I need some help with the following project.

[tweety-tweety]

Dear members,

I need some help with the following project.

Hardware I am using:
- Converter: Dazzle 120
- Writer: Sony DRX-700ul
- DVD player: hr-xv1
- DVD player: finlux 510

Software I am using:
- Pinnacle studio 9
- Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3
- InterVideo WinDVD Creator 2
- CyberLink PowerDirector
- TMPGEnc 3.0 XPress
- TMPGEnc DVD Autor 1.6


What I would like is capture a movie from my camcorder and burn this with a menu on a dvd-r to play it on dvd player.

What did I trie?
- I captured a movie as DVD from my camcorder through dazzle 120 to my computer.
The movie length is 1 hour an 18 minutes with size 4.1GB

- I captured a movie as SVCD from my camcorder through dazzle 120 to my computer.
The movie length is 1 hour an 18 minutes with size 1.7GB

- I captured a movie as SVCD from my camcorder through dazzle 120 to my computer and burned this with a menu on a dvd-r.
The movie length is 1 hour an 18 minutes + menu with size 3 GB

This is taking to much space.

Questions:
- Which format need I to use if I want to burn my camcorder movies with a menu on a dvd disc that I can play on a standelone dvd player?

- If it is possible to play the movies on the dvd players without a menu so that I can have more space left for more movies. > It’s ok

- Why can’t I capture my camcorder movies with another capture software?

I have trying the following software programs:
- Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3
- InterVideo WinDVD Creator 2
- AVS Video Converter
- CyberLink PowerDirector

I hope someone can help me with this!

With kind regards,

[daamon]

Hi tweety-tweety,

At a high-level, there's two choices:

1. Capture to DVD compliant MPEG2 (see "What Is... DVD" for full specs, top left) using a capture card.

Pro's: No need to encode, can go straight to author and create menus then VOBs for burning to DVD. Smaller file sizes. Quicker.

Cons': Encoding on the fly is generally considered to produce lower quality results. More difficult to do advanced editing (fades, effects, adding overlayed audio etc.). Editing can cause audio synch issues.

2. Capture via firewire to DV AVI on your PC. Most advanced editors will (should) do this. If not, or you're having trouble, WinDV is a popular choice. Also AVI_IO, DVIO and Scenalyzer Live are commonly applauded.

Pro's: Much better / easier for advanced editing. It's actually a transfer of data from cam to PC, so (shouldn't be) no dropped frames / audio synch issues. As a source for encoding, you can have control over the encoding settings (if you use the right tool(s)). The resultant MPEG2 is usually better quality.

Con's: Larger file sizes - approx. 13.5Gb per hour. Encoding takes longer. Have to have disk space for source AVIs and resultant MPEGs (frameserving can help reduce this to a degree).

You're trying to do pretty much what I do for my video hobby - just different tools.

Here's how I do it:

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=725433#725433

I'm not saying it's the best or the most efficient, but I get good results that I like in (what seems to me) the most logical way. And it addresses all of your points...

Hope that helps. Good luck...

[Garibaldi]

Hardware I am using:
- Converter: Dazzle 120

I have a dazzle DVC 150, probably similar. Do you have an app on your computer called DVXCEL.exe? If so I can send you some programs written for it that will let you control your capture specifics better. For instance, to get better results try capturing:
MPEG 2
NTSC
352x480

After you do that, run your mpeg file through demux, found here:
http://www.geocities.com/ted_rossin/tools/Video/Video.html
and see what type of audio it makes. I'm guessing that it is probably pcm. if so, you will need to change that to mp2 with BeSweet GUI, and then remux the mpeg. This will significantly reduce your filesize. As for authoring, I would recommend GUI for DVD Author.

[tweety-tweety]

Thanks for replying guys,

I have a dazzle DVC 150, probably similar. Do you have an app on your computer called DVXCEL.exe?

No I don’t have the file DVXCEL.exe
But I have some questions to you!
Can you capture with your dazzle 150 to the format .avi?
Can you capture with your dazzle 150 to a format with the option that the audio can be saved seperated from de video file?


I hope someone can help me out because I realy don’t know what to do anymore!

What I’m asking is not much. Or is it?

With the dazzle 120 I can capture only to the following format’s:
- DVD – High Quality compatibel format mpeg2, audio & video are 1 file.
- SVCD – Medium Quality format mpeg2, audio & video are 1 file.
- VCD – Low Quality format mpeg1, audio & video are 1 file.

