question about 'target size' file in DVD Flick

[jimdagys]

In DVD Flick, in the "Project Settings", there is an option
to choose the target size file of your DVD. Some given options are:
"DVD (4.3GB)" and "Custom", where you can type in your own target size, for example
I could type in 4.6GB. My question is, if I have a 700mb avi movie that is just under 2 hours, what should I choose for my "target size"? I originally choose "DVD (4.3GB)" and after encoding, my final file size was only 4.12GB. I think that is too small a file for a 4.7GB blank disk. Do you think it would be better to choose "Custom" and then type in a bigger number, like 4.6GB, to use up more space on the blank disk and therefore get a better picture?

[redwudz]

There is a 'upper limit' to MPEG bitrate or most any other encoding bitrate. If you 'saturate' the codec with a higher bitrate, you will get no more quality, just larger file size. In general, a 700 MB Xvid will max out quality at around 1.5 - 2 GB, depending on the source quality. You can throw more bitrate at it, it will just get bigger, but not gain quality. In this case, there would be no advantage to a higher bitrate. I would go by what the program suggests.

You can see this with a bitrate calculator from our 'Tools' page to the left. Input your video running time and put in your media size. At some point, the bitrate won't get any higher, no matter what the finished file size.

If you start with a 1.5 GB Xvid, then you might be able to go with a higher bitrate. Only experience with the codecs will tell you that. Usually the converter programs make a fairly good choice.

[45tripp]

"DVD (4.3GB)" and "Custom", where you can type in your own target size, for example
I could type in 4.6GB? I originally choose "DVD (4.3GB)" and after encoding, my final file size was only 4.12GB.

No.
Max DVD5 capacity is 4.37 GB, or ~4480 MB, anything over that just won't fit.
Most people aim for a safety area that's comfortably under max capacity.
If you find Flick is undershooting it's target too much for you, that 4.12 GB is a bit low, you can make custom increments in the target size, until you find which input produces a real output closer to your wants.

[jimdagys]

Understand what your saying. However the blank DVD disk says 120 min. And the avi movie is almost 120 minutes. Analagous to 120 minutes VHS tape, I thought it would be best to fill up the blank disk to capacity. Sure, you can put 4 hours on a 120 minute tape, but the quality will be noticably worse. I suppose DVDs are a different animal.

[mats.hogberg]

The VHS time is a physical restriction - tape length vs tape speed.
There is really no analogy for a DVD, even if the marketing people likes to "dumb down" things for the customer. Since a DVD is purely digital data, just as a HDD, if you can put time on a DVD, you could as well put time on a HDD.
For good quality, 2 hours on a DVD-5 is my upper limit, even if it's quite possible to fit 6-7 hours worth of video.
I like to play it safe, and rarely go over 4.2 GB, which allows me to use almost any disk I can find on sale at the moment. Dubious quality disks often have trouble at the last part if you fill it to the max.

/Mats