Too big size after join two DVDs

[ByteVV]

Hi folks.
I try to use this method to make a backup copy of my original DVDs of Lord of the Rings (extended edition).
I want to join every two DVDs to one DVD9, ofcourse with slightly compression needed.
The main problem is that result VOB files are larger than 9GB.
For me it's not a problem, because I will use my favorites Canopus ProCoder or CCE to shink to 8.5G.
But TMPGEnc DVD Author refuse to make an output to HDD. BTW - exactly same problem I get with the DVD2One.
Any ideas how to get output to HDD, with joined video, audio, subs, and chapters, doesn't matter of size?

[Baldrick]

how about shrink first and then join?

[ByteVV]

I think about it, but first DVD is about 5.09GB, but second is 4.53. So if first shrink, result part 1 and part 2 will be with different compressions, I want to avoid this. Better is first to join, then shrink.

[t0nee1]

Try with DVDFab Platinums merge mode.....

[ByteVV]

I allready try DVDFab Platinium, but I do not like the way he make merging two DVD.
For example - (in my case with LOTR) if first DVD have 36 chapters, and second DVD have 41 chapters, after merging with DVDFab Platinium, result DVD structure have 37 "chapters" - ( 1 to 36 from first DVD) and "chapter" 37 - (containing chapters 1 to 41) from second DVD. If you look VOB-files - result of DVDFab merging - there are two kind of files - VTS_01_x and VTS_02_x.
Only from two programs (TMPGEnc Author and DVD2One) I get merging what I want - result has 77 chapters and VOB-files are only one kind - VTS_01_x. But both of these programs demand to use their own builtin transcode engines, in case that result needs compression to fit to DVD9. And refuse to make direct output to HDD (doesn't matter of big size) for compress with other encoder.
But I want to use CCE or Canopus as encoder ( I think you all know reason - best compress quality).
Please help!?

[borax]

...But I want to use CCE or Canopus as encoder
Then you have to use the usual procedure:
Demultiplex all the vob files, join the video and audio files, reencode and reauthor.
If you want your chapters at the exact same frame as on the original DVDs, make sure your encoder creates an I-frame at these positions.

[ByteVV]

Thanks, I will try to do that way, but can you describe with more details what tools to use step by step.
Thanks in advance!

[guns1inger]

but first DVD is about 5.09GB, but second is 4.53

I'm sorry, but this doesn't make any sense. You will have to re-encode. If you know what you are doing, then you will use Variable BitRate when you do. They will get different compression levels whatever approach you take.

[manono]

LoadPlugin("C:\Path\To\DGDecode.dll")
A=MPEG2Source("C:\Path\To\Video1.d2v")
B=MPEG2Source("C:\Path\To\Video2.d2v")
A+B

That's how you join the videos. You do it when frameserving into CCE, by using an AviSynth script. Either that or add in the vobs all at one time when making a single D2V in DGIndex. If you make separate D2Vs, then you'll still have the audio in 2 pieces and you join them when authoring. If you add all the vobs together in DGIndex, then it'll give you back the audio already joined. You haven't said exactly how you plan on getting the video into CCE or Procoder. I think it has to be by frameserving using either AviSynth or VDub.

For chapters, demux with PGCDemux, or extract them using PGCEdit or IFOEdit, find the total number of frames of the first video, add that number to the chapter frame numbers of the second disc, and append those edited frame numbers for the 2nd video to the ones from the first disc to make one celltimes.txt with all the chapters for the joined videos.

Subs are tricky. I suppose I'd extract the IDX/SUB files for each part and join them using the VobSub Joiner that comes with VobSub. Then convert them to SUP format for authoring with Muxman.

There are lots of ways to do this. That's just one, and somewhat similar to the one mentioned by borax.