Problem With Conversion

[Squid_uk]

i am trying to convert an AVI file to DVD (MPEG2) using the guide below, but when i come to the conversion i am told that the output file will be 4.8gb but the original file is only 710,000KB!

what am i doing wrong and how can i fix this?

https://www.videohelp.com/tmpgencdvd.htm

[sacajaweeda]

Use a bitrate calculator to find the correct bit rate. The size of your source file is irrelevant.

[Squid_uk]

how do i do that?

[sacajaweeda]

Use this:
https://www.videohelp.com/calc.htm

Then...

Bitrate Setting part of the guide you linked...

Project Wizard (4/5) image....change that setting.

[Squid_uk]

sorry but im still not sure with what im doin

[secretagent]

go to the guide and look on page 4/5 see where it gives you the bitrate? there is a button beside this just lower the bitrate until you get the size you want as indicateed by the blue line at the bottom of the page

[Squid_uk]

i can't decrease it, i can only increase it.

[mats.hogberg]

Use DVDRHelp Bitrate Calculator.
Enter the playing time of the movie at 1
Select the audio bit rate you use at 2
Read the available video bit rate at 3

Enter this value in TMPGEnc


/Mats

[Squid_uk]

it still use the whole dvd

[feenix]

Isn't that what you want?

[Squid_uk]

not really, is there anyway i can make the file smaller after converting it?

[mats.hogberg]

Lower the bit rate! Half bit rate=half size (audio not taken into account).

/Mats

[sacajaweeda]

Why would you NOT want to use the entire disc?

What are you saving it for? :P

[Squid_uk]

oh ok will that alter the quaility?

p.s the lowest i can have the 'Average Video Bitrate' is 2000 kbits/sec

[feenix]

Generally speaking the higher the bitrate (or file size in your terms) the higher the quality. It also depends on the quality of your source file - I mean if that was crap in the first place you won't improve it much regardless of what high bitrate you use.

[Squid_uk]

the source quality is dvd quality but its an AVI

[feenix]

Well then - just try it! Play back the mpg2 after you've converted and before you author to see if the quality is acceptable. Or just convert 10 mins or so and the try it. You can always go back and start again

[sacajaweeda]

Definitely trim off a sample clip or two of your source and try some test encodes with different bit rates. If you have a RW drive, get yourself some RW discs if you haven't already, and check them on your set top player as well.

Use something like VirtualDub to save a couple 20-30 second clips of your source. Do all your testing on them. Don't wait for the whole movie to encode only to discover you have something set wrong.

[Squid_uk]

after all that i have found out the MPEG2 function has expired, is there another program i can use?

[mats.hogberg]

No mpeg2 encoder (except bbmpeg) (for Windows) is free...

/Mats

[Squid_uk]

is it possible for a qiuck guide on how to use it?

[mats.hogberg]

Not from me - I've never touched it...

/Mats

[feenix]

If you really want to make DVD's you're going to have to bite the bullet and buy the software. I understand if you can't afford it so, until you can ,compromise by making VCD's or leave as is until then.

If someone can come up with a 'How to' on BBmpeg (which you'll understand) then all well and good. I've never heard of it!

[Squid_uk]

compromise by making VCD's

i would but the file is too big too fit on an 700mb disk

[feenix]

What file? You haven't encoded one yet!

[Squid_uk]

the avi. all i want to do is put the file on a disk so i can watch it on my dvd player, can u please tell the easiest way to do this?

[feenix]

You've already got TmegEnc so use that. Use the wizard and choose the VCD template that you want (I'm guessing PAL in your case - unless you download your source avi which might be NTSC).

You'll probably end up with an mpg1 file too big for 1 cdr but use the MPEG tools and then Merge and cut (under the file menu) to split the mpg into as many files as it takes to fit on 700mb cdr's (roughly 70 mins a cd). Then burn each file as a VCD with........whatever you've got.