have i messed up?

[zak_swan]

i had 2 files which i encoded and then joined, now it is a single file of 4.1 gb but when i use ulead movie factory it is now 5.8 gb which is too big for dvd.
i realise the size has to be made bigger for the information to make it a dvd but should it be as much as an extra 1.7 gb?
i want to make it smaller now to make it work with movie factory.
what is the best way? (please dont tell me i will have to encode again )

[housepig]

I think movie factory reencodes the audio to PCM (very large).

you need an authoring program that will not reencode a compliant file.

so the good news - you don't need to reencode. The bad news - you may not be able to use MF.

[CT2]

Thanks for the info. I was having a similar problem. I would save the vob files of a DVD to my hard drive and import the vob files to MF and the file size increased from 4.1GB to 4.8GB and I couldn't fit it onto a disc. Now I know why. Thanks

[zak_swan]

can u recommend a good authoring program housepig?

[Gees]

Since you're used to a Ulead program, you could try their Video Studio or Media Studio. MS is more high-end and costly. VS lets you use pcm or mpeg audio and is less expensive. Both are available in trial versions.

[zak_swan]

i've just used the search engine which was down for a few days and have discovered it was as u said housepig the audio settings on movie factory but thankfully it can be changed from lpcm to mpeg on movie factory.
im downloading video studio just now to see what its like.
another question to save space on my hard drive is it a good idea to make a dvd and delete file from hard drive then just use Nero to copy from disc?
or is it better to copy from an iso file?
many thanks

[zak_swan]

i've figured out what i done wrong.
on movie factory i had unchecked "do not convert compliant MPEG files"
so it started to reencode my file.
this might sound like a stupid mistake but i had had a rather large amount of alcohol and have only been doing this for 3 weeks.
so newbies if u have a file and put it in moviefactory and it gets bigger check "do not convert compliant MPEG files"
its on project settings after u start new project.
this is only if u have already reencoded a movie to the size u want with another app.
if u have a file which isnt encoded moviefactory can do that but if it makes it too big to fit on a dvd u can change the settings in progect settings.
but i have read it is probably quicker and better to use TMPGEN to reencode then use movie factory to author.

god i cant get over how stupid i was!

[housepig]

god i cant get over how stupid i was!

nope - ignorant. you didn't know. now if you do it again, that's stupid!

glad you got it figured out. and as for an authoring recommendation, I like DVD Lab.