VHS-SVCD HELP: getting 11GB avi's

[Amra_]

(sorry if wrong forum.. I'm (obviously) a newbie)

I am attempting to convert a VHS movie (84min) to SVCD using VirtualDub with PicVideo MJPEG Codec. I followed the instructions from the
CAPTURE->How to Capture to MJPEG/HUFFYUV and after convert to VCD,SVCD,DVD link on this website.

My challenge: I got 6 files of 1.9 gig's each. It seems a wee bit too big.

What critical step am I missing to get this down to 2-3 80min CDs?

System nfo: Athlon 900/384RAM/Asus v6600 Deluxe/Aureal Vortex2 Soundcard.

Thanks in advance for the help!!!!

-A

[Truman]

Get and install Avisynth. http://www.vcdhelp.com/vcdtools.htm
Open notepad, type
SegmentedAVISource("C:\full path...\your movie.avi" )
Save as yourmovie.avs (all files(*.*))
Open TMPGEnc, take yourmovie.avs as videosource. Avisynth loads yourmovie00.avi-yourmovie05.avi
Now set everything you like and encode like explained in the guide.
Probably there is an easier way, that I don't know.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Truman on 2001-08-03 15:42:38 ]</font>

[Medical]

Hi !

This is what you have to do:
1.) Capture your Video to Harddisk (you'll get an AVI)
2.) Use TMPGEnc to make this AVI to a mpeg1 (VCD)
or mpeg2 (SVCD) file.
3.) Use CD-Writer Software (Nero is REALLY cool) to burn.
__________________________________________________ _______
If you want more info read on
(maybe it can save you some time):

ad 1.) You can use Virtual Dub, Premiere, the Software
that came with your Capture Card... Use some compression
(well you do already and PicVideo MJPEG is fine!) and save
this file.

ad 2a (VCD): If you want to make VCD you have to make mpeg1
352x288 25fps (PAL) deinterlaced files. If you capture
with 720x576 simply use the deinterlace filter in virtual
dub (discard one frame) and Avi Synth (this is explained
in the HOW TO-Guide on this site) to TMPGEnc. Load the
correct template and hit encode (or start).

ad 2b (SVCD): For SVCD you need mpeg2 480x576 25fps (PAL)
interlaced files. Again capture to 720x576 with
compression. Open TMPGEnc (the very early versions are
recommended because mpeg2 is not a trial option - you
can download it from this site also) load the correct
template and hit encode (or start...).
If you want to watch your mpeg2 clips on your computer
you have to install some extra mpeg2 decoder software.

ad 3.) Get nero and burn your (S)VCDs - it's quite simple
and also is described in the HOW TO section of this site.

If you get used to all of this you can use Sefy's
templates for TMPGEnc and maybe you manage to put the
whole 84 mins on one VCD!
__________________________________________________ ________

I wish you good luck and if I could help I would be happy
about a posting here (further questions are also welcomed
and maybe I can answer them).

Medical

[Amra_]

Thank you for pointing me in the right direction... I have one question (well, probally alot more too)...

Regarding compression... is getting an 11 GIG .avi from a 84 min movie "normal?" I am somewhere confused on this.. as I have movies in VCD and SVCD that are only 2-3 CDs (~1.3-2.0 GIGs) that are much longer than 84 minutes.

I would presume that there is a 'better' compression to keep high quality, yet get file size to managable proportions.

Can I change the file size (of .avi) by changing Codecs? Eg: switch from PicVideo to HUFFYUV

Or would only changing the parameters of the capture change the size? i.e. capture at 352x240 vs. 480x480 (NTSC)?

Also, how drastically does changing the QUALITY of the codec (ie. PicVideo->CONFIGURE->Compression Settings) from HIGH COMPRESSION---------------HIGHER QUALITY scale? Is there a happy medium or is this something I have to 'fiddle' with?


Thanks again in advance!!

-A

[Truman]

11 gigs is normal. Switching to Huffyuv would result in a even larger filesize. But this avi is only a temporary file for you. When you convert it to MPEG-1 352x240 / 1150kbps (video)/ 224 kbps (audio), the filesize will be about 840MB.

[Medical]

Hi amra_!

As Truman already pointed out:
the avi file will NOT be saved on VCD or SVCD.
You have to use some encoder (e.g.: TMPGEnc)
to make this avi an mpeg1 or mpeg2 file.

1 minute of AVI is about 200mb.
But however this will change when you compress to mpeg
(which is NOT another codec (like huffyuv) but another
format)!
As I stated before: if you use Sefy's templates for
TMPGEnc you might be able to put those 84 mins on
ONE (1) VCD (=650-700mb).

Med.

P.S.: This is a newbie forum, you're supposed to
have a lot more questions...feel free to ask them.