question about using DVD Rebuilder to compress 4 dvds into 1

[jimdagys]

I have 4 DVDs on my hard drive. Each DVD is just under 2 hours long and 4 GB. So all 4 DVDS together are about
7 hours 30 minutes with a total of 16GB. I have DVD Rebuilder software. I am wondering if it is possible to use DVD Rebuilder to compress all 4 DVDs into one (4 title) 4.2GB DVD for burning. If this is possible, what encoder in DVD Rebuilder should I use? And are there other settings to consider? I don't care how long it takes to process. If DVD Rebuilder is not suitable to do this, can you please recommend another software that can do this job. I know the video quality will be reduced when I do this, but I want a result that is reasonably watchable.

[Supreme2k]

In theory, it could b as simple as importing each video as a separate track into a DVD authoring software, then runing the output from that through DVD-RB. Alternately, you could use dvd remake to merge the DVDs into one set and run that through DVD-RB.

The only time I've done any disc merging was my Goodfellas flipper, using DVD Shrink to merge the two (barebones, no menus). I usually don't put more than one feature on each disc, since I'm already (usually) compressing from DL to SL.

[jman98]

DVDRebuilder was designed to shrink ONE dual layer DVD to a single layer size. I'm not sure that it even can do what you propose. What you want to do is certainly possible to do, even if DVDRebuilder can't do it for you. I'm not saying that you SHOULD do it, which is a completely different question, I'm just saying that it's certainly possible. It all depends on what your definition of "reasonably watchable" is. I'll tell you what to do, but you're going to end up with VCD-like results. It's your decision as to whether or not that's something you can live with.

For best results, I would strongly advise that whatever you use that you change the video output to 352x480 if you live in an NTSC country (the USA, for example) or 352x576 if you live in a PAL country. Your video bit rate will need to be a little over 1000 Kbps, so you need the 352x480/576 setting to help the video to make the most out of the low bit rate.

DVDShrink could probably do this easier, but you'll get better results from DVDRebuilder - IF you can make it do this. For encoders, I'd use either CCE (Cinema Craft Encoder) or HC Encoder with DVDRebuilder. DVDShrink has it's own encoder and at the bit rate you will need, it will most definitely be inferior, probably by a lot, over what DVDRebuilder can do, again, IF it can ever do this for you.

[jimdagys]

Looking at DVD Rebuilder, it seems that it will only accept one dvd for its input. So somehow I need to get the 4 dvds on my hard drive combined into one 16GB DVD (with 4 titles?). I'm not sure how to do this. Can someone explain more about this step? Remember, right now I have 4 dvds on the hard drive (not plain video files).
Ok, here is another question. Let's say I have 4 dvd ready mpeg2 files. Each file is 4GB. I know from past experience, I can take 1 of these mpeg2 files using Gui For DVD Author and turn into a DVD. But will Gui For DVD Author allow me to input 4 mpeg2 files and create a huge DVD that is 16 GB that could then be run through DVD Rebuilder?

[guns1inger]

Most (all ?) authoring tools will limit you to spec legal sizes, which means encoding correctly in the first place. This is also the best option if quality is of concern to you.

In your current case, I suspect you will have to first create 2 DVD9 sized structures, reduce them down to DVD5, then combine them. However you must also remember that a DVD9 is not twice the capacity of a DVD5, but somewhat less again. And the quality of such a reduction will most likely be substantially less than the source.

[jimdagys]

Thank you for the answers. I'm looking at different options to do this (get 8 hours of video on one 4.2GB disk. I've got a simple idea with a question. Let's say I have a 4GB dvd ready mpeg2 file. What software can I use to compress the 4GB file into a 1GB mpeg2 file? I don't care how long it takes to compress. What kinds of softwares should I look at to do this job (compress 4GB dvd ready mpeg2 into 1GB mpeg2 file? This more simple option does not require making a DVD, just putting four 2 hour (8 hours total) of mpeg2 files on a DVD disk that can be played on a computer, and maybe a DVD player that can play such compressed mpeg2 files.

[guns1inger]

You can use Rejig to transcode it down, but the quality will most likely be low. Or you can use HCenc to re-encode it. 8 hours on a single DVD5 is a big ask, and can really only be done at VCD resolution and quality.

