Windows Media Encoder

Windows Media Encoder is a freely downloadable media encoder developed by Microsoft which enables content developers to convert or capture both live and prerecorded audio, video, and computer screen images to Windows Media formats for live and on-demand delivery.

The latest version, Windows Media Encoder 9 Series, can encode video using Windows Media Video version 7, 8 or 9. Audio encoding uses a number of Windows Media Audio version 9.2 or version 10 (if the version 10 codecs are installed) profiles and a Windows Media Audio 9 Voice speech codec.

Windows Media Encoder 9 Series enables two-pass encoding to optimize quality for on-demand (streamed or download-and-play) content.


Bundled with the program are the applications Windows Media File Editor, Windows Media Profile Editor, and Windows Media Stream Editor.

Windows Media Encoder Studio Edition was a separate planned version of Windows Media Encoder 9 Series with support for segment encoding and multiple audio channels.