Files size too small after encode!!!!

[Dilemma]

I have downloaded a SVCD that came in two parts. I used vcdgear to extract the mpegs so that I can encode them into two dvd compliant mpeg2s so that they can be authored. The movie is 2 hours long by the way. I use Mainconcept Mpeg encoder to encode them. Usually when I do this the file size for BOTH of the mpegs together is anywhere between 5 and 6 gigs. However, when I encoded this particular movie the files size was about 3 gigs........HUH!!!!! This led me to believe that something was wrong so.........I used virtualdub to encode the original svcd to avis and the file size was still too small. I tried extracting the audio then multiplexing, but that didn't work. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[guns1inger]

Were you encoding to full D1 or half ?
What bitrate settings did you use mainconcept ?
What audio format did you use ?

[Dilemma]

Were you encoding to full D1 or half ?

Not sure what that means!

What bitrate settings did you use mainconcept ?

Whatever the default is.

What audio format did you use ?

LPCM
The originals were perfect as far as size is concerned by the way.

[guns1inger]

To be honest I'm not convenced you know what you are doing, however he goes.

Look at the menu on the left under WHAT IS ? and click on DVD. Read up on the correct resolutions for DVD.

Never use LPCM for audio as it wastes space. At two hours you will through away a quarter of your space to audio.

Learn how to use a bitrate calculator like this one https://www.videohelp.com/calc.htm to make sure you get the numbers correct. Based on a two hour movie with a 5.1 AC3 audio track your bitrate should be around 4690 for CBR, or set is an average for VBR. You can push it higher for 192 stereo mp2 audio.