Are mpg files supposed to be so large?

[zeldamaniac44]

I downloaded an FLV (flash) file from the Internet it's file size was 22MB, but then I converted it to mpg format so I could burn it on a CD-R using the VCD burn method so I can view it on my DVD player. And the mpg is 93MB!

So my question is why the dramatic increase in file size? I watched both versions and the mpg is the same quality, so why is it so much larger? is there a way to make it smaller I'd to fit as much video as possible onto the CD-R.

[JohnnyMalaria]

It will depend on the FLV video format and the bit rate to re-encode to MPEG at.

e.g., the FLV video might be 15 fps 320 x 240. If you re-encode to 29.97 fps 640 x 480, things will likely get bigger.

Any idea what the FLV video format is?

[thecoalman]

File size is dependant on bitrate, you can make the bitrate practically anything you want. However you need tp pick an appropriate bitrate for the resolution you are using. Too little bitrate and you will get macroblocking, too much has no bebnefit and will just create a larger file.

The next thing to consider is different codecs perform differently, 2000kbps is more than adequate for a 720x480 video using WMV but is far too low for MPEG.

[mats.hogberg]

Iburn it on a CD-R using the VCD burn method

VCD is always ~10 MB/minute (1150 kbps).

/Mats

[zeldamaniac44]

Always 10MB for each minute?! Even with a low-res video clip?

But the other two who posted say it all depends on fps (that's frames per second, right?) Well, how would I find that out anyway? is it listed in the Properties dialogue box?

Maybe there's another way to find out, the clip is from YouTube, don't all their videos follow the same FPS?

[dnix71]

Your conversion sizes sound correct. I convert flv's into mp4's on my Mac and it doubles the size for "standard" quality. An mp2 would be double that again.

Try making mp4's if size is a concern. Most YouTube videos only look good if the playback window is kept small. Blow it up to tv size and it will look grainy.

[redwudz]

Always 10MB for each minute?! Even with a low-res video clip?

With VCD format, yes. It uses a fixed bitrate of 1150kbps. MPEG-1 or 2 in other formats allow you to vary the bitrate as wanted. You can set different bitrates for VCDs, but they won't be compliant. See 'WHAT IS' VCD, DVD, etc. to the upper left on this page for the different specifications.

You should be able to drop the videos into Gspot 2.60 and it will show you the fps and the bitrate and other info.