Xvid -> DVD - can I make it any smaller?

[liQuiD cOOl]

Okay I have all the family guy episodes downloaded in Xvid format, which I want to convert and make a couple dvdr's.

However, when I go to convert the xvid's with tmpgenc... it takes the 140mb .avi file and turns it into an 1100mb file. There's gotta be a way to make it smaller than that!

Thanks for any help guys.

[Tommyknocker]

You can use the wizard to adjust the bit rate to make the file smaller. But you will some quality.

[liQuiD cOOl]

yeah i've tried changing it to 2000 i think it was.. and then tried adjusting the % of the disk space that i want it to take, but it'll only let me get as low as 20%. I want like 5%

[andydd]

DVD is not and wasnt developed to be a small file format. Thats why movies on disc are 4.7 or even 9.4 Gb big, of course you can use a small bitrate IF you a crap picture, but thats not what DVD is about, although if you are using a Divx/Xvid then your picture aint gonna be that great to start with.

I tend to use Flask/LSX to re-encode, you can just type in any bitrate you want then.

[RabidDog]

you are probably upscaling your 535x 210 avi file to full dvd resoultion. use the next smallest, probably vcd resloution would be your best bet. Always downscale.

[jtommyj]

If you want to make the files smaller, why not put them on the DVD in VCD form ? Bitrate=Bitrate no matter what format you are exporting to so you'll have to decide to either use more DVD's or sacrifice quality.

[tito13kfm]

I'm doing the same thing right now.. hehe
Here is how i'm accomplishing it.

1st, don't use the Friggin Wizard, next load the file in TMPGenc, open the VCD NTSC (or whatever) template, then load the unlock template in the extras folder. Set the bitrate to 2200 (at about 23 min per episode you can get 11 per dvd). Batch convert 11 of them, Author DVD using you're fav program (it will take care of the 44100hz->48000hz conversion for you). Make a snazzy menu. Burn.

I've found that VCD, actually xVCD works fine for cartoons as long as you get the bitrate high enough.

Remember GIGO, if you convert to true DVD video, or SVCD you're quality isn't going to be that much better, and at equivalent bitrates it will actually be worse.

If you're looking for 5% of total disk space you can just keep the 1150 bitrate of a standard VCD and then author them using TMPGenc Dvd author. You should be able to fit 20 eps per dvd this way.

[liQuiD cOOl]

wow thanks tito13kfm

huge help man!

[Gazorgan]

KCD is how I did those eps. 1/2 D1 resolution works also. The tricky part is keeping the aspect ratio correct. Quality varies greatly, so preview each one.

[liQuiD cOOl]

boy oh boy it's tricky. so many ways to do it and so far i've not found one that works. perhaps i'm not doing it right (has to be). my output .mpg file is 700megs. Which is better than the original 1100... but what target size should i be aiming for if i wanna fit as many episodes on as possible :/