different output file size in convertx2dvd

[Iwan2learn]

Hello guys.. Just wondering.. I converted a .mp4 to .vob using ConvertX2DVD.. I'm just wondering why the 1st file is 280 MB while the other is 380 MB?? Both are converted in the same settings.. thanks in advance.

[guns1inger]

ConvertXtoDVD uses either a single pass variable bitrate method, or a constrained Constant Quality method (not sure which, but I suspect the former), neither of which produce very accurate output sizes. Even when doing full lengh movies, ConvertXtoDVD can vary wildly from movie to movie, and rarely fills a disc.

If you want an accurate output size, use an encoder that does 2-pass bitrate based encoding. AVStoDVD or FAVC will do this for you. Beware - it will take twice as long (at least).

[Iwan2learn]

Oh is that so.. Is there any other way to encode it?? I just needed to have 300 MB per file (12 file).

[guns1inger]

Learn how to encode correctly by hand. Use a bitrate calculator to work out what bitrate you need to reach your target size, and encode to that.

If you use FAVC, as suggested in your other thread, and load all the titles at once, it will work out what is needed for each title so that they all fit. AVSTODVD is another alternative.

[Iwan2learn]

oh i see i'll try.. sorry for being repetitive. But as you have said FAVC converts slower and doesn't support menu.. I want a better conversion speed with a Menu and 12 episodes will fit in one DVD 4.3 GB.. sorry if i am too demanding..

[guns1inger]

Not demanding - unreasonable. Learn how to encode and author manually, and you can do a lot more. If you want simple, you get simple.

[Iwan2learn]

I do not think it is unreasonable.. It is a part of learning. What I am doing is encoding manually I'm just asking if you know something that I am asking.. If you don't you can just say you don't know of any.. well thanks anyways.

[guns1inger]

I have already told you how to do it. Bitrate calculator, encoder, authoring tool. ConvertXtoDVD/FAVC etc are not "doing it by hand". Using an all-in-one tool is fine for some jobs, but abdicates all control and finesse. For good quality on a single layer DVD you need to keep the running time to around 90 minutes. For reasonable quality you can go to 120 minutes, and for average but acceptable quality you might stretch it out to 180 minutes. You want to put almost 360 minutes on a single layer disc.

Technically this is doable. The quality will be around the same as VHS tape, and you will have to encode at VCD resolution. See "What is DVD" - top left corner - for all the details. To retain any quality you will have to use an encoder that is good at low bitrates - HCEnc is - and know exactly what bitrate you have to play with the squeeze the maximum from what little you have to play with. HCEnc requires an avisynth script to load the video. I suggest you use FitCD to create the script for you. It will do all the resizing as well. You can't encode widescreen, only 4:3 (it can be letterboxed 4:3) - don't know if this is an issue for you. Keep your audio bitrate low. I never go below 192 and prefer 256 for stereo. In your case, you might want to go as low as 128 kbps simple to give you video a little more headroom.

Like it or not, any automated tool to make this simple for you will give you very low quality. That is just the way it is.

[_MrC_]

oh i see i'll try.. sorry for being repetitive. But as you have said FAVC converts slower and doesn't support menu.. I want a better conversion speed with a Menu and 12 episodes will fit in one DVD 4.3 GB.. sorry if i am too demanding..

FAVC does support very simple (text based) menu.

AVStoDVD supports a little bit more complex (thumbnails based) menu.

Hope it helps.



Bye

[guns1inger]

FAVC is limited to a small number of items on the menu - less than what the OP needs (12), which is why I didn't recommend it for authoring as well (that, and the fact that menu looks horrible).

AVStoDVD does support better menus, but it doesn't do half-D1 or VCD resolution encoding by default (at least not that I can find), which the OP will need if 6 hours is look anything other than complete crap. You can edit the AVS script for each title individually, then go through and tweak all the bitrates to ensure compliance, but if you are going to do all that, you may as well encode manually anyway.

[T-Fish]

you could encode in FAVC, then feed it to dvdflick to create the menu, just
make sure you enable "copy mpeg2 stream" so it wont re-encode heh.

[guns1inger]

you could encode in FAVC, then feed it to dvdflick to create the menu, just
make sure you enable "copy mpeg2 stream" so it wont re-encode heh.

Why ? DVD Flick's menu authoring is very simplistic as well. If you are going to go to the trouble of using one tool to encode, and one to author, then use a proper authoring tool - GUIForDVDAuthor, DVD Styler or something commercial.

[_MrC_]

AVStoDVD does support better menus, but it doesn't do half-D1 or VCD resolution encoding by default (at least not that I can find)

It does.
By default if you set 'Settings'/'AudioVideo'/'DVD Video Resolution', or manually for each title ('Title Edit'/'Video'/'Video Resolution'). Reference to release 2.1.4



Bye

[T-Fish]

you could encode in FAVC, then feed it to dvdflick to create the menu, just
make sure you enable "copy mpeg2 stream" so it wont re-encode heh.

Why ? DVD Flick's menu authoring is very simplistic as well. If you are going to go to the trouble of using one tool to encode, and one to author, then use a proper authoring tool - GUIForDVDAuthor, DVD Styler or something commercial.

simplistic, yes, but not limited to 7 items. (afaik)
i agree, a proper authoring tool would be best, but from the sounds of it, the OP doesn't wanna learn such tool.
was just an idea.. nvm