transcoding and Mpg, then shrinking... is it possible?

[parkay2]

I have an mpg capture of a movie 1 hr 53 min long captured to(DVD-NTSC size = 3.53 gigs. I have tried to use the tmpeng encoder, but it ruins the quality of the capture. The video looks like as if I was watching a movie through a rain streaked window. However, if I take the mpg and import it into Sonic MyDVD it states that the capture is to big. Okay, so I performed a test I captured 1 hour of the same video - imported into MyDVD - the software transcoded the mpg and burned a DVD. It runs fine in my stand aolone DVD player attached to my TV. Cool! However, Sonic MyDVD can't transcode and burn a large amount of data because of the way it handles the audio. I've tried some encoding software biut I don't like the video quality it produces. Transcoding seems to give me better results.

What I would like to do is this: A). Somehow with software compress/reduce the size of the mpg files size B). Transcode the mpg then compress/shrink the file size.

My thought is this: I don't care if it is an all-in-one solution. I would like to take an Mpg and rather than encode it, I want to, in whatever appropraite order, transcode, compress/shrink, image to HD if appropriate and burn. I'm really stcuk on this transcode thing because the end product seems to be so much better

Thanks in advance

[bugster]

MyDVD converts all the audio to LPCM. This is uncompressed and so takes up loads of space. This is why you cant make longer playing DVD's with MyDVD.
What you need to do is use a different authoring program that will accept the Mp2 audio in your original mpeg (assuming it is otherwise DVD compliant). I suggest you take a look at TmpGenc DVD Author or DVD-Lab. Both are great VFM.

[bottle-necked]

If my memory serves me correctly Sonic MyDVD will transcode video/audio to it's "Best" settings if the file isn't DVD Compliant (framesize, bitrate, etc). These setting can be found in the Help File for the program. I think "Best" means 8.0Mbps. If so, then your 2h movie would become to big.

If authorizing software try to 'transcode video' on me I generally end the process and inspect whats wrong with my file, then redo the project using the proper compliant settings.

Good luck.