What is a .XEL file?
The .XEL file extension is used for a type of file called an Expression Encoder Live Encoding File. This file is created by a program called Expression Encoder, which was part of a package known as Microsoft Expression Studio. Expression Encoder was used to change videos from one format to another, a process known as transcoding. The .XEL file contains settings for converting live video, meaning video that is being broadcast in real-time, like a live webcast or stream.
Inside a .XEL file, you'll find information on where the video is coming from (the source media) and how it should be changed (the transcoding settings) to make it ready for viewers. These settings are saved in a format called XML, which is a way of organizing information that both computers and people can read.
However, it's important to know that you can't use Microsoft Expression Studio to open .XEL files anymore because Microsoft stopped making and supporting this software in 2012. When it was available, people could use Expression Encoder for free or as part of the whole Microsoft Expression Studio package.
To understand a bit more, live encoding, which uses .XEL files, is different from another process called encoding jobs, which uses .XEJ files. Live encoding is all about working with video that is being broadcast live, at the same moment you are watching or working with it. This is different from working with pre-recorded videos, where you can take your time to change the video format or settings.
Since Microsoft Expression Studio is discontinued, if you have a .XEL file, you might need to look for alternative software that can handle live video encoding and understands .XEL files, or you might need to convert your .XEL files into a different format that can be used with current software.
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