how can i get 4 hours on a single dvdr?

[acaltha]

Is there anyway to get 4hours of movie on 1 dvdr. I want to copy 2 movies of ca. 2hours on 1 dvd like with dvd recorders in ep mode. I've tried to import a dvd in nero vision express so its in mpg and changed the copy mode to ep. I think that would work but i really want subtitles on the movies. Is there any software that can convert a dvd to mpg and add a forced subtitle on it. Other solutions to get 4hours on 1 dvdr are welcome too.

[Forum Troll]

Use DVDShrink and compress the files so they all fit on one DVD-R.

[jimmalenko]

The amount of time you can get on a DVDR is totally and solely dependent on the combined audio and video bitrate. I assume we're talking about a single layer 4.7GB DVDR, and not a DL DVDR as our target media ?

That said, there's an easy way with little control on the final output as far as quality goes (but may not work satisfactorily in all circumstances), or there's a harder way, but with total control over the final output, and it is guaranteed to work so long as you do it right.

The easy way is DVDShrink, but putting 4 hours onto 1 DVD and expecting a transcoder to pull it down to size is IMO asking a bit too much.

The way that will definitely work involves using the VideoHelp.com Bitrate Calculator, and in this case we get the following:



You can see in the above picture that I've set the running time at 4 hours, and our target is a 4.7GB DVDR. Assuming we use 224kbps audio (you can set this to any value you intend to use), the calculator tells us that in order to make 4 hours fit on 1 DVDR, we need to use a video bitrate of 2312kbps or less.

So we plug these figures into our MPEG encoder, and when it's finished, we have DVD-compliant files that will fit on 1 DVDR. But, if you choose to go down this path, there's a HUUUUGE can of worms that will be opened, and a few decisions will need to be made.

[acaltha]

I've been using dvd shrink for a while now but can only fit about 3hours on 1dvdr. Even the custom ratio on shrink has a minimum limit so 2 movies of 1h50 is impossible.With dvd recorders you can copy two movies to dvdr in ep mode and still have a good quality. Isn't there any software that can do just that?

[jimmalenko]

I've been using dvd shrink for a while now but can only fit about 3hours on 1dvdr. Even the custom ratio on shrink has a minimum limit so 2 movies of 1h50 is impossible.With dvd recorders you can copy two movies to dvdr in ep mode and still have a good quality. Isn't there any software that can do just that?

There's older versions of DVDShrink that allow you to set any ratio you want (Version 2.3 was the last to offer this AFAIK). Try www.mrbass.org and there's a section for old versions of DVDShrink.

The whole thing with DVD Recorder EP modes is that most lower the frame size (because the bitrates they use would look poor at Full D1), which is exactly what you would need to do IMO if you do the harder way I described above. AFAIK there is no 1-click software that can do what you want to do without getting your hands dirty.

[FulciLives]

I've been using dvd shrink for a while now but can only fit about 3hours on 1dvdr. Even the custom ratio on shrink has a minimum limit so 2 movies of 1h50 is impossible.With dvd recorders you can copy two movies to dvdr in ep mode and still have a good quality. Isn't there any software that can do just that?

Notice the part I put in BOLD text?

Why did I do that?

Because it isn't good quality.

It is shit quality.

DVD blanks are very cheap these days.

There is no reason to do this.

Stop it !!!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[p_l]

If this can help, TMPGEnc XPress will do all your bitrate calculations for you automatically and even automatically lower your framesize, or "image resolution," as it calls it, to half D1 (352x480), as in my screenshot, or even VCD size, when you go below a certain bitrate threshold. Sure, it's not as good quality as 720x480 at a decent bitrate, but if your objective is to squeeze 4 hours on one DVD, this is a good and relatively easy way to do it. Just load your source files, choose a VBR DVD template when you Set Output, accept the default calculations and encode away. Sometimes, the quality of source files doesn't warrant full D1 DVD anyway.

[lordsmurf]

352x480 2.5 VBR

However, I tend to agree with FulciLive 100% on this one.

[archaeo]

My recommendation: Use an encoder rather than a transcoder. And, as jimmalenko mentioned, the bitrate really has to be there to pull it off. TryDVDRebuilder w/ cce. I just backed up 'dances w/ wolves' (extended version- 2 discs) on one dvd5, with very good quality, from what I can view on my 21" tv. The original file size was 10 gb, average bitrate was 2170kbs, with the highs and lows not far off of that average. It reduced it down to 35% of original size through RB, and am very pleased with the result. I used the undot().deen() filter combination in the avs options w/rebuilder to help it along.

[acaltha]

i'll try dvd rebuilder. I couldn't change the image resolution with tmpgenc. Only the bitrate. Also it doesn't allow dolby surround 5.1. Any other software where you can change the resolution?

[wwjd]

I have to agree with FulciLives and lordsmurf, cramming 4hrs of video on a DVD does not make sense unless you really do not care how bad the video quality is. DVDs are cheap, put two hrs on each and enjoy what you are watching.

wwjd

[handyguy]

Dvd recorders do LP mode & that is 4 hours on a disk. Thats another alternative.

[archaeo]

unless you really do not care how bad the video quality is.

I do care, and I did get, very good quality on a (4hr) single disc project. I think it is too generalistic to just say "you can't get good quality" on such an encode. It greatly depends on the bitrate. -my two cents

[lpn1160]

Back in the day of expensive media, remember $6 for 1 disk? I could see trying this, but today good media is at a buck & under
Split em up to 2 disks

[animatron]

Is there anyway to get 4hours of movie on 1 dvdr.

http://www.kvcd.net/portal/articles.php?lng=en&pg=61

[bazooka]

I concur

Split it up to two discs.

[xtreemkareem]

Arrggh! You posted my suggestion before I had a chance to smurf! But yea. D2 resolution 2.5 Mbps VBR, I can't tell the difference between that and full D1 on my crappy 19" TV!