Want to fit 3 1hr mpegs onto one 4.7G DVD+R

[CathyT]

Greetings all:

Am trying to author 3 1hr mpegs onto one DVD with menus.
Most authoring programs that reencode tell me that my project won't fit onto a single layer dvd.

MPEG2 files are: 2GB; 1hour long; bitrate: video ~4000kb/s; audio is 224kb/s; resolution 352x480

Can someone suggest a method for accomplishing this?

I thought of using any authoring prog to make VOB files and such on my HARD DRIVE. Then use DVD Shrink to fit to one DVD...then burn. Would this work or is there a better way? I do not have DVD Shrink yet, but have heard it is good.

Thanks

CathyT

[redwudz]

Shrink may be the easiest option. The best option would been to have encoded them to a smaller size instead. There are bitrate calculators in 'Tools' to the left. <<<<<< They would show you the bitrate needed for the running time of all three files and would allow them to fit on a DVD. Of course the more you squeeze onto a DVD, the lower the quality will be. If the files started out high quality, then you won't lose as much.

[CathyT]

Thanks-

I can adjust my bitrate for future recordings, but what is the best way to convert the several files that I already have?

CathyT

[aedipuss]

there really isn't a best way. any way you re-encode them they will lose quality and they don't have much to begin with. if you still have the source i'd re-encode it to full d1(740x480) not half d1 and adjust the bitrate to get 1.5gb per. or just bite the bullet and put each one on a seperate dvdr. the quality will be worth it and only cost you an extra what 50 cents?

if you don't have the source, shrink is free and will do as well as anything else after you author them.

[redwudz]

Sometimes it's a difficult decision. If you don't have the original files, I would try the Shrink method. If you re-encode the MPEG-2s you have, you will lose quality that way, also. The bitrate calculator shows you would need about 3150kbps to get three hours on a DVD. If you convert the audio to AC3, you would save a little more space for more bitrate. It looks like you will need about a 8 percent reduction in size, not really that much.