vidio size

[beeg]

currently i am have been converting my AVi files to MPeg2 using TmpGenc Plus and have been getting alot of good quality movies. However i am having a problem with large movies (2.5 hours +) because when i go to compress them, i must lower the bit rate so much for the movie to fit on a DVD, that quality sucks. Any suggestions on how to fix this problem.

[reboot]

Encode at a higher bitrate, author, then use DVDShrink.

[maca]

In my experience, you should be able to get about 3 hours of avi video on a dvd without enough loss of quality to notice. If you can't, make sure that TMPEnc isn't lowering the RESOLUTION as you lower the bitrate. Sometimes, when the bitrate is lowered past a certain point, TMPEnc will automatically switch the resolution from 720x480 to 352x480, and that's where your loss of quality usually occurs. Keep an eye on your settings and lock the resolution at 720x480 no matter where the bitrate is. Unless you get way down in the 4 hour range, you shouldn't notice any difference due to lower bitrates. I used to transfer only one avi movie to each dvd, but now I do double-features as I realized there's no visible loss until your bitrate gets WAY down there, since the avi is already at a much lower bitrate than you're ever likely to go. You can't tell the difference between my double features and my single ones.

[junkmalle]

Lower the frame size to 352x480. The tradeoff is less resolution for fewer macroblocks.

Lowering the frame size to 352x240 is going to cause a lot of quality loss. Not just because of the reduced resolution but the problems associated with deinterlacing.

[SCDVD]

There is a wide difference in people's opinion about what is acceptable quality with video. Part of it has to do with the screen they are viewing it on. A big screen makes the difference more apparant. Another approach you can take is to record onto dual layer media. You will have almost twice the capacity. That way you won't have to cut the bit rate and frame size as much. It is still relatively expensive but the price should continue to slowly come down. One thing to keep in mind though is that player compatibilty can be a problem with dual layer media on some players.

[ZippyP.]

It's always better to encode to the correct size than to make it biggerand use something like DVDshrink.

One way to get more on a disk and preserve quality is to use 2-pass VBR. Set the average to fill the disk then set the high and low limits near to the dvd min and max.

If the bitrate gets low enough then it's better to drop the resolution, at what point you switch is up to personal preference.

Here's one other person's guide lines for bitrate-resolution-rate control mode:

If ave is < 1000kbps, I'd use 352 * 240/288 2-Pass VBR (min 0 ave ave max 2000)
If ave is > 1000kbps & < 1500, I'd use 352 * 240/288 ave CBR
If ave is > 1500kbps & < 3000, I'd use 352 * 480/576 2-Pass VBR (min 500 ave ave max 5000)
If ave is > 3000kbps & < 4000, I'd use 352 * 480/576 ave CBR
If ave is > 4000kbps & < 8000, I'd use 720 * 480/576 2-Pass VBR (min 1000 ave ave max 9000)
If ave is > 8000kbps, I'd use 720 * 480/576 ave CBR