propblem with converting AVI to SVCD using Nero

[namsilat]

I am using Nero 6 Ultra. Let me use an example. I have a AVI file of about 715MB in size, I opened Nero and selected burning as SVCD. After initial dragging of the file into the window and some processing, Nero showed it on the bottom staus bar as about 600 MB in size. So I clicked "go" and it goes on doing this encoding for hours, only to pop a warning message indicating the CD-R I have in the drive (700MB) is not enough in space. I clicked "cancel" to returned to the initial screen, NOW Nero is showing on the bottom status bar an exccess of 800MB of space needed. This discripancy before and after has cost me much time. I can't figure out the final size until I spent hours actually encoding it. Is that a problem common with conversion of AVI files, or just unique to Neo?

[redwudz]

It's a common problem, but NERO is not a great encoding program and tries to oversimplify the process.

You can adjust the bitrate to vary the output file size. Look in the 'Tools' to the left for a bitrate calculator that usually shows you what the file size will be after encoding.

Try TMPGEnc encoder instead of NERO. It has a trial version that's free.

TMPGEnc has a 'Wizard' program installed that can automatically adjust the bitrate to make the SVCD the proper size to fit on a CD.

If your AVI file is DIVX or XVID, it can end up quite a bit larger than the AVI file when encoded to MPEG-2.

[namsilat]

Thanks for the heads up on the bit rate calculators. I think I am stuck/screwed by this 700MB/80 min CD-R concept as shown on the CD-R I have in front of me. I did a calculation by selecting "CD-R 80", did all the math and then converted the AVI according to the bit rate shown, but the end result file is about 785 MB, or 90 minutes. Not really sure where I went wrong with this. I have done this type of calculation on two different files and both came out almost 800 MB or 90 min, there must be something I am doing wrong consistently.