Custom-compress long MPEG files onto DVD?

[LeonKowalski]

I’m in the process of transferring a lot of my old VHS tapes to DVD and I’ve run into a recurring problem. I use Video Advantage AD Fullcap USB to save my VHS movies in MPEG format. Then I use CyberLink Power Producer Express to burn the files onto DVD. This works just fine most of the time.

However, when I try to transfer a movie that’s longer than 120 minutes (4700 MB), there’s not enough space on a single-layer DVD because PPE cannot compress the file—and my capturing software doesn’t have a way to alter the recording bitrate. I have DVD Shrink, which can compress VOB video files—but it doesn’t recognize MPEG or DV-AVI files.

So my question is this: Is there a program that can custom-compress a long MPEG file so that the file will fit onto a single-layer DVD (the way that DVD Shrink compresses commercially manufactured DVDs)? Alternatively, is there a way I can turn an MPEG file into a VOB file so that DVD Shrink will recognize it and shrink it (and hopefully then turn it back into an MPEG file) for me?

So far my workaround has been to split the movie onto two disks—or to spring for a dual-layer DVD; but these are frustrating options when the movie is only 6 minutes too long for a standard single-layer DVD.... Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[redwudz]

Take a look at Rejig. It does similar to Shrink, but is for MPEG files. For AVI, just re-encode them to make them smaller. VirtualDub and the Xvid or Divx codecs or others depending on your needs. If your present encoder would let you make an oversize DVD and just put it on the hard drive instead of burning, you could use Shrink, but Rejig is a better option.

If you are making a DVD from DV files, just use a MPEG encoder like TMPGEnc or similar and set the bitrate (Use a bitrate calculator from 'Tools' to the left or TMPGEnc's built in Wizard) to set the MPEG size to your DVD size. A DVD is about 4.37 GB, and you would allow about 200MB room for authoring. Figure making the MPEG about 4-4.2GB and you should be fine.

Alternately for DV to DVD, try ConvertXToDVD. It works well for that conversion and is very easy to use.

And welcome to our forums.

[Bjs]

If they are already authored as mpeg2's , you can visit the dvdauthorgui site for batchdemux .

This tool can demux you mpeg2's into seperate m2v video and audio .
The audio , will be m2a , just rename to mpa .
Re-encode audio to ac3 using besweet .

For pal source - use ifoedit to reauthor dvd title to vob's (must use "get vts sector's" on both ifo's) .
For nstc source - use rejig

Once completed you can use dvdshrink to trim it down if required (do not do this on smaller video dvd fomat's , it will mess them up , use rejig instead).

Converting audio to ac3 will save some space as well (no lower than 96kpbs for ac3 , or no audio will be heard in playback) .

If dvdshrink is not your liking , then rejig can also compress the video (re-transode)

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Other :

If you want to have control over encoding :

Bbmpeg - the best , accept's avi's directly , virtualdub frameserved file's , and avs script's .
Many user definable setting's if required .
The use of virtualdub allow's for some filtering if required .
Can generate all known acceptable pal and nstc format's as mpeg2 .

Quenc - fast , accept's avs script's .
Some setting's , limited .

Hc - accept's d2v and avs script's .
Packed up front with advanced user setting's .

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Multiplexing of original source file's from title only ...

As for vob2mpeg , you need netframework 2 ... crap I can do without ... wish people would stop using it to develope tool's , because they forget to update the netframework version's ... ie , tool need's version 1 and current version installed is 2 ... none and buckley's of installing them without a clean reinstall of the os ... stupidity ... guess who get's the dummy award ...

Method 1 :

You have 2 option's for mpeg2 for free here , first is bbmpeg

Reconvert audio into mp2 using beseet .
Bbmpeg , load a small avi ... see that name (upper right hand corner) , hit that button above it .
Choose a different name to any file you might see where you want to save this file too (we dont want to over write any by accident)
Now hit encode , and head into setting's .
Go to tab "input / output file's .
Click on "open vs" , locate your m2v stream .
Click on "open as 1" , locate this new mp2 audio file .
Go to general setting's tab .
Uncheck both encoding option's here , leave only the multiplexer's engaged .
Click ok , then start , and wait .

There is your mpeg2 , done .

