2009 Encoder Shootout

Microsoft Expression Encoder 2
From a quality perspective, Microsoft’s Expression Encoder produced bipolar results in my testing, with very good results in SD tests and bottom-of-the-barrel quality in HD. Given its other strengths and the fact that it’s one of the few programs that give you (at least) a 60-day, full-featured, watermark-free trial, it’s definitely worth a look for any WMV producers.

Performancewise, Expression Encoder’s deinterlaced video rated a solid B in quality, and though its batch-encoding function worked serially rather than in parallel, you can run multiple instances to speed encoding. Using this technique when encoding multiple files put Expression Encoder in the back of the pack, but the 20% or so difference with the middle of the pack didn’t seem to rate a C grade.

Expression Encoder drinks mightily of the Microsoft Kool-Aid, directly supporting the Windows Media SDK 11 tweaks within the program and providing a useful array of Silverlight player templates. Even if you’re a casual WMV producer, you should think about deploying your videos via Silverlight—and Expression Encoder is by far the easiest way to test the waters.