DVD Shrink question

[backdrop001]

Hi guys I just started using dvd shrink can someone tell me how much video I can use it for?

[steveryan]

I'm not sure I understand your question. Are you asking if it's a trial version? DVD Shrink is free software, use it as much as you like.

[backdrop001]

sorry what I meant is with dvd shrink how big of files can you use it on before burning it too dvd?

[ebenton]

If you are trying to burn onto a regular one-layer DVD, it will hold about 4.7 GB. You don't want to shrink more that about 50% (the less the better), which would mean that your source video could be about 8 GB.
If you are burning to a double/dual-layer DVD, which can hold over 8 GB, your source could theoretically be about 16 GB, although I am not real sure how DVD Shrink would work with that much input. I've never tried it.
In any case, you need to have more than about 4-8 GB of free space on your PC's hard drive, because DVD Shrink works by compressing (shrinking) the source DVD down so it will fit on a regular DVD. It puts the compressed video on your hard drive and then you burn it from there to another disk.

[jimmalenko]

sorry what I meant is with dvd shrink how big of files can you use it on before burning it too dvd?

Have you got a particular purpose (or DVD) in mind or do you just want "general" information ?

My advice would be to learn the same way as most of the rest of us have - experiment yourself

[backdrop001]

well I was using dazzle to transfer some video from vhs and the file size was 13gb but the video was only 20minutes, so I though maybe I could use dvdshrink for that but I guess not.

[ROF]

Doesn't DVD shrink require the files to be in DVD format first?
ie. VIDEO_TS folder with .vob files and such.

[backdrop001]

I will convert them first. So they will be in dvd format

[psx_pirate]

13gb for 20 mins of video is an extremely large file .... what you need to do is convert that file to dvd compliant mpeg2 video ... lower the bitrate ... a maximum of 9000kb/s should be used ... you can go lower than 9000 (lower bitrate = smaller file size) but bear in mind that although lower bitrates = lower file size it also = lower video quality .... 20 mins of video encoded in mpeg2 at 9000kb/s will easily fit on a dvd-r (no need to use dvdshrink) ... remember ... after you have converted to mpeg2 you will need to author the video to dvd (use tda or similar)

one extra thing to note ... when converting your video to mpeg2 make sure the audio is converted to 48000hz (dvd standard) use mpeg layer 2 audio or better still if your software supports it use ac3 at 224kb/s or higher

EDIT ... ignore the mpeg level 2 audio bit .... i've just noticed that you're in the USA and therefore your dvdwill be ntsc which doesn't support mpeg 2 audio ... you will have to go with the ac3 or if thats not available LPCM audio (larger file size than ac3 so allow for this when calculating the video bitrate ... although for 20 mins of video it should still fit on a dvdr with 9000kb/s bitrate)