TMPGEnc: Reducing Bitrate Isn't Reducing File Size

[Bondiablo]

I'm using TMPGEnc 2.53 and loading a *.d2v and *.wav file saved from DVD2AVI then converting it to mpeg1 to make a VCD on an 80min disc. Using the standard VCD NTSC settings the resulting file size of the *.mpg is 835MB. I tried reducing the bitrate to 1050 kbps which showed an estimated file size of 776MB but 5+ hours later the finished *.mpg file was again 835MB. I tried once more, this time reducing the bitrate all the way down to 900 kbps with an estimated file size of 685MB, but again 5+ hours later my finished *.mpg file was 835MB. Any ideas what could be going wrong? When I load the *.mpgs into VCDEasy, next to Video Stream, they do show the bitrates I entered and below is what was displayed in TMPGEnc during each attempt so I don't understand why the file size isn't changing.

1st Try: Video-CD NTSC (MPEG-1 352x240 29.97fps CBR 1150kbps, Layer-2 44100Hz 224kbps)
2nd Try: MPEG-1 352x240 29.97fps CBR 1050kbps, Layer-2 44100Hz 224kbps
3rd Try: MPEG-1 352x240 29.97fps CBR 900kbps, Layer-2 44100Hz 224kbps

[newgen]

You need to set the tab VBV to 0. It's right under the bitrate tab in the video settings of TMPGEnc. And in the System tab set it to non-standard VCD.

[ember]

Yep - you need to set it to VCD non standard. I did try VBV=0, but it produces a very poor quality picture. (Blocky).