Because I can’t capture to .avi the only capture format is mpeg 1 or 2. and if I capture the movie to mpeg 2 I can’t save the audio seperated.

This means 1 file for video & audio. How is it than possible to decrease the movie file?

I can’t capture with the dazzle dvc 120 my camcorder movies with another capture software!

I have trying the following software programs:
- Ulead DVD MovieFactory 3
- InterVideo WinDVD Creator 2
- AVS Video Converter
- CyberLink PowerDirector

--

[Garibaldi]

No I don’t have the file DVXCEL.exe
But I have some questions to you!
Can you capture with your dazzle 150 to the format .avi?
Can you capture with your dazzle 150 to a format with the option that the audio can be saved seperated from de video file?


I hope someone can help me out because I realy don’t know what to do anymore!

What I’m asking is not much. Or is it?

With the dazzle 120 I can capture only to the following format’s:
- DVD – High Quality compatibel format mpeg2, audio & video are 1 file.
- SVCD – Medium Quality format mpeg2, audio & video are 1 file.
- VCD – Low Quality format mpeg1, audio & video are 1 file.

Because I can’t capture to .avi the only capture format is mpeg 1 or 2. and if I capture the movie to mpeg 2 I can’t save the audio seperated.

This means 1 file for video & audio. How is it than possible to decrease the movie file?

I can’t capture with the dazzle dvc 120 my camcorder movies with another capture software!

No, my dvc 150 cannot capture in avi. I also can capture in DVD, SVCD, and VCD formats (all you have to do is change the bitrates and resolutions for each). My question to you is why would you want to capture in avi? I have the perfect solution for you, a program called Demux:
http://www.geocities.com/ted_rossin/tools/Video/Video.html

Demux, developed by Ted Rossin, will let you easily and quickly split your mpeg 2 (or mpeg 1) files into m2v and mp2 files (video and audio respectively). Now, if your dvc 120 is anything like the 150 for some incomprehensible reason it captures your audio in .pcm format (uncompressed PCM audio). So when you split your mpeg file in Demux, you will probably end up with a m2v and a pcm file. Now you have a couple options:
1. Use Besweet GUI to convert the pcm file to mp2
2. Use ffmpeg GUI to extract the audio directly to mp2
Personally I would use ffmpeg because I have had better luck with it.

At any rate, you should now have 2 files, m2v and mp2. You can now edit those files with Mpeg2Schnitt, which will let you cut out the parts than you don't want and make new files without rendering! This way you don't have to render your files, which wastes time and opens you up for error.

Now your ready to author your dvd (make the menus and such). I would highly recommend GUI For DVD Author for this task. After you click Create DVD in GUI for DVD Author, it will output 2 folders, VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS. Simply drag these two folders onto a blank data dvd and burn. And your done!

As far as another capture software, have you checked the tools section? There are a bunch of free ones there. Also, look around in your C:\program files\ folder for something like DVXCEL.exe. What program do you currently use for your capture from the 120?

Also all the software that I have mentioned is completely free. If you have some more questions I'm happy to help!

[tweety-tweety]

Dear Garibaldi,

Thanks for the reply. First I’m gone answer your questions.

My question to you is why would you want to capture in avi?

Because it doesn’t reguire so much space as the mpeg.

Also, look around in your C:\program files\ folder for something like DVXCEL.exe.

I have search for it but no dvxcel.exe file.

What program do you currently use for your capture from the 120?

I can only capture with the original software pinnacle studio versie 9


Ok I have trying the following:

Step 1
I captured a movie from my camcorder with the dazzle 120 and software pinnacle studio 9.
The output format that I used is:
DVD – High Quality compatibel format mpeg2, audio & video are 1 file.
Filename: testproject.mpg File size: 987 MB movie length: 20 min.

Step 2
For spiltting the Audio from the video I used the software TMPGEnc 3.0 Xpress
I have used demultiplex in the section mpeg tools to open the testproject.mpg file.
When the splitting is finished I get the following files like u said.
Video: testproject.m2v File size: 937 MB
Audio: testproject.mp2 File size: 31 MB

Step 3
Opening program TMPGEnc DVD Autor. And opening the file testproject.m2v it opens automaticly the file testproject.mp2.
For your information: The program recognized the file’s and it is showing the following detail info:
testproject.m2v: MPEG-2, 720x576 25fps (4:3) PAL
testproject.mp2: MPEG-1, Audio layer-2, 48000 Hz Stereo, 224 kbps (Monolingual)
I did not insert a menu.
After it was finished, I get the following folders:
AUDIO_TS : No files
VIDEO_TS : VIDEO_TS.BUP Size: 8 Kb
VTS_01_0.BUP Size: 24 Kb
VIDEO_TS.IFO Size: 987 Mb
VTS_01_0.IFO Size: 8 Kb
VTS_01_1.VOB Size: 24 Kb


The following questions do I have for you:
- Why is there no Audio file in the AUDIO_TS folder?
- Why is the movie still taking so much space?