Method 2 :

Another method is to use the tool "mplex"

However , copy mplex from dvdauthorgui folder to c drive .
Not sure of the audio acceptable type's here , so follow the advice on conversion to mp2 using besweet to be sure .
Copy m2v (video stream) , and new mp2 (audio stream) to c drive as well .
Go to start , program file's , accessories , command prompt .
Type

cd..
Hit enter
cd..
Hit enter

You is at c:\

Now type
mplex
Hit enter

Read what it say's and you should be able too multiplex both stream's back into an mpeg2 on c drive .

That's m2v + mp2 = mpeg2 done .

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How to author all known dvd format's when your program wont accept them :

There is a lot of dvd authoring product's about , and not all will accept specific format's .

Even if the option's allow you to disable the program's ability to re-encode the file's to what it think's is acceptable , they do a halfwitt job at it , and normally screw thing's up , like audio sync issue's , freezing frame's , poor or complete unacceptable picture quality .

You can do much better and for free ... it dosent cost a dime , unless you wish to contribute to there future development or support ...

The authoring of all mpeg2 sized format's may not be acceptable with your choice of authoring software .
To get past this , check out my guide's where I use pgcedit .

Generate basic dvd with you menu , include a small basic title and link all to it , then author to folder .
Open pgcedit , new dvd , it will ask where to generate the output too , new folder .

Import title / or title's ... import menu ... edit navigational command's between all menu's , button's and title's .

Save , play test , if all fine , burn it and enjoy .
If not all well , re-edit nav command's where problem accured , and retest playback .

When all is well , and under 4.3 gig , burn at 4x to dvd-r only for across the board compatabilty ...

This way allow's for the authoring of all known supported dvd mpeg2 format's ... I know of no other , and support's mixed format as well .

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Burning :

Most a using nero , anything for version 6.3 and up should be fine for basic stuff .

However , you can also use imgtool burn , simpler interface , dead set simple and use's nero's api .

Dvd-decrypter (imgburn)

From what I have been seeing , it would appear to be the best at dual layer burning ... as nero seem's to do it's own thing when it come's to the placement of layer break's , ... from the forum it appear's to ignore those already created within the project , esspecially those created through the use of pgcedit ... just something to be mindfull of .

Mini-dvd's ... also use imgburn to burn these to cd (vob authored project title's on cd's) ... it is the only program that manage's to create these ... nero refuse's until dvd media is inserted .

Ghostburn , another free burning program , has own api for burning ... though a little tricky to figure out how the h??? it work's from the start ... has restriction of maximum output burn at 4.3gig for project's .... soon to support dl ... hopefully .

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Framerate conversion's :

gui4ffmpeg - about as perfect for free as you can get .

For stubborn file's , use super to have a crack at fixing there issue first .
Unfortunately , they didnt leave any option to leave frame rate un converted .

Convert to avi format .
Then open it in vdub , and get it to convert the frame rate back to original frame rate .
Run gui4ffmpeg , open file to convert (wmv , asf , avi , mpeg , vob) .
Change required field's to suite required output .
(click option's , and uncheck "presettings" will unlock all option's)
This will allow you to change the video size , audio bitrate , and other option's of choice .
Sellect required output format's ... dvd , svcd , vcd , mpeg4 .
Sellect required output source type , pal or ntsc .

Be carefull with aspect ratio's ... recommend leaving that the same as the original will give less headache's .

Let it rip .... that's frame rate's done .

It most likely work's best if frame rate's are close ... converting 15fps to 25 or 29 might output absolute rubbish ... untested .

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Creating 5.1 ac3 audio for dvd project's :

Use belight instead of besweet dirrectly (besweet generate's 2 channel even when told output is 5.1) ... can generate 5.1 straight from avi , vob , most suitable audio format's .

From all this , you should be able too cook up a storm ...

[classfour]

I've run into the same problem using TDA on some transfers. If they're 5 to 6 GB, I've gone ahead and saved them to a dvd folder (movie name/Video_TS subfolder), open the folder with DVD Shrink (or DVD2ONE or Clone DVD, etc) and compress it to fit onto a standard 4.7 GB dvd. Larger than 6GB: open the folder with DVD Rebuilder and do a full re-encode.

Then burn the iso image with DVD Decryptor.