Uncontrollable DivXToDVD

[moviebuff2]

Hi everyone:

Recently I posted my question regarding the "aspect ratio" settings in DivXToDVD.

Today, I have another question for the same software. I used the software to convert 2 different AVI files, each has approximately the same size of 700MB. The results perplexes me very much. From one AVI file, I got +2GB of VOB files. From the other AVI file, I got +3GB of VOB files.

Does anyone know why there is such big difference in the results even though my original AVI files have approximately the same size?

Is DivXToDVD really out of control?

Thanks

[redwudz]

The size of a AVI has little relationship with the size of the same file converted to DVD compliant video. Were the running time of both videos the same? If not, that would cause the biggest difference in converted DVD size.

[moviebuff2]

Thanks, redwudz

That explains it. One is about 1/3 longer than the other.

It is amazing how something that is 1/3 longer than the other could be compressed to the same size of the shorter one and still retains its quality.

Hm...I will have to use Gspot to find the codec used in it.

[guns1inger]

They will probably both be the same codec. Up to a point, the amount of compression may make little visual difference, hence the two movies being the same size and looking pretty much the same. However, you will find that one of these will compress further with less damage than the other. It just depends where the threshhold is that the visual damage starts to appear.

[moviebuff2]

Hi guns1inger

The shorter one is an xVid and the longer one, DivX. I guess they are different, right?

Anyway, the longer file has two audio tracks. I tried to get rid of one track by using VirtualDubMod. For video stream, I selected "Direct stream", no further compression. For audio stream, I disabled the track I did not want. The new AVI file was reduced to +600MB, instead of 700MB.

Is this reduction in size due to the elimination of one audio track? What about the video quality? Is it affected at all?

Thanks

[guns1inger]

Direct Stream Copy copies the stream bit for bit, so the video quality is exactly the same. The size reduction comes from the loss of the extra audio track. Divx and Xvid are both derivatives of the mpeg4 format, so they are similar, but not identical.

[moviebuff2]

Thanks.

[=CrAzYG33K=]

an' one more question regarding DivXToDVD (I hope I'm not hijacking this thread :P).. I created a custom menu for my DVD using the software, but for some darn reason, the menu doesn't play when I insert the DVD-Video disk into my player.. The movie starts right away.. The menu appears only when I navigate to 'menu' in my stand-alone player! Any suggestions why ?

[guns1inger]

I assume you mean ConvertXtoDVD, ans DivxtoDVD doesn'thave the menu option. Under the Authoring tab in options, make sure Auto Start isn't ticked.

You can possibly fix the disc you have using IFOEdit or PGCEdit, but the how is beyond my limited experience with those two tools.

[=CrAzYG33K=]

I assume you mean ConvertXtoDVD, ans DivxtoDVD doesn'thave the menu option. Under the Authoring tab in options, make sure Auto Start isn't ticked.

You can possibly fix the disc you have using IFOEdit or PGCEdit, but the how is beyond my limited experience with those two tools.

Yeah thanx for the tip gunsl1nger!

[jimmalenko]

I too wish for the menu to be displayed on insert but I can't work out how to configure convertxtodvd to allow this.

I just use DVDRemake Pro to alter the firstplay behaviour.