WinAVI 8.0 - DVD to AVI - Target Size 700MB?

[ivisitpublix]

I am attempting to use WINAVI 8.0 to make back-ups of DVDs I have. Converting them into avi files.

No problems except that I cannot get the final size to my target of 700MB. It converts and average 4GB file into 1.5GB...still not small enough for me to leave sitting on my hard drive.

I've tried playing with output screen res sizes and file split...but end up with one file at small resolution and 685MB, and then another file at larger res with a size of 30MB, more or less.

I have also tried making my original DVD source smaller by re-authoring with DVD shrink prior to conversion, but no luck.

Any ideas?

[redwudz]

I would try AutoGK or FairUse Wizard. AGK is free and FUW has a freeware version. I suspect both will work better than WinAVI.

But for a AVI type conversion, probably Divx or Xvid, use a bitrate calculator. Input the playing time of the file and the desired size and you will see what bitrate is needed to produce that size AVI file. But you need a converter that lets you set bitrate or does a better job of estimating it.

The screen resolution or the framerate doesn't have as much effect as the bitrate on size. And the lower the bitrate, the lower the quality. It's not that easy to get a 2 hour DVD to fit on a 700MB CD without a fair amount of effort and knowledge, at least at any reasonable quality.

[ivisitpublix]

redwudz:
Thanks for the fast reply and advice. I like AutoGK a lot, but also want to experiment with other programs, to learn all their pros and cons.

For my avi to dvd conversions I use both AutoGK and AVI2DVD, depending on type of subtitle options I need. (optional or hard coded)

I really like the speed of WINAVI 8.0, and the quality appears decent, I've just been unable to convert to a size of 700mb.

I'll keep playing with it and see what happens. If I can't figure it out, AutoGk still rocks!