it look like s**t all the time? How does Valve make a high quality 11 second vid WITH quality sound and keep the filesize low. Just as a test....I take the same vid, edit it JUST A TAD, and it comes out 3 times the size, and trying to reduce the filessize just s**tzafizes it. Also....I may have to use a VBR to help but I wouldn't know how to do that with video.

Thanks for reading

oh nevermind....I messed around with some more settings in VirtualDub and processed my audio and visual seperately...got some promising results... :smile:

Want to share the details with the rest of us?