DVD+R problem. File Size too big & more

[jtatooine]

Hi, I am having a few problems making DVDs.

First of all I am using Roxio Videowave Movie Creator to capture and edit.

Then I am using Sonic My DVD to create the DVDs.

Ok I have hundreds of 44 minute long vhs tapes that i want to convert to DVD. Now I want to fit as much as I can on a 4.7g DVD. So far I fit 1 44 minute tape on the dvd no problem, at high quality. the final file size is 3.1 gigs for just one 44 minute video. I watched it on my TV and it looked pretty good. Not any different than the original VHS.

Then I used roxio... to try and fit 2 of them on a dvd, I had to use their lowest quality and I fit two. I watched it on TV and it looked pretty bad. Lot's of pixel squares everywhere.

I know you can fit 88 minutes on a 4.7g DVD no problem and it shouldn't look as bad as mine did.

I have no problem going with one 44 minute segment per DVD, but if I can save money and space (it'll be hundreds of dvds) it would help.

Am I doing something wrong?
Does anybody know how to change this using the software I am using?
Is this software just plain awful?

Thanks.

[psx_pirate]

after you have created your dvd files and got the 2 44min movies ready to burn eg: 6-7 gigs in total size why not then compress them to 4.7 gig using dvd2one or if you want a free program to do it dvd shrink works just as well

[jtatooine]

do those programs do anything to the quality?

[poopyhead]

dunno...with VHS as the source..your final output isn't gonna look very good.

commercial DVDs can easily fit 2+ hours of high quality video onto a DVD5 (single-layer), so i don't think the problem is trying to fit too many minutes per DVD.

[andkiich]

You should be able to get 3 - 3 1/2 hours of video on a DVD+-R.

What I do is use half D1 resolution and the quality of the VHS encodes does not suffer as much as a full D1(this is with my equipment and from what I have experienced, your mileage may vary).

You might want to consider lowering your bitrate and/or using half D1.

[funkguy4]

Use half D1, since that VHS is quarter D1 and then interlace lines are added to blow it up vertically and it gets stretched horizontally. Many DVD players also work with the KDVD templates from kvcd.net. Put on of your source videos through TMPGEnc using the KDVD template, and burn to a DVD-R|W. If it works, then you're in luck and can fit about 8 hours per DVD.

[kpkilburn]

"Then I am using Sonic My DVD to create the DVDs."

I've had this same problem and I think that part of the problem is from using Sonic MyDVD. When you import an "illegal" video file into it (doesn't match DVD specs), the program automatically converts it to "DVD Quality" at a 9.8MB/sec data rate. I've also had this issue with Roxio Easy CD and DVD Creator. Even after I've converted using TMPEGenc, Sonic still converts. I'm sure it's something that I'm doing, but I haven't figured it out yet.

If you capture directly into the programs, you can get around this, but now the problem is that the video quality isn't that good. I'm assuming that the CODEC in these programs simply isn't up to par with the ones you can download separately. I noticed that my videos are very blocky when I capture from within these programs, but look fine if I capture from my video card then import.

According to the help file (and this is the first time I've noticed this


***
Note: Both CBR and VBR encodes can have transient "spikes" that go higher than the set bit-rate; if a spike pushes the total bit-rate above 9.8 Mbps, MyDVD will consider the file "illegal" and re-encode it. We therefore recommend that you always make the video bit-rate 8 Mbps or lower.

***

Not sure if that's much help or not, but wanted to share just in case.

Kevin

[jtatooine]

Thanks for the tips. I need to get TMPGEnc or something, the programs I am using are too simplified. You can't change much on them. I just don't have the $ for more programs right now...

As for the quality being bad because it's from vhs... thats not the issue. When I get 44 minutes on the dvd it looks exactly like the vhs (normal bad colors, etc) but when I try to get 88 minutes onto a dvd it becomes very pixelated - which is not a vhs quality.

[funkguy4]

You seem to have one of the crappiest MPEg encoders out there. People have successfully fit more than 88 minutes of VHS quality video onto VCDs!!!

[jtatooine]

i agree, the roxio program is crap, and so is my dvd.

[housepig]

you're running into one of the biggest problems on this site - people want one program that will do it all. Then they want more control, and they find that their "all in one" program locks them down with fixed settings.

you need some applications that will give you more control, the trade off is you will be working with several different applications and a bit of a learning curve.

the payoff will be increased flexability and increased quality.

I would suggest you get a capture program, an encoder, and a dvd authoring program that won't reencode compliant files.

I personally use iuVCR for capture, TMPGenc to encode and DVD Lab to author, and what I get is quality that equals the original VHS source, and no problems getting 90-120 minutes of full D1 on a dvdr.

[kpkilburn]

I agree -- I'm still very new at this, but learned fairly quickly that even the popular commercial products like Roxio and My DVD don't do everything and the things that they do are sometimes poor.

Until recently, I didn't even realize that different programs used different encoders. I noticed a big difference when I used Ulead Video Studio to edit and burn some things -- big blocks and noise that wasn't present in the original capture. After it re-encoded, it looked like garbage! Not very good at all. Luckily it was free with the DVD burner, so no lost money on that one.

I really like TMPEGEnc. It has a bit of a learning curve, but the payoff (like housepig said) is the flexibility and quality. There are some good guides available to explain the settings. I think the cost for the full version is trivial compared to what you get out of it. Even VCDs can be made to look acceptable with the right CODEC.

Even the freeware tools you get are very good (in my opinion). I use DVD Decrypter, ImgTool, DVD Shrink, and some others. Good for basic operations.

[funkguy4]

My DVD backup method. That DVDMaestro guide on doom9, its great. That mother Apple Compuet bought the company the other day so you can't get it any more. Stinks too, since that was a great program.

My old AVI -> any thing really method, available down below. I plan to update that sometime after I get my athlon 1900 hooked up to an slk900 and a smart fan ii from TT! Then, it'll OC to something nice (hopefully I have the AGOIA stepping....)

[jtatooine]

Thanks again for all of the tips. I figured that one program couldn't do everything. I'll save up and get those other programs and come back for more questions then.