I have heard of the program DVD Shrink 3.2 is this the solution?


Because I have already some programs that are approximately the same.
That’s why I didn’t used the programs that you advised.
But if it is the solution for me than I will try it!

Gr.

[Garibaldi]

Because it doesn’t reguire so much space as the mpeg.

You did eventually convert your captured avi to an mpeg, correct? So wouldn't it eliminate the conversion step to just capture in mpeg? If you don't have the diskspace I know you can get a 40 GB internal hd for $30 (I'm not sure what that is in Euros, which I'm guessing is what you use because you use PAL). Are you using an uncompressed avi or Divx or something? Because if you are using a codec, even Divx or Xvid, you are already sacrificing quality.
But that is just my personal recommendation.

I captured a movie from my camcorder with the dazzle 120 and software pinnacle studio 9.
The output format that I used is:
DVD – High Quality compatibel format mpeg2, audio & video are 1 file.
Filename: testproject.mpg File size: 987 MB movie length: 20 min.

This looks good. One thing that you could do if you want to capture an mpeg is capture it in 352x576 resolution, which is considered 1/2 d1, and will reduce your filesize without much noticeable quality loss. Another way that you can reduce your filesize is to lower the bitrate when you render the avi to mpeg. There should be an option about that in studio 9. If not, just render it with TMPGENC 3.0. I would recommend a bitrate of between 6000 and 3500, because that will give you a smaller filesize without much quality loss. You could also use the low resolution template in TMPGENC to reduce your filesize even more.

For spiltting the Audio from the video I used the software TMPGEnc 3.0 Xpress
I have used demultiplex in the section mpeg tools to open the testproject.mpg file.

Once again a personal recommendation- I have found that Demux (see above link) will demultiplex your file alot faster than with TMPGENC. If you want specifics on how it was written, I would pm Trossin, who wrote it.

Also could you take your mpeg before you demultiplex it and import it into DVD Patcher and post a screenshot here?

- Why is there no Audio file in the AUDIO_TS folder?

I believe the AUDIO_TS folder is there for future use with dvd digital audio formats, something not yet implimented. You still need it on the dvd though.

- Why is the movie still taking so much space?

I have heard of the program DVD Shrink 3.2 is this the solution?

The vob files aren't going to be any smaller than your mpegs- what I am guessing is that the bitrate is very high. DVD Shrink will reduce it, and you can use that if you want, but there is a point where it will start to degrade your video.

Basically I would recommend doing this to your avi and then render:
1. Resolution to 352x576
2. Bitrate 6000 or less

[tweety-tweety]

Dear Garibaldi,

Thanks again for a quick reply.

Your question:
You did eventually convert your captured avi to an mpeg, correct?

No. I think you understand me wrong.
See my previously Posted: Oct 30, 2004
Because I can’t capture to .avi the only capture format is mpeg 1 or 2.

Basically I would recommend doing this to your avi and then render:
1. Resolution to 352x576
2. Bitrate 6000 or less

I can’t capture to .avi can you help me out with my mpeg file?

Your question:
Also could you take your mpeg before you demultiplex it and import it into DVD Patcher and post a screenshot here?

See my screenshot here:

[Garibaldi]

Dear Garibaldi,

Thanks again for a quick reply.

No problem, glad to help!

No. I think you understand me wrong.
See my previously Posted: Oct 30, 2004
Because I can’t capture to .avi the only capture format is mpeg 1 or 2.

I see, so you can capture in mpeg and then you convert it to avi because you want to save filespace? So I am assuming that your screenshot is from your mpeg that you just captured (you didn't convert it or anything). This means that Studio 9 is setting your preset capture stats at:
-> 720x576
-> 5999600
-> total filesize is about 1 GB, so I am guessing that this clip is about 30 minutes long?
Let me post a captured clip of mine that is 90 minutes long (keep in mind that its a NTSC capture, so some of the settings are different), and is 4 GB:

As you can see my mpeg file has a little lower bitrate and a different resolution. Here are the changes that I would recommend making with DVD Patcher, but they probably will not reduce your mpeg file's size. I'm not sure but I think you could use a program like Rejig, ReMpeg or ReStream to do that. Anyway, change your mpeg settings in DVD Patcher and post a screenshot of the changed mpeg so that we can make sure that the changes are correct.
Here is the screenshot:

[tweety-tweety]

Dear Garibaldi,

Thanks again for a quick reply.