If you are happy to have it computer readable but not necessarily a DVD Video, then I would suggest using AutoGK to convert each 2 hour file into a 1 GB Divx avi. You will get much higher quality, it will be playable on an ever growing range of standalone players, as well as computers, and still gets you 8 hours on a single disc. That would be my preferred option.

[fritzi93]

Hmm, I haven't had enough coffee yet this morning, so forgive me if I propose something stupid. :P

I'd consider extracting the mpegs separately with Vob2MPEG, and generate scripts in FitCD, resizing to VCD resolution. Calculate bitrates. Re-encode each mpeg. Author.

Or perhaps one could use the filter editor in Rebuilder to add an appropriate resizing script. DVDRB already has a half D-1 option, so it would seem to be possible. (Everything would have to be reauthored to one file first, perhaps with DVDShrink, saved with no compression). I confess I haven't thought it through yet. :P My question is, why would you want to?

[jimdagys]

I have 7 hours 30 min (4 part TV series) that I captured into 16GB mpeg2 and I want to fit it on one 4.3 GB disk. Thanks again for the answers. Without having tried anything yet, the AutoGK option converting into a Divx avi sounds like I might be able to handle that.

[RickA]

You should be able to merge your four dvd's into one quite easily with DVDShrink in reauthor mode. Select the content from each individual dvd and drag them to the panel on the left. Create a single dvd folder in the no compression mode and run that through DVD-RB. You will not get menues this way. HCEnc is a great encoder. I have been using it more and more lately, moving away from CCE.

Even at half resolution one can hardly expect the final product of something compressed that much to be of worthwhile, watchable viewing quality. I am sure you are going for the convienence factor of everything on one disc, but please reconsider. You say you know quality will be reduced but I'm not sure you realize by how much so it will be. As reasonable as recordable media is I just cannot bring myself to compress hours upon hours of video to fit on a single disc when you can achieve optimal quality by spreading it over several discs. Maybe if you went the H264 route you could make your project work. I'm only just starting to read up on that so someone else will need to help you there. Good luck.

Cheers,
Rick

[Nilfennasion]

Just to say what I am sure everyone else is thinking: sure, you could probably do it, but why on Earth would you want to?

Unless your television is 51cm or less, you will not like the result.

[ybeard]

Just to say what I am sure everyone else is thinking: sure, you could probably do it, but why on Earth would you want to?

Unless your television is 51cm or less, you will not like the result.

Exactly.... If it could be done, the output would likely look like crap. If it's that valuable, split it up over the 4 DVD's. Splurge and spend the extra 90 cents or so.

[Supreme2k]

If this is about the discs, send me your address and I'll send you four DVD-Rs (DL even, if necessary). That's like a buck worth of discs to save you the $$$ in time to do this "project".

Unless it's just to see if you can do it and how it's done. In that case, go for it.

I recently put the 6 Star Wars movies and all extras on a 5.25" floppy, just because I could. Look who's laughing now, Dr. Shapiro, Optometrist.

[jimdagys]

I want it on 1 disk. It has nothing to do with money. I am in China teaching English and this is just one of many things I am accumulating. Eventually it has to be stuffed in a suitcase (along with too many other disks).

[guns1inger]

Go Xvid/Divx, or even H264. H264 will only be PC playable, but you can convert it back to DVD later across extra discs with minimal quality loss.

[jimdagys]

Does XVid/DVix allow chapter markers when played back in Media Player Classic? Chapter markers would be useful on a video title that is 2 hours long (even though I could use the slider on the software player). On the other hand, if I go the DVD Shrink method (described above) to make one 16gb DVD and then use DVD Rebuilder to compress to 4.2GB, will this type of highly compressed video be playable on a regular DVD player? By the way, I already have a DVD disk that has 8 hours of video on it and is playable in a DVD player. The files were converted to VCD and then put on a DVD disk. It is quite watchable. Below is screenshot from that DVD. I suppose I could convert the mpeg2 to VCD, but I don't know if the other 2 methods (xvid/dvix and DVD Shrink/DVD Rebuilder) would give a clearer picture.

