Lowering the size of a video file
 

I'm trying to put an avi file into ConvertX2DVD, so I can convert it to a video file, so I can put it on DVD. However, when I import it into ConvertX, it says the file is too big, at 5.57 GB. When I go to where I have the file saved, and I scroll over it, it says it's 2.56 GB....

I tried to open it in DVDShrink, to try and shrink it, but I guess it doesn't recognize that kind of file, and it's not there for me to select it....

So, what can I do to lower the video size in ConvertX, so I can get it on DVD?


Admin Note: See my reply on page 2, post #26. I troubleshoot with the OP from there. :congrats:

First of all, you already have it in a video file, which is the AVI. I just looked up the program, and it seems to be similar to one I tried years ago by Xoom. Xoom I found would only convert tiny chunks of data (something ridiculous like 500MB at a time), and it looks like ConvertX2DVD is the same thing. I would suggest you get something different, like an older version of Adobe Encore (i.e. 1.5). But you need a program that can convert the AVI (and do you know what codec the AVI is in? is it DV-AVI?) to MPEG-2 and then even an iso file for a DVD.

Hi, thanks for your reply. I don't know how to find out the codec for the AVI...... yes, I use ImgBurn to make ISO files for DVD, so I have that part covered at least...it's the other things that's throwing me off...

If it's already an ISO you should be able to just go into (I use Windows mostly, I'm not sure what you're using) My computer and just plop it into your DVD drive (of course I would recommend using a DVD-RW first, and then after verifying it burned correctly, using DVD Shrink to make a duplicate on a DVD-R) and let Windows burn it from there. ISO is a file that already contains all the folders for a DVD or CD, and the video's already compressed, so any burning program, even Nero, should be able to access it and burn it. I hardly ever burn ISO's outside of Adobe Encore, so I'm trying to remember the correct thing for it. Here's Microsoft's FAQ about it (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows7/burn-a-cd-or-dvd-from-an-iso-file), of course that's for Windows 7. For XP you might want to try DVD Decryptor before burning.

No, it's not an ISO yet. I still haven't been able to convert it yet, in Convert X, because of the problems that I talked about in my first message...

My usual process is, I bring the file into ConvertX (if it's not yet a DVD ready file) convert it into a DVD ready file, then burn it to DVD in ImgBurn

use DVDfab

it is payware but a excellent program
you can download a free trail or the slightly older version 8 can be gotten off torrents

Ok..I'll try it then...but, what do I do with it for the problem that I'm having?

DVDfab has a video converter.
you can convert .avi to M2TS or a variety of other formats

DVDFab didn't work for me.

dont understand why.
i converted an AVI file to Mpeg-2 transport stream the other day with DVDfab and it worked fine.

is some kind of weird file? what created it?

what steps did you do to do that? i tried to get it into a dvd 5 format on there, but when it was done it still said it was too big.

use the video convert.
you can also just pick up some dual-layer discs and use DVD-9

I did use the video convert, it didn't give me an option to select which format to change it to. Could this be because I'm using the trial version?

maybe - if you do torrents you can get on PB and download full version 8

I got it, but it still didn't work. I converted it to the file type you told me to, which took about 3.5 hours to do. Then, I created an ISO file in ImgBurn from it, then I burnt it to DVD. I tried to play it in my Xbox, and it said Mixed Media Disc & wouldn't burn.
I also tried it in my DVD player on my laptop & it wouldn't play.

So, I then tried to bring the converted video file into ConvertX, and see if it would again convert in there, but when I did that, it said it was too big. It said it was the same size as the original file, 5.57 GB...

use dvdfab to burn the converted file to the disc - try it without creating an iso image

this is certainly strange as this is usually a very painless process

I couldn't get it to open with any of the many options there except for one, and that said it was too big, the bar went all the way into red..

what is the M2TS file size?

what resolution is the original AVI file?

The M2TS is 3.53 GB.

The original AVI is, 720x480, Frame rate, 29 frames/second, Data Rate - 1290 kbps, Total Bitrate - 1418 kbps

3.53 will fit easily on a DVD-R
no idea why it is say it is too big
will Windows burn it? maybe Nero?

i remember have trouble burning some files i ripped from certain discs made on a dvd recorder
IIRC i ended up using MPEG Video Wizard 5.0 and Cyberlink Powerdirector to burn them
it was awhile ago and i dont recall the specifics

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..

what created this file?

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

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

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

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..

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).

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

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.

How would I split it in half?

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.

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?

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.

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.

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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