Garibaldi:

I see, so you can capture in mpeg and then you convert it to avi because you want to save filespace?

Yes, that’s right. But that was only a trial to decrease the file.


Garibaldi:

So I am assuming that your screenshot is from your mpeg that you just captured (you didn't convert it or anything). This means that Studio 9 is setting your preset capture stats at:

Yes. The screenshot is from my test mpeg file.
It’s indeed the captured file.
Details:
I captured a movie from my camcorder with the dazzle 120 and software pinnacle studio 9.
The output format that I used is:
DVD – High Quality compatibel format mpeg2, audio & video are 1 file.
Filename: testproject.mpg File size: 987 MB movie length: 20 min.
I did use 720x576. For your information I can choose between different size.
Bitrate: 5999600


Garibaldi:

-> total filesize is about 1 GB, so I am guessing that this clip is about 30 minutes long?

No. Filename: testproject.mpg File size: 987 MB movie length: 20 min.


Garibaldi:

Let me post a captured clip of mine that is 90 minutes long (keep in mind that its a NTSC capture, so some of the settings are different), and is 4 GB:

Your captures file = 4 GB for 90 minutes.
Wow! That’s a huge file for 352x480 pixel size.
Are you burning this movie directly to a dvd or can you decrease your mpeg file?

Because my only wish is that I can burn 2x 90/100/120min or 3x90/100/120 my captured movies on a dvd and play it on a standelone dvd player.
See my captured mpeg file that is 1 hour and 18min long.


Garibaldi:

As you can see my mpeg file has a little lower bitrate and a different resolution. Here are the changes that I would recommend making with DVD Patcher, but they probably will not reduce your mpeg file's size.

Yes I can see that your bitrate is lower than mine.
I have opening the following mpeg file with dvd patcher and changed to your suggestion.
Filename: testproject.mpg File size: 987 MB movie length: 20 min.

And indeed the file size still the same. But what have I reached whit this?
Now with a bitrate 3500000 and a pixel size 352x576

See the patched file screenshot:



Garibaldi:

but they probably will not reduce your mpeg file's size.
I'm not sure but I think you could use a program like Rejig, ReMpeg or ReStream to do that.

I will try the program’s
My goal is that I final have a decreased movie file.

[Garibaldi]

Thanks again for a quick reply.

Glad I could help!

Yes, that’s right. But that was only a trial to decrease the file.

Since that was only a test I would recommend not converting your captured mpeg to avi- just leave it as an mpeg the whole time, this will save you time in rendering which you don't really need to do.

Yes. The screenshot is from my test mpeg file.
It’s indeed the captured file.
Details:
I captured a movie from my camcorder with the dazzle 120 and software pinnacle studio 9.
The output format that I used is:
DVD – High Quality compatibel format mpeg2, audio & video are 1 file.
Filename: testproject.mpg File size: 987 MB movie length: 20 min.
I did use 720x576. For your information I can choose between different size.
Bitrate: 5999600

Can you specifiy the bitrate (I'm guessing that you can't which is fine too)? I would recommend trying to a new resolution of 352x576 and see if that reduces your filesize (it should).

No. Filename: testproject.mpg File size: 987 MB movie length: 20 min.

Sorry, I was just estimating and forgot to account for the 1 MB = 1024 bytes.

Your captures file = 4 GB for 90 minutes.
Wow! That’s a huge file for 352x480 pixel size.
Are you burning this movie directly to a dvd or can you decrease your mpeg file?

The way that my capture software (the old DVXCEL, the prequel to your Studio 9) works is it captures directly to mpeg but the audio in the file is .pcm (uncompressed audio) instead of .mp2, which is compressed. That is where you are seeing the big file increase. For instance, let me post a file that I edited (but not rendered) and converted the audio to mp2:



This is a 45 minute clip (half of before) and its only 1.3 GB, which is quite a bit smaller. In my case I solved this by demuxing my mpeg and then converting the pcm audio to mp2 and then remuxing.

