I try to convert from MPEG to Divx, but the file gets bigger

[The_Magician]

Okaaay! I have thi MPEG1 file that is 220mb big. I wanna compress it by converting it to Divx. So, I followed the instructions in the convert page, although I didn't chose full audio compression. Somehow, everytiem I chosed that, the thing just never started processing. So, I'm using no compression (PCM). In the Video Options, I'm using Low Divx, 500 kilobits per second. In the frame rate options, I'm decimating the video by 3. But as I begin the compression, the projected file size is bigger than the original file!! How come?? I thought it was being compressed! Weird thing. With this configuration I told ya, I get a 248mb file. 28 mbs above the orginal! Just for fun, I reduced my kilobits per second to 1, and guess what, the projected file size was around 220mbs! Is this thing working inversely as it was supposed to? I mean, the bigger the data rate, the smaller the file will become, right? I feel like a blind man in the middle of a gun shooting. Appreciate any help with this weird problem.

[Truman]

It is because you have uncompressed audio. Uncompressed is about 1440kbps (I believe). The 2nd step of course in audio compressing. Now you set video to direct stream copy and audio to full processing mode, select your mp3 codec or whatever you like and start. (I assume you use Vdub)

[The_Magician]

Ok, this is not as bad as it sounded at first. I tried to compress another file, and all went ok! I managed to turn a 691mb file into a 160mb one. So, I was wondering, that something must be *wrong* with this 220mb file. I mean, I can't seem to make it any smaller. And it's a 220mb MPEG file, with a duration of 22 minutes. I mean, come on!
Same thing happened to another file. I have this VCD with some anime Episodes in it. So, I transformed the .DAT files into MPEG files with vcdgear, then used Virtualdub to convert them to Divx. Again, I couldn't make those files any smaller. The best I could get was using a Data Rate of 1, so I could have a file of around the same size. And yes, the audio is in direct stream copy.
I tried what Truman asked me to do, but it didn't work. I received a message saying that, and I quote: "The source video stream uses a compression algorithm which is not compatible with AVI files. Direct stream copy can not be used with this video stream."
This message occurred because I select direct stream copy in video and full compress in audio.
Anyways, this is still very puzzling. Maybe those MPEG files were created in a way that you can't compress them anymore???

[Truman]

I try it once again. This is a way that worked for me.
Open video->select your mpeg, set both video and audio to full processing mode (video DivX low motion around 1500 kbps/audio PCM uncompressed)->start
After finish repeat this process.
Open video->select the DivX AVI, set video to direct stream copy and audio to full processing mode (audio MPEG-1 Layer-3 128 kbps)->start
Theoreticly one should do this in one step, but Vdub crashes usually.