Why file size the same after reducing svcd bitrate?

[thai_tx]

Hi,
I have a 120-min movies encoded in SVCD format. The original bitrate is around 2000, so it takes a little more than 2 CDs. I use DVD2AVI and Tmpgenc to re-encode it with lower bitrate of 1650 to reduce the file size so it can fit in 2 CDs. But after re-encoding, the file size of the new SVCD file comes out the same as the original one.

I notice with VCD, there is a non-standard VCD format to reduce the file size if either video or audio bitrate are not standard. But there is no non-standard SVCD format in the Tmpgenc encode menu.

So it seems like Tmpgenc does some padding for SVCD with lower bitrate, is it true? How to avoid this?

[Betamax]

Try the "Program VBR" instead...

[sterno]

120 minutes at 1650k with 224k audio will be just slightly larger than two 80-minute CDs. 120 minutes at 2000k will be significantly larger than two 80-minute CDs (over 1900 MB total). How do you know the original file was encoded at 2000k? It sounds like it was probably already at about 1650k avg, which would explain why your output file is the same size.

[thai_tx]

Hi,
I used the Bitrate viewer program to check the average bitrate. On the original, the average is 1890. Now I have more important problem, the new svcd file does not have audio. I used DVD2AVI to make a project file and encode it using Tmpgenc. I haven't figured out why there is no video. From
DVD2AVI, the audio file is in .mpa format.

[thai_tx]

I figured out why there was no audio. I did not specify the .mpa file. But when I did that, Tmpgenc crashed. I checked the Directshow VFAPI to make sure it has high priority, but it did not help. I used the MPEG tools to mux video and audio, it works ok.

I still can't figure out the mystery file size problem. I guess I have to live with VCD if I want to store the movie on 2 CDs.