Why don't same rate videos always take up same space?

[JoReneA]

I have been trying to figure out why, using mpg files captured at the same 6000 fps rate and authoring at the same 6000 fps, I can sometimes fit almost 1 1/2 hours on a DVD and at other times only a little over an hour. I also find that the program shows the same disk space being taken up even after I edit out quite a few minutes of video. Does MF3 have a problem computing the correct disk space that is being used (shown on the bar at the bottom of the screen?) Otherwise, shouldn't the same length of video captured at the same rate take up about the same space?

Thanks for any help herel

[GeorgeW]

motion menus and menu background music can change the space requirements (slightly).

Also, different audio formats can be significant -- especially if one project is using lpcm audio, and another project is using either Dolby Digital or mpeg audio

and then there is the "Do not convert compliant mpeg files" checkbox. If you have it checked, then it should use your files "asis", but if you do not have it checked, then it will calculate based on the project template (which might have a difference in video and/or audio bitrate)

[JoReneA]

In the cases I am referring to, everything is the same: rate of capture, audio format, project settings, music length, do not convert, etc. Yet one project had almost 1 1/2 hours and the other just a little over an hour. And when I shortened some of the mpg files through editing, it didn't show any less space used on the space bar. I guess what I wonder is if the space bar could be erroneous and I could try fitting more on the DVD, even though the bar is into the yellow or red zone.

[GeorgeW]

Did you apply all the patches? There was a problem with the space calcs -- I remember seeing one of the patches was supposed to fix that...

[JoReneA]

I had applied all the patches. I have since had to uninstall the last (DLL) patch to fix a problem with the music background music not authoring correctly in menus after the first. (Ulead Tech support suggestion). I have yet to try out the semi-patched version (except to burn a previously authored project.) I';ll see how it treats the size of the video.

[olyteddy]

Are you perhaps using 6000 VBR format? With VBR recording, scene changes and action dictate how big the file will be.