Huge AVI to DVD

[Baron_Samedi]

Hi,

I have a 44Gb AVI file that I would like to encode to MPEG-2 using TMPGenc.

Now, the obvious problem I have is that the file size is going to be around 6.5Gb when the DVD capacity limit is around 4.4Gb.

I'm wondering what compromises I can make with the bit-rate of my transcode to result in a file that fits on a DVD.

For example, would a dual pass VBR transcode offer any benefits?

As it is, I will be lucky to get 2Mbps from the file and I think it will look rather blocky

Thanks!

Gary

[mats.hogberg]

For example, would a dual pass VBR transcode offer any benefits?

Yes. Compared to CBR / 1 pass VBR

As it is, I will be lucky to get 2Mbps from the file and I think it will look rather blocky

Probably. But try encoding to 352*480/576 (NTSC/PAL) resolution. 2000 kbps will be fine at that res.

/Mats

[andkiich]

What is the downside of spanning this video over 2 discs?

I've found that I have some serious issues with video quality when i go over 3 hours on one DVDR. It's not that it's not watchable, but I can really notice grain and pixelation moreso than 3 hours or less.

[rhegedus]

I'd be tempted to fit the video onto one DVDR. I presume the avi is a DV file and 44Gb is just under 3 1/2 hours of video. Depending on the source (i.e. VHS/camcorder), one DVD may be enough if you chose your bitrates and passes correctly.

Try TMPGEnc using 2-pass VBR using a bitrate from the bitrate calculator in the tools section, or use the wizard in TMPGEnc to calculate the bitrate for you, and use this figure when you manually configure the VBR encode.

[FulciLives]

To offer usefull help it would be nice to know how long this AVI is in minutes and seconds and what AVI format (i.e., codec) it is and what resolution etc.

Also what was the source specifically the quality of the source?

The actual size of the final MPEG-2 depends on the video bitrate + audio bitrate used and the number one factor of the original AVI is the running time not the file size of the AVI file.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[Baron_Samedi]

Hi Gents,

Thanks for the verry useful comments!

The AVI file is a standard item and as such is a shade over 3.5 hours long.

It's a VHS tape captured to DV using an ADVC-100 and while not looking anything special it is of a decent quality and is motion film rather than animated film.

Cheers

Gary

[rhegedus]

In which case there won't be any benefit in having the bitrate above 3000kbps or encoding resolution above half D1.

This thread explains it nicely:

Hi8/VHS to DVD: which bitrate do you recommend?

[Baron_Samedi]

Thanks rhegedus - that helped loads!