MPEG (VCD) from TV to smaller file size?

[ShiksaGrrrl]

Got TMPGEncPlus 2.57.41.416

Captured a documentary on my ATI card last night, Jenin_ Massacring Truth (Apr 28th).mpg but for some reason, an hour show has come out to 2. 5 gigs.

Need to find out IF I can convert this somehow to a reasonably smaller size, one that wont lose much quality if possible, but still small enough that it can be uploaded by others.
2.5 is just too big!

Not sure it can be done?
If so, have only used TMPGE to convert avi-> mpeg and would need sllightly more explicit instructions than "geeks"! :P



TIA

[teegee420]

Captured a documentary on my ATI card last night, Jenin_ Massacring Truth (Apr 28th).mpg but for some reason, an hour show has come out to 2. 5 gigs.

If you want a smaller file size, change the capture profile next time before you click "record". You probably used the DVD profile.

Need to find out IF I can convert this somehow to a reasonably smaller size, one that wont lose much quality if possible, but still small enough that it can be uploaded by others.
2.5 is just too big!

Define "reasonably small". Is this a file that you just plan on keeping on your computer or will you be burning it to disc? TMPGEnc can handle this problem for you. The settings you should use depend on your answers to my questions.

[ShiksaGrrrl]

525 MB or so would be fine, give or take a few Megabytes.......


Yes, I might burn it to CD, not DVD, but more importantly, there are others who want to upload it from me and share it, but 2.5 gigs is far too big.

Hmmm, proabably would keep it on my hard drive only bit I have 1 hour episodes for The Sopranos that are 525 MB.


Thank you very much

[teegee420]

Well here's the thing. If you convert your mpeg to a smaller mpeg, say VCD for example the size will be around 600mb. This can be done with TMPGEnc as mentioned, though you might need to install the TMPGEnc MPEG-2 Plugin in case it doesn't open the first time you try. The only problem with VCD is that the quality isn't exactly terrific. It's good, but not great. Sort of like comparing DVD to VHS.

Another option would be to convert your 2.5gb mpeg to divx. A 525mb divx avi will look like the original mpeg much more than VCD will. Dr. Divx is an easy to use tool that can do this for you quite easily though it will take a longer than VCD to complete the encoding. This software is trialware though and is limited to a 30 day trial(or something similar). There are freeware tools that can do the same thing such as Virtualdub MPEG2 but they not as easy to use.

I suggest you start with TMPGEnc and see how you like the quality. If you're happy with VCD than stick with that. Good luck.

[ShiksaGrrrl]

Thank you, I will try and find time to do this tommorrow or Sunday and "HOPEFULLY" I wont need to ask any other questions.


Although................wonders WHAT setting YOU would use on your ATI card if you were recording such a show and wanted to have others view it on their 'puters?

In the days of Emule I used to only get AVIs............but it seems with BitTorrent everyone favours MPEGs I suppose for DVD players.


Thx Again

[xtreemkareem]

Not a good idea to mention downlaoding those sources could be considered warez/not allowed). At any rate, check out LordSmurf's guide at digitalfaq.com for ATI capture settings. I believe you can also capture straight to DivX/XviD, which is best for file size conservation. If you bring your reslution down to 320X240 and encode as DivX or XviD at 450 kbps, it will look pretty alright and may shrink down to only 300 MB or so that depends on your movie length, I'm just taking a wild guess that it's about 1 1/2 - 2 Hours in length. There are now more DVD players that will play DivX avis, including a 69$ Philips model. MPEG-1 as VCD is ususally larger than an equivalent DivX and lesser quality, but will play on MOST DVD players. Again, the more people who invest in DivX compattible DVD players, the more common they become. As for your current file, load it into virtualDubMod or XMPEG to encode to DivX. Look to the guides for more pointers. When you're done, I'd really appreciate if you could upload that special on Jenin to me... sounds interesting.

[teegee420]

Although................wonders WHAT setting YOU would use on your ATI card if you were recording such a show and wanted to have others view it on their 'puters?

That's a good question because I switch between Divx and mpeg-2 all the time. What I mean is that I always capture to mpeg-2 but sometimes I'll convert that to Divx and sometimes I'll convert to a smaller mpeg-2. Depends on the show I guess. Here's what I usually use when doing TV capturing:

Resolution- 352x480
Video bitrate- 9 mbit/second max, 5 mbit/second target bitrate
3:2 pulldown- no
Record interlaced
Keep high resolution display- no

These settings will produce files around the same size you experienced, but what I'll then do is edit out any commercials and convert to Divx or smaller mpeg-2. I was uploading something I would probably go with Divx because of the smaller file size. I can get a pretty decent looking one hour episode(edited down to about 44 minutes without commercials) down to 350mb. A similar looking re-encoded mpeg-2 file would end up being around 800mb.

I'm not sure if any of this information is helpful but that's what I use. The bottom line is that you'll have to do a fair amount of experimentation to find a methodology that works best for you. I second the suggestion to check out Lordsmurf.com too.

[ShiksaGrrrl]

Thanks for all of the information.
It is already quite helpful for at least now I know where to start.

