Bitrate-calculation using TMPGEnc to convert AVI to VCD

[systemlord]

I use TMPGEnc 2.59 to convert AVI to VCD and noticed that bitrate calculated by TMPGEnc is always way off. Since I use my own settings-template (already down to 900 kbps), after checking with GSpot, to create a 1 cd mpg-file (to burn with Nero into a PAL-VCD), I would like to be able to rely on the calculation. Right now a TMPGEnc-calculation of 700 Mb results in a mpeg1-file of +920 Mb, which needs approx. 800 Mb of disk-space to burn with Nero. CD-R 80 disks are consequently refused.
Any ideas to make the calculation more reliable ???

[Treebeard]

Go to the tools section and download FitCD. Its a great bitrate calculator and it works every time for me

[systemlord]

Thanks SLBOSS926, I got FitCD and tried it out. Do you work with TMPGEnc to convert ? FitCD-readings are rather a puzzle to me, at least the way to make TMPGEnc accept the propesed settings.

[Treebeard]

okay in the upper left corner enter your movie time example 110 minutes.

select what your fps is (23.97,25,29.97)

on the right side enter # of desired discs to use (2) and how many minute disc they are (80min).

back to left side of screen- change mpeg-mulitplexing to TMPGEnc (VCD or SVCD) whatever your making

now just above that you will get your numbers you need to put in TMPGenc
the grayed out box is the # to use for CBR ( i usually subract 50 to be safe) or if your making SVCD and encoding VBR then that is your avg bitrate to use.

so in my example movie above this is the results
110 minutes
2 -80 minute cd's

Constant bitrate of 1866 (subtract 50) = 1816

now change the bitrate in tmpgenc to 1816 when you make your movie.

NOTE: this would be an XVCD since bitrate is higher than standards.

[systemlord]

Got your elaborate tutorial OK. Only question remaining at this time : are we talking about the same FitCD v1.1.2 ? The fields you describe are located in entirely different places in my version. However, I got the idea. I tried out Tombraider.avi and I got 989 kbps as a result, now I ran a conversion with TMPGEnc today using 850 kbps as constant bitrate and ended up with a MPEG1-file that was 20 Mb oversized. Can you imagine what the result will be with 989 kbps ?

[Treebeard]

i have version 1.0.4 so that could be the difference