Which tool to shrink an MPEG?

[Dougmeister]

Have an 8 GB MPEG recorded from a ReplayTV (recorded at high quality, approx. 3 hrs in length).

What is the easiest way to re-encode it so that it will fit on a 4.7 GB DVD?

[Baldrick]

"Easiest" would probably be to author the 8gb mpg to dvd on your hd and shrink it with dvd shrink or for better video quality dvd rebuilder with cce basic.

or

Use latest tmpgenc plus or avisynth,dvd2avi,virtualdubmod(as frameserver) with any encoder like cinemacraft encoder, mainconcept mpeg encoder, canopus procoder and reconvert the mpeg directly.

[Dougmeister]

Thanks, Baldrick.

How would I go about authoring the 8gb mpg to dvd on my hd? Which program would do that?

[bugster]

How would I go about authoring the 8gb mpg to dvd on my hd? Which program would do that?

DVD-Lab and TmpGenc DVD-Author are two that spring to mind that will allow this. Both have downloadable 30-day trials available.

[bbllc]

Ulead DVD MovieFactory

[Dougmeister]

Ulead DVD MovieFactory

I have this program. What steps would I take?

[Baldrick]

Forgot about the all-in-one crappy tools. Just add the mpg in ulead dvd moviefactory and it will convert and author and burn for you.

[bbllc]

I have this program. What steps would I take?

https://www.videohelp.com/guides.php?tools=17&madeby=&formatconversionselect=&howtosele...or+List+Guides

Specific guide using Mpeg-2: https://www.videohelp.com/forum/userguides/139093.php

[bbllc]

Quick method:

New Project-> DVD -> click next
Add Video-> Add your Mpeg -> Remove the check from create menu ->Click next

Choose Create DVD Folders -> the software will create the Video_TS folder with the *.VOB files created (probablly split approximately every 1GB)
Open up DVD Shrink -> Open Files -> locate the newly created Video_TS folder, and shrink the DVD-Video.

This is very similar to a method that I use with my Seasons recorded with my DirecTV Tivo. I hope that this helps.

[Dougmeister]

Other factor is that I only have approx. 3 GB free on my C: drive, which Ulead insists on using (can't find the setting to force it to use a dif't drive?)

When I tried simply adding it in Ulead MF before, it got to the end and said it would probably run out of room while converting it (which it did).

So I figured I need another program either:

1) to re-encode it , or
2) to split it up so ULead (or more aptly, my hard drive) can handle it

[bbllc]

Use Womble MPEG-VCR to split the MPEG into smaller fragments. How big is your hard drive. FYI, defragment prior to doing any of this.

[Dougmeister]

Use Womble MPEG-VCR to split the MPEG into smaller fragments. How big is your hard drive. FYI, defragment prior to doing any of this.

Ok, cool. I have several hard drives, one of which has at least 30 GB free. And yes, I will defrag first, thanks.

[bbllc]

FYI, always use one drive exclusively for video editing/authoring. You will definately notice a difference in speed and quality. I would recommend a larger hard drive. I personally use a 250GB 7200RPM.

[Dougmeister]

I just thought of something. Won't ULead choke on it even if the files are smaller? I.e., it choked on one 8 GB file, won't it still choke if I break it up into four 2 GB files?

Or is there a way to force Media Factory to process one "clip" at a time?

[CaptainAmazing]

Is Womble better than, say, TmpgEnc or other comparable software, or is it only specific to ReplayTV-converted files?

[Isengard]

You can try to re-encode it with ReMPEG2. Its very simple.

[bbllc]

I like Womble Mpeg-VCR, because it is a very user friendly Mpeg editing application. I am not sure if it is the best, but I has used it exclusively for that purpose for the last 8 months.