1 hour 45 minute video is 28.4 GB

[happydog500]

Another good example is this:

I found something I wanted to do that was easy. Take a DVD and put the audio on CD. I went to an easy, simple walk hrough on videohelp. followed the instructions, exatly as on screen, step by step.
When I was done, it didn't work. Interesting, the same problem I have with DVD Shrink is the same problem with this. Nero would not see the files at the end.

[thecoalman]

I used the 4000kbps. The video is 1:44. The 2 hour setting should be fine. When I did it, as it was going through the process, I was happy it was working. When it got to the point where it burns the disc (waited hours) it stoped and poped up, not enough space on the disc.

Most likely you have the project settings in VS set to a higher bitrate, so it's giving you the estimate for the higher bitrate. Match the project settings to your video.

BTW another thought has just occurred to me, which audio format are you using. If it's PCM that will take up a huge amount of disc space.

[happydog500]

Good thought.
Looks like I'm captureing in MPEG layer 2, but converting to LPCM.
Can you edgucate me on the differences?

Also, the longest thing is "Converting Video." Why doens't it capture in the format it "Converts" to? I just did a one hour video and it took 6 hours to "Convert." Capturing in the format it Converts to would save me 6 hours?

I thought I was capturing in MPEG 2. When it gets done it's in MPEG2. What's the deal with that?

[thecoalman]

Good thought.
Looks like I'm captureing in MPEG layer 2, but converting to LPCM.
Can you edgucate me on the differences?

LPCM is uncompressed, outstanding quality but at the price of a lot of disc space. MPEG audio is compressed much like you do did when converting the AVI video to MPEG video, the drawback to using MPEG audio is the discs will not play in some standalone NTSC DVD players. If your only going to be watching these videos from your own player and it plays MPEG audio that's all you really need. Dolby AC3 audio is compressed and will play in all NTSC players, it requires you purchase the AC3 plug-in from Ulead.

Note: the audio compression reduces the quality of the audio but if you use bitrate of around 192kbps it won't be noticeable especially if your source is not that great to begin with.

Also, the longest thing is "Converting Video." Why doens't it capture in the format it "Converts" to? I just did a one hour video and it took 6 hours to "Convert." Capturing in the format it Converts to would save me 6 hours?

I thought I was capturing in MPEG 2. When it gets done it's in MPEG2. What's the deal with that?

If your capturing to MPEG2 with a 2400 most likely the quality is not that great, encoding MPEG on the fly requires a lot of juice and you don't have it. The longer encode is because it taking more time to produce a better quality video but since your source MPEG is probably not that great and it's in MPEG format your wasting time. Converting MPEG to MPEG is not the best way to go about it. If your going to capture to MPEG set it to capture to whatever the final output is which will prevent the second encode and maintain the best quality, otherwise capture to a AVI format and convert that to MPEG which will give you the best quality overall, especially if your using a slower machine.

What I think you need to do is throw everything away you've done so far and go back to step one..... What is the source of your video. Analog (VHS,hi-8) or Digital cam?

[happydog500]

Thank you very much. The source is some VHS and some from my TV Tuner Card.

I still have a problem with VS not doing anything with my settings to be able to fit it on a DVD-R.

I have a disc I did with DVD Shrink but I lost my menus.

[Nelson37]

Here is an example of what is wrong with VS.

What format is your audio, and does the program As Currently Installed support AC-3? If no AC-3 support, probable audio is PCM. PCM Audio file could easily be over 1 Gb. Possible that the program is assuming AC-3 audio conversion and is NOT basing calculations on much larger PCM file.

Using seperate programs at each stage, more likely you would have the additional information needed to solve your problem. Also, you would end up with a superior quality file.

On your Shrink issue - Copy a DVD to your HD. Run Shrink on that. Study the differences between the DVD on HD directory and the directory created for your capture files, where Shrink fails. Gotta be something very simple.

Suggestion - get off the need for chapters. FIRST - create a good quality, compatible file. All other bells and whistles are MEANINGLESS unless you have a good quality, compatible file. Once you have done this, do it several more times to ensure it was no fluke. ONLY AT THIS POINT, investigate ways to add chapters and other doo-dads.

Also, read some guides. Then read some more. Then read them again.
check the glossary for terms you don't understand. Then go back and check the guides for what these things do and why they are necessary.

If you want a real education, get DVD2SVCD and run it. Then study the log file. Keep studying it, asking at each point Why is this necessary? Why with these settings? Why with this program? What does this do? When you can answer all those questions, in a manner you can understand, there won't be too terribly much more you need to know.

[happydog500]

I did get a really good video. I captured a VHS Tape in AVI, someting like 24.8GB (1:44). Made it into a MPEG2. It's about 5.5GB. Put it on a disc with DVD Shrink and it came out better then I could of ever hoped for. Perfect!!

Only if I could of got Chapters on it. It would of been so nice.

