AVI to VCD size issue...

[Rhomulus]

I have a regular .avi movie that I was trying to convert to a VCD to work in my DVD player, but I'm having a problem keeping the size down to one CD.
I have been using the 'Panasonic MPEG-1 encoder' for the job of converting it to MPEG-1 (obviously), and even when I adjust the bitrate I always seem to get a file that's 911 MB from the original 700 MB.
Does anyone know how I can change this 700 MB .avi into the MPEG-1 format and still have the file fit on one CD?
Is this a problem with the software or am I doing something wrong?
Also, is there a better program than VCDeasy for putting chapters in the MPEG-1 file? I've been using that, but some of the bin/cue files that I've got from it don't have the chapters on them when I burn them on the CD, or the file that I get from the Panasonic encoder doesn't work well with VCDeasy and it won't let me put the chapters in.
It can't be this hard to convert one .avi file to a VCD....but I just can't find a good system to do it.

[Craig Tucker]

If you are creating standard compliant VCD then the bitrate if fixed at 1150kbps, (approx 10MB/min), so I am assuming your movie is just over 91 mins long, hence 911MB. If you want to reduce the final filesize you need to reduce the bitrate. This will no longer be a standard VCD but an XVCD (non standard). I am not farmiliar with the panasonic encoder (I use tmpgenc) but could it be if you have chosen VCD that the bitrate is locked and cannot be changed.

[funkguy4]

I've heard the Panasonic encoder sucks when it comes to quality. TMPGEnc, CCE, or nothing because MainConcept gives the crappiest quality of the three....