Trying to convert 156min .avi file to vob then to dvd

[mr_coffee]

Hello everyone, i'm having troubles fitting this .avi file onto a dvd. I don't get it. The .avi file is only 699 megs. I"m using DivXtoDVD to convert the .avi to VOB then i'm using INterVideoWinDVD to burn to a DVD. Is there a way for me to cut down the size of the .avi? Or is it the length of the moovie that is too long? 156mins is pretty lengthy but why should it matter, i thought it was the size. Any help would be great!!

[daamon]

Hi mr_coffee,

The size of the source file has no bearing whatsoever on the resultant MPEG2 file that gets authored to DVD.

There are only two influential factors: the running time of the footage, and the bitrate used to encode it to MPEG2. As the footage is 156minutes, you'll need to set a bitrate such that it'll fit on a DVD disc. You can work out the bitrate using the VideoHelp Bitrate Calculator.

[guns1inger]

The longest I have tried to fit onto a single disk was The Godfather, at around 163 minutes. But that was from a DVD source directly, not a divx source.

I would use the highest quality encoder you can get - Procoder or CCE if possible, otherwise tmpgenc if you have time to spare. Work out the correct bitrate, as mentioned previously, and if widescreen I would consider encoding it as 4:3 (with black bars, not pan and scan) rather than 16:9, as this will give you slightly better bang for bitrate at the low end (which you will be at for 156 minutes)

[mr_coffee]

thanks for the help guys

[mr_coffee]

gunslinger, I got CCE, I was wondering how I can change the bitrate, i don't see an option in the program. Also is it possible to just split up the .avi into 2 seperate VOB's then burn to 2 dvd's and still be able to watch them on a stand alone dvd player? If it is possible, i think this would be easier, any hints on how I could do that? Thanks!! Also I noticed CCE is encoding the .avi into a file with a .mpv extension, what is that? and is it possible to burn a .mpv onto a dvd? I changed the Template to NTFS DVD it was orginally on standard but i'm not sure if thats where i screwed up.

[jtoolman2000]

Remember, as was already mentioned, the file size of an " avi " mean nothing when you are cosidering fitting into a single layered DVD/r . It is the length the has any bearing. A file that is 156 minutes and only 699 MB file size simply has to look horrible and thus would not really make a good candidate for further reconverting to DVD. Yes of course it can be done but isn't it going to look like total crap?? Only if it is totally irreplacable and abosolutely not available anywhere but your source.

[daamon]

@ mr_coffee - You could encode to half-D1 resolution (352 x 480 for NTSC). That way you can get away with a lower bitrate (as you'll need to get 156 mins on one DVD) without getting macroblocks etc. The picture won't be as sharp, but then the source isn't that hot to start with (judging by an AVI of 156 mins being 699Mb).

[Abond]

.avi into a file with a .mpv extension, what is that?

mpv = mpeg video. DVD creation require mpeg2 files, not avi's.