Because my only wish is that I can burn 2x 90/100/120min or 3x90/100/120

So do you want to be able to store 2 120 min shows on 1 dvd or 3 120 minute shows on 1 dvd?

Yes I can see that your bitrate is lower than mine.
I have opening the following mpeg file with dvd patcher and changed to your suggestion.
Filename: testproject.mpg File size: 987 MB movie length: 20 min.

And indeed the file size still the same. But what have I reached whit this?
Now with a bitrate 3500000 and a pixel size 352x576

That shows you how to change part of the mpeg file called the header file. I just suggested it in that way incase you would ever want to change the header aspects in short notice.

Before you try actually changing the resolution and bitrate (unless you can change either directly when you capture, then by all means do it) the next step in solving this problem is to make sure that your mpeg doesn't contain pcm audio. Now you said that when you demuxed your file with TMPGENC it made an m2v and mp2 file, which would seem right, but just to make sure why don't you run your captured mpeg through demux and see what the 2 output filetypes are:
http://www.geocities.com/ted_rossin/tools/Video/Video.html
If the 2 files are m2v and pcm or something, then we have found your main problem. But if the 2 files are m2v and mp2, then we will have to adjust the resolution and bitrate to reduce your file.

So:
1. use demux with your mpeg file and see what the results are
2. if that doesn't work we can try reencoding your mpeg with something like rejig with a different resolution and bitrate
3. if both of those don't work, then we will fall back on our last resort which is making your entire dvd until you get VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders, which we will then run through dvd shrink to make them the size that you want. The reason that I didn't suggest this at first was because some people have had bad effects with dvd shrink (as is to be expected) when they have tried to shrink the file too much.

Once we find the correct process for you, you can just use that all the time and it will be alot easier for making videos!

[tweety-tweety]

Dear Garibaldi,

Thanks again for a quick reply.

1- Can you specifiy the bitrate (I'm guessing that you can't which is fine too)?
2- I would recommend trying to a new resolution of 352x576 and see if that reduces your filesize (it should).

1- No indeed I can’t make any changes to the bitrate.
But I can make changes to the datatransmit kbit/sec. standard 6000 kbit/sec
See for your self I have making a screenshot of it:


2- I have captured a movie with the resolution 480x576 and the following info I have for you of this file.
Filename: testproject2.mpg File size: 504 MB movie length: 20 min.

With resolution 720x576
Filename: testproject.mpg File size: 987 MB movie length: 20 min.

So do you want to be able to store 2 120 min shows on 1 dvd or 3 120 minute shows on 1 dvd?

Sorry for the confusion. It realy doesn’t matter wich one, so much hours of movies on one dvd as possible.

1. use demux with your mpeg file and see what the results are

I have using demux on the:
Original file: testproject.mpg File size: 987 MB movie length: 20 min.

Result’s are:
Video: DestStreamBasename_e0.m2v File size: 937 MB
Audio: DestStreamBasename_c0.m2a File size: 31 MB

2. if that doesn't work we can try reencoding your mpeg with something like rejig with a different resolution and bitrate
3. if both of those don't work, then we will fall back on our last resort which is making your entire dvd until you get VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders, which we will then run through dvd shrink to make them the size that you want. The reason that I didn't suggest this at first was because some people have had bad effects with dvd shrink (as is to be expected) when they have tried to shrink the file too much.

Once we find the correct process for you, you can just use that all the time and it will be alot easier for making videos!

Ok perfect!
With kind regards.

[Garibaldi]

But I can make changes to the datatransmit kbit/sec. standard 6000 kbit/sec
See for your self I have making a screenshot of it:

Sorry, I can't read German (the best I can do is Spanish). I wonder, is the datatransmit kbit/sec the same as bitrate, or is that a VBR setting? You could try reducing that to something like 3500 and see if that will give you a smaller filesize. Also try the 352x576 (even smaller than 480) if you can, which will reduce your filesize. Right now it looks like you can get about 180 min on a dvd- closer than before.

I have using demux on the:
Original file: testproject.mpg File size: 987 MB movie length: 20 min.

Result’s are:
Video: DestStreamBasename_e0.m2v File size: 937 MB
Audio: DestStreamBasename_c0.m2a File size: 31 MB

It looks like Studio 9 captures your audio in mp2, not a problem. You won't even have to use demux to change this.

We are getting closer to the settings that you want. Just try the smaller capture size and play with the bitrate a little. I look forward to seeing your results.

