time vs data size

[dijitalwizard]

when editing a mpeg what is a good time length to cut at to fit on a cd

[Truman]

It depends on the constant or average bitrate of the MPEG.

[Vejita-sama]

Most people cut by size not by time. If you use the standard VCD template it's 1min=10MB. However for your x(S)VCD w/ a non-standard bitrate you that won't work. Either way, you cut by size.

Take a look under 'Tools' to the right and use one of the bitrate calculators to determine the video bitrat to use for your project. You'll have to encode with either CBR or multipass VBR for the calculators to work.

[Kdiddy]

I would definitely do time first....but for me, also make sure that TIME is at a good spot in the movie...I try not to cut in the middle of a scene, I do the closest scene change to that particular time I want....just a thought.

[vitualis]

I agree.

Actually, if you are doing a standard VCD, as long as each section is less than 74/80min, then it doesn't really matter where you cut it.

A good way is to use ChapterXtractor on the IFO (or if you use SmartRipper, you will already have a file listing the chapters) to find out the exact times of the chapters. Then, you can use TMPGEnc or your favourite cutter to cut the MPEG at an exact chapter change (e.g., if the movie has chapters 1 to 16, you can put chapters 1-8 on disc 1 and chapters 9-16 on disc 2).

Alternatively, you can encode your movie in two halves (at the exact chapter change), forgoing the need to cut altogether.

Regards.