How can I compress my captured videos to smaller file sizes?

[matta2k]

I bought an AVerTV HD DVR and have had success capturing 1080i video from my XBox 360 and uploading to YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLZP5bWlpYM&hd=1) . But now I want to start backing up my DirecTV DVR. I don't need super high quality, full HD versions of my DVR content. I'm looking to emulate some of the videos I have downloaded, which have a nice ratio of quality to file size.

For example, the torrents at the EZTV site are pretty respectable in terms of quality, at a resolution of 624x352. The file sizes are usually around 350MB for a 43 minute program. I've been experimenting with various compression methods and I haven't been able to get any of my videos down to that size without a serious to hit to quality. I tried to use the program Handbrake, setting the target size of a 5 minute video to 40mb, and the result was horrendous.

Perhaps someone could offer some suggestions, or point me toward a helpful guide?

[thezanny]

Umm, avirecomp is a Great software. But can only open avi's to re compress.
XviD4psp can do it

[matta2k]

So you'd recommend XVID?

(Sorry. I'm pretty new to this.)

[davexnet]

Since you're used to EZTV and the format works for you, why not stick to it and use XVID ?
If you open a file in Virtualdub and look at file/info, it will give you the bitrate, audio and video for the file.

Be aware of the relationship between video bitrate Vs. file resolution. 624x352 @ 800kbps may look OK,
but 720x400 @ 800 Kbps probably looks like crap. You can see this relationship if you open the file with Mediainfo.
For example, a file @ 640*272 @ 894 kbps has bits/(pixel*frame) = 0.214

Or if the size is not critical use XVID in CQ mode. (The default of 4 is a reasonable place to start)

[thezanny]

XviD is a codec.

[jagabo]

Try Xvid4PSP and compress with x264.

You should deinterlace your videos before uploading to Youtube.