What size DVD-R disc do I need???

[Lordism]

Greetings,

I would like to know what size blank DVD-R disc do I need to use? I'm using a program called "Cyberlink PowerDirector Ultra 8" to make a DVD from a movie I downloaded from the internet, but after I've created my movie menus/title and insert a blank Memorex DVD-R 4.7 GB im my burner and begin to record, it wiill not record. Instead, I get a message saying "The size of the imported file exceeds the amount of available disc space..." The movie in question is called Lady Kung Fu (1972), and the .avi file size iis only 696 megabytes.

Thanks,

[jman98]

I don't use PowerDirector, but I would hope there is a way to specify what output size you want. Another tool would correctly encode the movie to fit on a single layer DVD-R discs. You could put it on a DVD+R DL disc, but based on your being a newbie and the nature of your question, I think it's safe to assume you are not very experienced and I don't recommend you go that route. If you must use DVD+R DL discs, use ONLY Verbatim's DL discs. And I don't recommend using DVD-R DL discs due to cost and difficulty of burning, but if you must use them, use Verbatim here too.

DVD-R discs only come in one size, well, assuming you don't count those credit card sized ones which hold something like 1/3 the information that a normal sized DVD-R can hold.

[Lordism]

jman98,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I am a newbie at burning DVDs and I somehow thought that a 4.7 GB DVD-R type of disc would be sufficient for an .avi file size that is only 696 megabytes. So you're saying that I will need a "DVD+R DL" disc instead?

[filmboss80]

To make a DVD-compatible disc, PowerDirector is likely converting the small avi to a large Mpeg2 file.

For a better understanding of a DVD disc structure, See WHAT IS > DVD, accessible at the upper left of this site.

Only a few models of DVD players will play avi files -- and only if they are dropped onto disc as data files, without authoring menus, chapters, and such. If you want a disc that is universally playable on most DVD players, it has to be authored correctly -- thus the need to convert the avi to mpeg2.

[jman98]

To make a DVD-compatible disc, PowerDirector is likely converting the small avi to a large Mpeg2 file.

Indeed. I just assumed that Lordism understood that, but from his 2nd post it seems that he does not.

[Lordism]

To make a DVD-compatible disc, PowerDirector is likely converting the small avi to a large Mpeg2 file.

Ahhhh, now I see why such seemingly small file won't fit!!!!! Thank you so much for this info. man. I'll be back later...

[MysticE]

jman98,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I am a newbie at burning DVDs and I somehow thought that a 4.7 GB DVD-R type of disc would be sufficient for an .avi file size that is only 696 megabytes. So you're saying that I will need a "DVD+R DL" disc instead?

You don't need a DL disc. Go by runtime, not file size. At 97 minutes this will look fine with a SL disc. Try using DVD Flick (free) or if you need more sophisticated menus ConvertXtoDVD (pay).

If you want to use your app see if you can manually set the video bitrate. Somewhere around 5800 kb/s should do it. This bitrate should be more than enough to get the full quality out of your file while allowing room for menus.

[Lordism]

jman98,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I am a newbie at burning DVDs and I somehow thought that a 4.7 GB DVD-R type of disc would be sufficient for an .avi file size that is only 696 megabytes. So you're saying that I will need a "DVD+R DL" disc instead?

You don't need a DL disc. Go by runtime, not file size. At 97 minutes this will look fine with a SL disc. Try using DVD Flick (free) or if you need more sophisticated menus ConvertXtoDVD (pay).

If you want to use your app see if you can manually set the video bitrate. Somewhere around 5800 kb/s should do it. This bitrate should be more than enough to get the full quality out of your file while allowing room for menus.

Thank you very very much for your advice MysticE!!! I'm going to see if I can set the bitrate per your instructions and try again.

[jimdagys]

I know you already paid for software, but I would recommend using simple and easy FREE software called DVDFlick to convert AVI into DVD. I've used it many times. The software also makes excellent subtitles (if that is important to you). I use an older version (1.2.2.1) available on this website under "Tools" old versions. For me, the new version doesn't bloat the
AVI enough, that is, resulting DVD folder isn't big enough to use all the available space (4.3GB) on the blank DVD (unless you tweak the bitrate).

[MysticE]

I know you already paid for software, but I would recommend using simple and easy FREE software called DVDFlick to convert AVI into DVD. I've used it many times. The software also makes excellent subtitles (if that is important to you). I use an older version (1.2.2.1) available on this website under "Tools" old versions. For me, the new version doesn't bloat the
AVI enough, that is, resulting DVD folder isn't big enough to use all the available space (4.3GB) on the blank DVD (unless you tweak the bitrate).

For these 700MB Xvids that folks are so fond of there is no reason to "bloat" (fill?) the disc to max capacity. Even at 3.5GB all the quality that can possibly be had is there.

Maximizing disc space is only important if you start with a pristine original source, not a quality compromised 900 kb/s Xvid.