Condolidating DVD Dics / files

[LiCal]

I have 16 DVDs (all SLs) of a TV show of 70 episodes ; most of the DVDs have 4 episodes on them, but one has 10 on it and a few have six on them. The latter groups have all the into/credit etc cut off and are not apparently of lesser quality.

The DVDs have subtitels/sound/ multi-languages tracks/ on them.

I am interested in finding ways of mimicing the 10-episodes/1 Disc (or condolidating 2-to-1, making 8 shows on 1 disc) for the the rest of the shows by cutting off part of the contents, re-working the top menu etc, yet retaining the current features.


************************************************** ********
I would appreciate suggestions/comments on:

1. Softwares and guides/instructions for this undertaking?

2. Limitations that I should be aware of this task?

3. How can I find out the biprates(?) and/or other info of those discs to be assured of the fair comparison of the video/audio quality?


************************************************** *******

[guns1inger]

In reverse order

3. Bitrate Viewer

2. Time and patience

1. IFOEdit, VOBEdit, WMV are some of the tools you might find useful

Unless they are short episodes, then I find it hard to believe you get the same quality from 10 episodes as you from four, simply by cutting a few seconds off then end of each episode.

[LiCal]

Wondering any way to lengthen hours of play on a DVD like VHS -- SP (2hr) SP(4hr) EP(6hr) etc? Same length of tape yet yielding more hours of play.

[non-linear]

Wondering any way to lengthen hours of play on a DVD like VHS -- SP (2hr) SP(4hr) EP(6hr) etc? Same length of tape yet yielding more hours of play.

Easy, reduce the bitrate. There are only 2 factors that dictate how much content can fit onto a DVD -- bitrate and duration. Nothing else matters.

Of course, the lower the bitrate, the worse the video is going to look. If you go 4 hours or more, you should drop the resolution to Half D1 as well, even 1/4 D1 for anything longer, to help reduce the amount of visible macroblocks.

Like with VHS, the higher the quantity, the lower the quality.