[RickA]

jimdagys,

Thankyou, for adding the qualifier of traveling and keeping things to a minimum in that department. Changes my thought pattern completely with that extra info. What you are wanting to do makes alot more sense now - my apologies for doubting your sanity earlier, hehe. I try to get by with the least amount of compression and when folks on here ask how to use the most it makes me cringe.

I wager you will be playing these back on a laptop since you mentioned traveling, media player classic, fit in a suitcase. What about considering an extra hard drive to load up the dvd's you would like to view on? I have an external USB drive I use as a spare that takes up less space then about 3 dvd jewel cases stacked together. Find a decent GB sized one you should be able to load up a nice little library of dvd's on it with minimum compression. This would also give you flexability with the option of adding / removing content while there. Also burning while there, even if only for temporary use. Just for example I did a quick search on St*ples site and from memory they have 120GB for @$50 and 250GB for @$110 USB 2.0 That should give you more then a few weeks of viewing time, plus you can store data as well. Hope that helps.

btw - the pic you posted does look nice, very pretty lady too.

Cheers,
Rick

[jimdagys]

I don't own a laptop and have no desire to have one.

[jman98]

jimdagys - Nobody has come up with a way to make DVDRebuilder do what you propose, so I'd suggest using DVDShrink as we suggested.

Supreme2k - Your offer was nice, but I have 2 thoughts you should consider in similar cases.
1) Some people just don't care at all, not even a little, about quality. I have a friend who records EVERYTHING in VCD format because he just DOESN"T CARE AT ALL about quality. Some of his encodes are truly horrible, even for VCD (he has to record over the air TV and his feed is awful), but they are good enough for him.
2) Some people place NO VALUE AT ALL on their spare time, especially when it comes to video work, and they will gladly spend an entire weekend working to squeeze 4 DVDs down to 1 DVD rather than just pay say 1 extra dollar to buy a few more blank DVDs to burn to and use less time doing it.

This kind of thing is why like I my post I said I didn't recommend it, but I gave the guy a tip to get him going.

[Nilfennasion]

All points appreciated and noted, but in the end, the same thing still matters: the final result. That, and PC equipment has a nasty habit of making MPEG artefacts even more obvious at smaller screen sizes. If space is really that much of a concern to you, just put the separate discs in a small spindle. If you are really that pressed for space, however, you should not be buying or making anything to add to the pile. Just a thought.

The real problem with squashing down that much footage onto a single disc is that it really defeats the whole purpose of the format. DVD was designed to be archival, capable of lasting long enough for archaeologists of the twenty-third century to find and use to suss out where we went wrong. But it only works in that way if quality is preserved. They also did not count on HD formats with the supposed ability to store more footage being released so soon, but that's another story.

[Ostar]

I want it on 1 disk. It has nothing to do with money. I am in China teaching English and this is just one of many things I am accumulating. Eventually it has to be stuffed in a suitcase (along with too many other disks).

As guns1inger pointed out Xvid/Divx is definitely your best best in fitting 8 hours of video on one 4.7 GB dvd. If you compress each dvd into a 1 GB Xvid/Divx file and burn these files as a data disc they will fit easily onto a standard single layer dvd. With a good encoder the quality will most definitely be watchable although there will of course be some noticeable quality loss. It will look as good if not better than the screenshot you posted. guns1inger was also correct when he stated that standalone Divx players are becoming more common. However, standalone Divx compatible dvd players are not typically found in most households. Divx dvd players can be found in nearly any electronics outlet (Best Buy, Circuit City, etc.) so if you have a few extra bucks it may be worth it for you to get one if you are concerned about fitting everything on one disc. Although, if you you are traveling this might not be ideal because you would have to carry the Divx dvd player with you everywhere. As for a conversion/encoder you can use the Divx Video Converter found here (there are limitations if you don't purchase the pro version):

http://www.divx.com/divx/windows/converter/

If you want to play these files on the PC most PCs will probably need a codec installed before the files are playable. The codec pack found here will allow for you to play these files (as well as nearly any other video format you come across):

http://www.cccp-project.net/

Hope this helps,

Ostar

P.S. On a side note Microsoft just released a codec update for the XBOX 360 which enables Divx compatibility if your into gaming. This may or may not be helpful to you (just pointing this out in case you already have a 360).