Joining 2 MOV files together

[nickday]

Hi,

I've got two video files that total something like 740mb, so I can't burn them to a CDR (my drive doesn't support overburn). They were originally 3ivx (DivX) AVI files, but i've converted them to MOV files (using DivX Doctor 2) to fix sound problems I was having. So, they're still running with the 3ivx codec.

How can I now join these 2 MOV files together, but reduce the quality or size ever so slightly so it fits on a 700mb CDR? I was thinking of using iMovie, but it says it'll take 960 days to import just one of the MOV files! Any other ideas on how I could do this?

Cheers,
Nick

[galactica]

Hello
IF i understand you correctly, you have two movie files when joined will be slightly larger than a cd-r?

I am wondering if you cant just cut some of the beginning or end off? what are these files? A movie? Does it have credits? and an opening scene? The easiest way would be to cut the beginning and ends off and hope that it will fit.

Otherwise you will have to do some reencoding, using the source file is suggested. (hopefully you still have it)

If iMovie says 960 days to import either you dont have the format settings to something iMovie will like, or your computer isnt very fast.

Try downloading ffmpegx, and using the origional .avi source files join the .avi's using the join function (which is in tools i believe)

Then you can run this through ffmpegx using the divx default settings *(however you will have to recalculate the bitrate for this movie for it to fit exactly to one cd.) Use the calculator and back it down just a bit to ensure it will fit. Let it encode and hopefully your output is less than 700 megs.

The amount of time this will take could be a LONG time of a G3 500 however. I cant say for sure, but my guess is more than 24 hours. Encoding is what takes a lot of processing and thats the only way you can get it under 700 megs - if cutting the beginning and ending credits isnt an option

hope that makes since
if not, you know where to post

[nickday]

Hi,

Thanks for your helpful reply! Yes, I think the best option would be to chop off the ends - I have Quicktime Pro - would I do it with that? Once i've trimmed the file down, how would I then save it, using Export or Save As?

It just seems like more hassle than it's worth to encode it, as I can just stick it over 2 CDR's instead.

Cheers,
Nick

[Thargok]

QT Pro could have done all of that

[galactica]

Hi,

Thanks for your helpful reply! Yes, I think the best option would be to chop off the ends - I have Quicktime Pro - would I do it with that? Once i've trimmed the file down, how would I then save it, using Export or Save As?

Yes, use the small triangles to select the movie you want to keep, thus eleminating a portions in the front and back you do not want (they should be ununhighlited area).
EDIT--COPY.

Make a new movie file, SELECT ALL and EDIT PASTE. This will be the portion you want (minus the stuff you are cutting out) Save as, ENSURING you save as self contained file. The output will be a quicktime .mov that is hopefully smaller than 700 megs. Believeit or not but a little larger than 700 megs (701, 703...) will still fit if you are using toast to burn your cd, just to the option that doesnt have the desktop files and it will fit.

Exporting is an option only if you want/need it to be in a format other than .mov Mpeg1 (VCD) Mpeg2 (SVCD) for example. That will take a long time since its an encoding process.

Save as self contained is the best bet.

It just seems like more hassle than it's worth to encode it, as I can just stick it over 2 CDR's instead.
Cheers,
Nick

Correct! Lets hope it will make it