make avi smaller avi

[avendo]

can you make a avi smaller and still be a avi file?I have 2 that I am making a menu for with roxio dvd and it's to big.

[Gazorgan]

Roxio DVD doesn't have anything to do with AVI's. You can't make a menu for AVI's.

I suspect Roxio is converting the AVI to a DVD compleint MPEG, in which case it will be 2-10 times bigger. That's normal. If it's too big learn how to encode correctly (Roxio is a burning app, not an encoding app, it sucks as an encoder).

[avendo]

ok so how do I encode the avi files a little smaller..tmpe program makes it into a diff format?

[Craig Tucker]

Yes TMPGEnc is an mpeg encoder. If you have an AVI file (I am assuming it is either a divx or xvid file) then you can reencode it with virtualdub with a lower bitrate. Remember though that the quality will be reduced.

[avendo]

i tried virtual dub but it keeps asking for decoder,went nuts looking for 1,got a converter but it still don't work,used pinnacle moviebox usb to make the files.

[Craig Tucker]

What codec does pinnacle movie box use. Try opening the file in gspot and see what it says about the codec information.

[reboot]

You need a couple more tools.
Get GSpot to find out WHAT codec you need.
Try the Kristal codec pack, it's got good stable versions of the most common ones.
Once you have those installed, run it through VirtualDub.
You can reduce the filesize two ways. Either lower the bitrate, or reduce the video size...that is, make it smaller dimensions. VirtualDub will do it easily.

[avendo]

it's dvsd

[teegee420]

Install this. You can then open your movie in Virtualdub. Also, the only way to lower the file size is to decrease the bitrate. Lowering the resolution will do nothing if the bitrate is not decreased.

I'm not really sure what size you need the AVI to be but you can try using the Divx codec(preferably version 5.05). Use multipass. For the first pass use 8000kbps and for the nth pass use 1200kbps. That should give you decent quality without making it too big.

[avendo]

i have trouble with menus and chapters..etc

[Craig Tucker]

Try the Kristal codec pack, it's got good stable versions of the most common ones.

I would not reccommen any codec packs, they can screw things up. Only sinstall codecs as and when you need them.

Once you have those installed, run it through VirtualDub.
You can reduce the filesize two ways. Either lower the bitrate, or reduce the video size...that is, make it smaller dimensions. VirtualDub will do it easily.

File size for video is dependant on 2 things, bitrate and duration. Decreasing the resolution will have absolutely no effect on the fiilesize.

I would agree with teegee, DV AVI video is large, if you want to compress it and maintain it as AVI use either the XVID or DIVX codec. You will be able to compress it down a lot with little to no perceptible quality loss

[Craig Tucker]

i have trouble with menus and chapters..etc

Can you elaborate ?

If you want to create a DVD or CD (VCD) with menus and chapters you cannot keep the files as AVI. They need to be converted to mpeg and then authored to DVD or (S)VCD.

[avendo]

I tried the las codec..no go still same problem with virtdub