Configurations for subtitling a Real Player file?

[Guy_]

Hi everyone Been reading a lot in this unbelievable site, but still feel and am a Newbie, I guess...

I have a LQ Real Player video file that I want to convert to something else and then add subtitles. The original dimensions of the movie are about as small as 160*180 pixels. When I watch the CurrentFrameRate in Real Player, it varies from 8 to 29. It also says: Encoded at 45,0 Kbps, ClipBandwidth = 36500. The file is about 18 MB and 50 mins long.

1) I know I could use EO Video or Tinra for the conversion, but which codec should I pick, and how exactly do I configure that codec to not make the resulting file bigger than it needs to be? (I would prefer a maximum size of 120MB & way smaller would be 'better')

2) What is the minimum of frames per second you can get away with, for a video only showing someone speaking?

3) Then I want to add subtitles, using Sub Station Alpha & Virtual Dub(?) When I will finally fuse subs & movie together, I wonder how big the screen dimensions should at least be, for the subs to be readable at its original size and to not be too blocky when viewed in full screen? I presume I'd better enlarge the original dimensions to 512 pixels? (see 4) How do I go about this in the most economic way? (I see it can be configured straight away in the codec on first conversion)

4) Tests showed me that in the player the resulting movie doesn't want to scale bigger anymore!! So, what are my options should I want it still bigger? It seems nothing goes beyond 512 pixels, unless maybe I use yet another program to enlarge (further), one which adds scaleability?

Many Thanks for any 'working method' pointers!
Guy_

[Guy_]

ONE Q REMAINING....

OK, I'm pretty much where I wanna be after some experimenting. Wait & see if the EO Video conversion will be in sync the whole 50 mins, I think so

1) The resulting file will be about 43 MB in 320x240. If you lower screen resolution to 800x600 when playing, the "mini subs" will probably become readable. If not, I'll start from one step higher at 512 pixels.

2) 12 frames per second is good for this.

3) 512 would be perfect, first trying for 320x240. Fusing movie and subs with VirtualDub seems no problem...(?)

4) THIS REMAINS a problem...: Can I get the final movie to be scaleable one way or another, and how, please? (What I mean is that by selecting full screen or dragging a corner of the player, the movie will not scale along with it... )

If someone could solve 4) I'd be in newbie heaven
Thank You again,
Guy_

[Guy_]

4) I forgot to restore my hardware acceleration in my player...

All problems solved by one and the same Guy! Thank you, really great forum :P