Lowering the size of a video file

[Superstar]

Yeah, I thought it'd work too. I'm working on a project for someone, so I really need to get this done, but nothing is working. I've exhausted every program that I have.

It seems like it needs to be shrunk before I convert it, but for some reason that's not working, and I don't know where to go from here?

-- merged --

Does anyone have any other suggestions that I can try? I'm really desperate to get this working..

[volksjager]

what created this file?

a 720x480 .avi should be alot more than 1418 kbps
i have some 640x480 .avi files that are like 16000kbps

[Superstar]

I don't know...it was a torrent file..

[volksjager]

then i would say download a new one.
with that low kbps the video will be crappy anyway

[Superstar]

Yeah, but that's the only one of that particular set that's available. It was created by someone & only posted where I got it. Even if I re-downloaded it, wouldn't I have the same problems with it being too big to put onto a DVD?

-- merged --

Still having issues with this. Does anyone have any advice they can give me? What I've tried hasn't worked unfortunately..

[admin]

You were using one the tools we suggest already -- ConvertXToDVD, which is often as good as MainConcept quality-wise.

Working with video is all about bitrate, which determind the file size (bitrate * time). You cannot determine filesize alone.
And the bitrate:resolution ratio determines the quality for the video. (The ratio of constitutes acceptable quality depends on the specific codec.)

DO NOT use DVD Shrink in this manner. It's intended for HQ commercials DVDs only (to make fair-use backups), and NOT homemade sources!

How long is the video?
That's the only important question here (for now).

[Superstar]

Each one is about 4 hours, 19-20ish minutes...

[admin]

4:20 -- 260 minutes -- won't fit on a single layer DVD+R or DVD-R, as the resolution:bitrate is not really possible. Break it in half, ~2.5 hours per disc. Or use a double-layer DVD+R disc.

What you're trying to do is futile.

You're also losing LOTS of quality by trying to cram so much video on a single disc. Stop it. Don't do that. Quality ALWAYS trumps the extra mm it takes to store a disc in a case.

[Superstar]

How would I split it in half?

[admin]

Open the video in VirtualDub. Cut end save, first half.
Repeat, but cut first half, save end.
Save as new lossless (Huffyuv) video. Forget the old codec. It'll be big, about 35GB/hour. You need space.
Then convert those either in ConvertXToDVD or with AVI Demux 2.5.

It's "easy", but takes time to do all this.

[Superstar]

So I have to download this Huffuv program also? I've never heard of it until now..

I also have to download VirtualDub to do this, is there any certain settings or anything that I need to input into it once I get it, or just leave everything defaulted?

[admin]

Huffyuv <-- click the link, that page explain what it is.
It's a codec, not a program.
You're got some reading to do. That's been covered here many, many times in the past decade.

[Superstar]

I just got VirtualDub and I think I got the right Huffyuv codec. However, when I tried to open the video file in VirtualDub, an error came up that says

Couldn't locate decompressor for format "DX50" (unknown)

VirtualDub requires a Video for Windows (VFW) compatible codec to decompress video. DirectShow codecs, such as those used by Windows Media Player, are not suitable.

[lordsmurf]

Use Gspot 2.7 on the source. What is it? See http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/vide...-analysis.html
You may need a import filter for VirtualDub. Did you download 1.9 from this site?

[Superstar]

Yes, I got VirtualDub here. I just downloaded the GSpot-v252b01.rar and the attached error in the screenshot that I took came up...

Should I go ahead and also download the GSpot-v270a,zip? I figured I'd hold off on that until you see that error

[lordsmurf]

That's some kind of system codec issue, unrelated to Gspot, VirtualDub or Huffyuv.
Did you install a codec pack on that system?

[Superstar]

No, I didn't...just the things that were recommended here.. I never mess installing codecs or things like that..

[lordsmurf]

If that's a DivX file, then install that one codec of the system.

[Superstar]

I have no idea what it is...? Is there a way that I can find out? I'm totally clueless on this

[lordsmurf]

That's what Gspot is for -- it tells you what codec is used. See the FourCC? That's the codec details (at minimum).