[tweety-tweety]

Dear Garibaldi,
Thanks again for a quick reply.

Sorry, I can't read German (the best I can do is Spanish). I wonder, is the datatransmit kbit/sec the same as bitrate, or is that a VBR setting?

I have read in the glossary and I think it must be the bitrate.
I think this is the daratransmit speed between the camcorder through the dazzle to the computer.

You could try reducing that to something like 3500 and see if that will give you a smaller filesize.

I have captured a movie with the resolution 480x576 Bitrate 3000 kbits/sec and the following info I have for you of this file.
Filename: testproject2.mpg File size: 504 MB movie length: 20 min.

There is something very interesting about the resolution.
If I choose 480x576 and after the capturing I opening this file with dvd patcher.
It says the size is 352x576
And if check the file size of the captured movie with resolution 480x576 it is exactly the same as the captured movie with resolution 352x576.
Do you understand this ! Well I realy don’t!


I have also trying the following:
Captured movie from camcorder with following configuration:
Resolution 480x576 Bitrate 3000 kbits/sec
The following two movie files do I have:
- Filename: movie1.mpg File size: 2.2 GB movie length: 1 hour and 28 min.
- Filename: movie2.mpg File size: 2.2 GB movie length: 1 hour and 28 min.

Can I ask you something how many hours movie can you store on one dvd with a reasonable quality?



Bitrate
Bitrate or Bit Rate is the average number of bits that one second of video or audio data will consume. Higher bitrate means bigger file size and generally better video or audio quality while lower bitrate means lower file size but worse video or audio quality. Some bitrate examples in common video and audio files:
MP3 about 128 kbps (kilobits per second)
VCD about 1374 kbps
DVD about 4500 kbps
DV about 25 Mbps (megabits per second).

VBR
Variable Bit Rate - the bitrate can vary at any part of a single video or audio stream. VBR can is used to increase bitrate during high motion scenes in a video or to reduce overall file size. DVD MPEG-2 video is often variable bit rate. Also see CBR (constant bit rate).

[Garibaldi]

There is something very interesting about the resolution.
If I choose 480x576 and after the capturing I opening this file with dvd patcher.
It says the size is 352x576
And if check the file size of the captured movie with resolution 480x576 it is exactly the same as the captured movie with resolution 352x576.
Do you understand this ! Well I realy don’t!

I don't understand that either! My only guess would be that the header file of the mpeg 2 reads 480 but in reality it is only 352. I would still capture in 352x576 so at least the header is correct.

Can I ask you something how many hours movie can you store on one dvd with a reasonable quality?

I have gotten 6 42 minute episodes on 1 dvd, I have heard of people getting alot more though. That was back when I would render the video with TMPGENC and set it to low resolution with 2000 CBR bitrate. My TMPGENC trial ran out and since I can capture directly in mpeg 2 I'm not going to waste time rendering it. I believe that after I capture and then convert the pcm audio to mp2 I can still get somewhere between 4 and 6 24 minute episodes. So the most I have ever gotten is 240 minutes, and that's without using dvd shrink. It looks like the most you can get is 3 hours, or 180 minutes. Hmmm. I'm kind of at a loss for ideas because you already set your bitrate low and changed your video to 1/2 d1.
... Alright, I have an idea you can try to further reduce your video size without rendering.
1. Capture your video that you want to put on a dvd (lets stick with 240 minutes for now at most) at 352x576 with 2000 CBR bitrate. This should give you about 180 minutes for 4.4 GB, but just keep capturing until you get to 240 minutes.
2. Import your mpeg 2 files into Mpeg2Schnitt (if only you had linux you could use gopdit, which is alot easier, I can give you some info on linux too if you want- its free), you may have to demux the file first, just use demux. Use Mpeg2Schnitt to cut out the parts that you don't want and to make a new mpeg file.
3. Import your new mpeg files into GUI for DVD Author and make your menus. It doesn't have to be too fancy since this is just a test. Now click the Create DVD Button.
4. Open up the VIDEO_TS folder that you just created with GUI for DVD Author in DVD Shrink. Shrink the dvd down so it will fit onto a standard 4.7 GB dvd.
5. Now using your favorite dvd player open the new VIDEO_TS folder created by dvd shrink and watch your dvd, make sure the quality is fine.
6. If the quality is good, make a new data dvd with your favorite burning software and put 2 folders on it, AUDIO_TS (empty but necessary) and VIDEO_TS (from dvd shrink), and burn. You should be all set!