"Using seperate programs at each stage"

I had suggested to me to use 3 programs. I set out on an adventure to learn them. One program needed 2 others to work. Now I'm up to 5 programs. How many programs do you use to put a video on a DVD?

[jimmalenko]

Use VS to create your VIDEO_TS folder, with chapters. then run this through DVDShrink. Then it will retain your chapters.

FWIW I use 6 programs - ScenalyzerLive, AVISynth, Virtualdubmod, TMPGEnc Plus, TMPGEnc DVD Author & Nero to burn. AVISynth is only used as a frameserver, so it doesn't take any extra time at all. TMPGEnc Plus then uses SSRC and toolame to encode to MP2, so I guess you would call that 8 programs

[lordsmurf]

Using REJIG is not good advice. It's damaging and loses quality.

Just re-encode it with a lesser bitrate.

[jimmalenko]

Using REJIG is not good advice. It's damaging and loses quality.

Just re-encode it with a lesser bitrate.

Gee, you're a breath of fresh air

Just as I've successfully used my head to drill a hole in this brick wall ...

[thecoalman]

I did get a really good video. I captured a VHS Tape in AVI, someting like 24.8GB (1:44). Made it into a MPEG2. It's about 5.5GB. Put it on a disc with DVD Shrink and it came out better then I could of ever hoped for. Perfect!!

Even if you go back to this point you will be fine, when you make it into a mpeg you need to adjust the bitrate AND when you get to the next stage you need to make sure the VS project properties match the video settings. 5.8 for 1:44 sounds about right for the default setting that VS uses which would be 6000kbps, your probably not adjusting the project settings to match the video.

Also, you would end up with a superior quality file.

AS far as AC3 support versions up to 8 require the plug-in. Version 9 has native AC3 support. Again I have to disagree with superior quality statement, this isn't Nero we're talking about. :P VS uses (or a form of) the mainconcept encoder. It produces a great final product as far a video, and the editor has many features. What it's lacking in is a lot of options for Authoring, it's almost an add-on.

[RacerRich]

"I did get a really good video. I captured a VHS Tape in AVI, someting like 24.8GB (1:44). Made it into a MPEG2. It's about 5.5GB. Put it on a disc with DVD Shrink and it came out better then I could of ever hoped for. Perfect!!"

Your mpeg came out too big cause your video bitrate was too high. Use a bitrate calc to determine correct bitrate and skip having to use shrink. Why in the world are you capturing to a raw, uncompressed avi? Does your capture card not support real time mpeg encoding? Why not just capture to the right parameters to begin with? Would save a big step.

Here's how I would handle it using my ATI AIW capture card.

1. Use a bitrate calc, determine video bitrate based on total running time of video going on dvd. Capture vhs to mpeg with lpcm audio using correct video bitrate and 224kbs audio bitrate, 48khz audio sampling.

2. Use Tmpgenc 3.0 express mpeg tools, demultiplex mpeg file to video.m2v, and audio.wav.

3. Use Tmpgenc sound player with ac3 plugin, encode wav file to ac3 digital dolby. The ac3 compression will take a 1 gig wav file and compress it down to approx 100 meg give or take. Saves alot of space without hurting quality plus it ensure's that your dvd will be "dvd standard".

4. Use Tmpgenc DVD Author, load in your m2v/ac3 files, edit and chapter till your blue in the face. Author and burn. Piece of cake.

If you want to add transitions/effects, you'll have to use something like womble mpeg video wizzard. Any effects should be added before the demultiplex stage. Hope this helps.

[happydog500]

"Why in the world are you capturing to a raw, uncompressed avi?"

It was suggested to me on this board to capture in AVI. I'm trying to learn so I do what's suggested to try it. Who knows, If I don't try what's suggested on this board, someone might think I'm a brick wall.

In VS7, when I change the bit rate it still comes out to big. it's liike it has no effect. Today while captureing a video, I lost sound during playback.

Thought it might be where I changed to MPEG sound from PCM but it still has no sound when at PCM now.

i noticed VS has settings in different places or stages. Some have NO CHOISE but to be different then when at the begining.

Will give your suggestions a try. Thank you for the help. I want to thank you again very much, Chris.

[thecoalman]

"Why in the world are you capturing to a raw, uncompressed avi?"

It was suggested to me on this board to capture in AVI. I'm trying to learn so I do what's suggested to try it. Who knows, If I don't try what's suggested on this board, someone might think I'm a brick wall.
.

Actually I never looked at the specs on your card and if I'm looking at the correct one on the manufacturers site it provides hardware encoding for MPEG. Capturing in MPEG format would be preferable.

[happydog500]

I'm going out of town for a week in July. Plus I have another 4 day trip planed. Weekends are shot in july also. I Can't buy Tmpgenc DVD Author yet so I want to be alble to use it a lot in the 30 day trial. Will waite on trying it.

I know you get what you pay for but any suggestions on a good arturnitive I can train on for free untill I get Tmpgenc DVD Author?

I thought VS was OK but the more I use it (not to mention instructions are wrong) I'm really disalutioned with it.