Taking DV file and authoring DVD for burning

[compufix2]

I have used FFMPEGX to take a long DV file exported from iMovie and need to burn a DVD with it. I can do this entirely with FFMPEGX or use Toast 6 (have not upgraded to Toatst 7 yet).

The DVD is 2:38:16 (2 hours and 38 minutes). I can get FFMPEGX to make the MPEG-2 and Author the DVD, but every time I try to burn to DVD-r or DVD+R I et an error that the media is not the correct size. Get info on the UDF file is 4.4 gig (4.7xxx bytes) and the file plays back perfectly from Apple DVD Player, I just need to burn the damn thing ...

Any Ideas?

-Mike

[rumplestiltskin]

It's too large. Should be no more than 4.3GB. Apple DVD Player has no limitation on the VIDEO_TS folder size.

As you will probably upgrade to Toast 7 anyway, why not do that now and simply load the VIDEO_TS folder into Toast and click the "fit" checkbox so it compresses the DVD down just the amount needed to fit a single-layer disc?

Alternatively, you can take the MPEG-2 that ffmpegX created and run it back through ffmpegX at a lower bitrate (which would reduce the file size and author to a size that will fit the single-layer disc).

[compufix2]

Thank you. I will use that WHEN we get it, but I have an emergency situation now. If I tell FFMPEGX to crunch to one DVD, shouldn't it make something that fits? It is only a little off. I will try it at a slightly lower bit-rate.

Any more ideas for a total FFMPEGX solution?

-Mike

[rumplestiltskin]

The lower bitrate is the best solution (for ffmpegX-only).

[compufix2]

So if I crunch it down to fit in 4.3 gigs, and burn it to a DVD, they should be able to watch the entire 2+hours on that DVD...meaning there is not a playback limit?

-Mike

[rumplestiltskin]

No playback limit. iDVD -does- have a playback limit (2 hours) but it has two "hardwired" bitrate settings. You'll be telling ffmpegX to use a lower bitrate (slightly) and the entire movie should all fit fine.