Recorded Video Storage / Compression

[Jongi]

I’ve recorded some TV programmes using a TV card in DVD MPEG-2 format. Each programme (1.5h – 2h long) is a file 4.5GB-5GB in size. I would like to burn these on to a DVD-R. There are two possibilities here I think:

1. Burn them to DVD-R as a DVD movie, or
2. Compress them and store them as such on a DVD-R.

The 1st method will likely be difficult as the files are larger than the DVD capacity as they stand. Should I create a DVD on my hard drive with the relevant files (3 of them) and then use DVD Shrink to try and shrink them to fit on a DVD-R? Will this work?

Would method 2 rely on me converting them to DivX and then burning the resultant MPEGs to a DVD-R? If this works will I be able at a later stage to copy the MPEGs to my harddrive and create a DVD or VCD? Can I expect visible loss of quality on the DVD created?

Lots of questions. Hope this is the right forum as well.

[lolive]

i used since a long time your 1st method
take your mpeg2 files, author it with what you want and save on HD
if your video_TS file is more than 4.35 Go
use DVS Shrink to recompress it
for me, it's working well

[guns1inger]

The 1st method is the better of the two. I would go down the Divx path only if you have a Divx compatible standalone player. You should anticipate loss of quality trying to bring it back to DVD later.

[Jongi]

Thanks guys

[Jayhawk]

I can comment on #1 as that is the method I am currently using on a couple dozen home movies (VHS tapes actually). After capture, I run them through Ulead MovieFactory Disc Creator. IF they are over the size limit I output TS Folders. I then use Shrink, input the TS folders and compress to fit the disc.

Works great. I do agree with guns1inger that you will siffer a quality loss with method #2. Method #1 has little if any quality loss as long as you're reasonable (don't try to put 10 hours of TV on a disc).