Another option would be to convert your 2.5gb mpeg to divx. A 525mb divx avi will look like the original mpeg much more than VCD will. Dr. Divx is an easy to use tool that can do this for you quite easily though it will take a longer than VCD to complete the encoding. This software is trialware though and is limited to a 30 day trial(or something similar). There are freeware tools that can do the same thing such as Virtualdub MPEG2 but they not as easy to use.

Yes, I have converted AVI's-->VCD before and am familar with the loss of quality.
I just havent ever converted an mpeg to a smaller file so this is a new process for me.

I am going to go with your second idea for now, using Dr.Divx as I have both the time and the power to do such.

Thank you again!

If you bring your reslution down to 320X240

Thanks for the heads up on the settings.
I did have it set on the PC from some time ago but didnt remember what I had originally set them at, and someone, unfortunately screwed around with it---hence, I found myself that one time I most needed a half decent file, too large!


dont ya just hate it when people screw with your settings and you arent aware they have? arggggggggggggh

I'm not sure if any of this information is helpful but that's what I use. The bottom line is that you'll have to do a fair amount of experimentation to find a methodology that works best for you. I second the suggestion to check out Lordsmurf.com too.

Thanks, again, more helpful than you may realize.


xtreemkareem

When you're done, I'd really appreciate if you could upload that special on Jenin to me... sounds interesting.

I would be more than happy to do so, providing it works out well.
I feel it is important that this particular file should get out and be seen.
May take a day or two though
Ive been swamped.


Last but not least?

Removing commercials?

What software might some of you use for I dont imagine anyone sits in front of their 'puter and pauses for each one?

[teegee420]

For cutting the commercials out of my captured mpegs I use Womble MPEG VCR. Pretty straight forward to use and it's single frame accurate when making the cuts. Click on the link and you should see "Guides For This Tool". I believe there's a guide for cutting out commercials.

[ShiksaGrrrl]

For cutting the commercials out of my captured mpegs I use Womble MPEG VCR. Pretty straight forward to use and it's single frame accurate when making the cuts. Click on the link and you should see "Guides For This Tool". I believe there's a guide for cutting out commercials.

Great, that is wonderful to know, I will check it out as soon as I master this file conversion...........IF I master it!


'fraid I don't have a lot of time to screw around with software when I make mistakes but my first conversion with Dr. DivX didn't go as well as I thought it might.
It seemed very straight forward but I have just finished it and have ended up with the two files below.
I will try it again and hope it works but if not, I will have to ask one of you Movie Geeks what I am doing wrong again!


Jenin_Massacring_Truth_TV_Apr28.mv
Jenin_Massacring_Truth_TV_Apr28.log





GSpot

Am sure some of you probably know this software but I must give it a plug as the author at the risk of such obvious name dropping, LOL....
Steve is a very close friend of mine and I plug it whenever and wherever I leave a post as any good friend would and should do. :P

This "free" software is Steve's way of giving back to a community that has been very good to him and its a very easy way to find out what codec is being used in any avi file.
So many people download these movies, AVI's that aren't labeled properly and cannot play them for they haven't any idea which codec they need.
I've seem noob's delete files because they think it is a corrupt file, but if only they had used GSpot first and found out the codec was possibly XviD or whatnot, they would have saved themselves having to redownload the same file.


Thank you Steve for giving back to the community with such a great program, GSPOT

http://www.headbands.com/gspot/

● Establishes what video codecs (audio and video) are required to play an AVI file.
● Determines whether these codecs are installed on your system.
● Isolates problems associated with these codecs.
● Simple operation - Basic use: "File > Open", then read results

GSpot Screenshots

http://www.headbands.com/gspot/screenshots.html
Incredible NEW version out any day now


Steve has helped me with many a tech problem over the years but unfortunately as great as he is with what he does, not all "geeks" are able to explain to those "lesser mortals" what they are doing and when you need to either reinstall or repeat what he helped you with the first time, it isn't always easy to recall what it was he did originally.................so I find that all of you here are far better at explaining these answers to me, and others than he is, should anyone wonder why I would ask here and not Steve.


So, once again, THANK YOU for all of your help and if anyone familiar with Dr DivX knows what I have done wrong and could give me a quick answer or a quick explanation on what I SHOULD do instead, please do and for what its worth, I will be forever grateful, I really will!

[teegee420]

It seemed very straight forward but I have just finished it and have ended up with the two files below.
I will try it again and hope it works but if not, I will have to ask one of you Movie Geeks what I am doing wrong again!


Jenin_Massacring_Truth_TV_Apr28.mv
Jenin_Massacring_Truth_TV_Apr28.log

Those are the results of the first pass. I'm curious as to why the second pass didn't run. Did it ever say it was doing the second pass in the batch screen where it says "Encoding Video"?

[ShiksaGrrrl]

Those are the results of the first pass. I'm curious as to why the second pass didn't run. Did it ever say it was doing the second pass in the batch screen where it says "Encoding Video"?

No, but I was out of the room whilst it was taking place but there wasn't anything on the screen upon my return NOR anything in the log file

I am going to repeat it tonight and will post back in the AM for you



TA


YOU GUYS are truly the most helpful I have ever encountered in a forum and are much quicker in your reply's and show much more willingness to help----------I AM impressed


/makes note to post back in am