Stand-alone video resizer/re-encoder with file-size control?

[Brains]

Hullo, me again.

I have some AVI movie files which are too big to fit onto a CD. Yes, CD, don't ask, I have my reasons.

I'm after suggestions for a suitable video-shrinking / re-encoding applicaiton that:
- is NOT AVI ReComp, AutoGK, Gordian Knot or Avi.NET
- does NOT rely on Avisynth, Vobsub, VLC, ffmpeg or any other sub-program
- is 100% self-contained and stand-alone
- can encode using XviD
- has an intuitive graphical interface
- can ensure final output does not exceed a user-defined file size
- can be commercial, shareware, trialware or even free.

If you can't suggest anything which meets all of those criteria, don't comment ... I learned in another thread that one has to be exactingly precise with questions or you get all manner of inappropriate responses :P

Thanks!

[redwudz]

VirtualDub and the Xvid codec. Just set the bitrate lower to reduce the size.

[olyteddy]

Isn't this the same question you asked here: https://forum.videohelp.com/topic350545.html#1845157 ??? We don't take kindly to cross poters 'round here...

[Brains]

Nope - different question, although similar format. Over there I asked about stand-alone, self-contained DVD-to-XviD programs. In this thread, I'm asking about stand-alone, self-contained AVI-shrinking programs ... it just so happens I have very similar criteria for both questions (ie, can't rely on avisynth etc etc)

redwudz, where in VirtualDub do I find the setting for the output size?

[guns1inger]

Under the resize filter.

[redwudz]

Output 'size', or how big the file is, is a function of the codec settings. The bitrate used mostly determines the size. Xvid has a bitrate calculator, or use the Videohelp Bitrate Calculator or others here: https://www.videohelp.com/tools/sections/bitrate-calculators You can set them for a 700MB CD size. Higher bitrate= higher quality= larger size. Two pass encoding can also be used with lower bitrates to improve the quality at lower bitrate settings.

But a all-in-one converter might be easier unless you want to do a bit of reading. VirtualDub has guides available at the bottom of it's tool page. For bitrate adjustments, 'Video>Compression>Xvid Codec>Configure'. You will need the Xvid codec installed. I would also install Lame MP3 ACM to have more control over the MP3 audio encoding.

The 'Resize' filter is to change the dimensions of the video, the height and width. It's not much related to bitrate.

[Brains]

redwudz, that's perfect, looks like it should do exactly what I wish without spawning sub-programs

I think the Abelha video calculator will do the job of figuring out bitrates. Now to give it a test-run.

[Brains]

Well, that didn't quite work.

I ended up with a smaller file, But I struck a snag. The source video has the audio out of sync when viewed in Media Player Classic, but VirtualDub doesn't recognise any audio. If I look at the source with AVIcodec, it says there is 490 MB worth of Xvid video, and 254 MB worth of AC-3 audio.

*sigh* It's cockups like this that make me just want to keep everything as plain MPEGs :P