Compress Video?

[n3vpc]

Hi Everyone:


I recently, accidentally, made a large DVD of a TV show.

What happened was I edited out commercials, and placed a few title screens
of a TV project. When I had finished, and without noticing the total content of the video (over 2 hours), I elected to burn the project to DVD.

I got a warning screen telling me that I had overrun the disk capacity but did I wish to continue. I said yes and the program made a DVD that was 2 hours and
20 minutes long and it plays and looks just fine.

My question is: How much will VS10plus compact a video or was this a Freak Of Nature?

Bill

[DVDDoug]

I got a warning screen telling me that I had overrun the disk capacity...

You are not the first to report probems with file size estimation... Video Studio may be confused. Or, it may be telling you that you are running out of hard disk space. Did it say disk or disc? Disk usually means your hard drive, and disc usually means a DVD or CD.

It usually requires double the DVD file size in extra temporary hard disk space (about 9GB for a full single-layer DVD).

How much will VS10plus compact a video...?

The actual file size on the DVD depends on the combined audio & video bitrate (project settings) and the playing time. Bitrate is measured in kilobits-per-second, and this can be scaled-up to gigabytes-per-hour. Two hours, twenty minutes is "pushing it" a bit for a single-layer DVD. (Most commercial DVDs are dual-layer.)

The DVD standard does not set a fixed level of compression -

Higher bitrate = higher quality = bigger file size = lower compression = less playing time.

Lower bitrate = lower quality = smaller file size = higher compression = more playing time.

A good "rule-of-thumb" is 90 minutes per DVD. You can get that with a 6000k bitrate and Dolby AC3 audio. This bitrate is typical of commercal DVDs (The DVD spec allows video bitrates up to about 9,800k, and up to about 10,000k combined audio & video.)

Here's an online Bit Rate Calculator.

...a large DVD of a TV show. ...I edited out commercials, and placed a few title screens...

What format are your files? MPEGs can cause some "freaky" problems, especially when you edit them.

...or was this a Freak Of Nature?

...I wouldn't say a freak of "nature".

[n3vpc]

Thanks for your reply. For the disc/disk issue, I believe that the program was talking about the “Disc”, that’s about the only problem I don’t have, hard disk space.

You answered some for my question and I was wondering if I could ask you more?

In the matter of compression to program; whatever the program defaults are I did not change them, I’m too new at doing this. They are saved into .mpg format. I do not use the avi format as that goes to size issues also some clips are edited as rough vob files. I do not let the program adjust them for editing as the check box comes up, I chose no. For some reason that I have never understood, they edit better by themselves. I should also mention here that I sometimes do not use the “Import” option in the program for DVD to hardrive. I simply load the DVD, use Windows Explorer, open the Video TS file and copy the. vob’s directly to a folder of my choice on my hardrive.

With all of this being said my other question is this:

Let us now assume that I have another project similar to the original one I ask about, 2 hours and 20 minutes;
if this program is already inside the program (VS10 plus) is there some sort of “Add-On” or other program that I can run to automatically compress this project down to 2 hours BEFORE burning it to disc? In a few days I will have enough material complied to burn another disc and from where we are now and assuming I have understood all you have tried to tell me, this is a hit & miss situation, it may work----------------------it may not! As is now, I will probably elect to record only to DVD/RW in case. Your thoughts?

Thank You Again for your time and response,

Bill

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Bill

So you start by copying the dvd vob files to your hard drive.
This is ok, each vob file will be approx 1 Gb, except for the last one, this will be smaller.

The Vobs are Mpeg 2 files and VS will be able to read them and you will be able to edit then.

When you first insert the vob to the timeline you receive a message asking you to change the project settings.
You can select ¡¥details¡¦ and view the video files (vob/mpeg) properties.
At this point I would recommend selecting ¡¥Yes¡¦. (I read you choose ¡¥No¡¦)
Your Project Properties should change to the same as your video file properties.
Ok----you edit your movie, removing some frames and adding your own titles.

Once completed, you need to burn the project to a dvd.

In order to burn a dvd you first have to create a mpeg file of the project.
You have two choices.

1 / Share Create Disc

This will take your project to the Burner Module.
Here you create your menus and finally hit the Burn button.

VS will render the project, you can identify this by the Convert Title showing above the blue ¡¥total progress bar¡¦.
The Mpeg File is saved to the Burner Working Folder (VS may delete this after completion???????)
As far as I am aware the render may use the project properties,
This is where the ¡¥change the project settings from the earlier paragraph¡¦ helps,
allowing VS to use Smart Render, making the process quicker.
Unless
The project is to big¡K. Like 2 hr 20 min.
Now VS will render the project using a smaller Bit Rate, in order to create a file smaller than 4.3 Gb.
Smart Render will be ineffective and the process will take some time.
On completion VS will render the menu¡¦s etc and finally burn the disc.

I assume that is the process you took, if it works for you then all is ok.
Continue doing it this way.

Bill just out of interest, How long did the process take from pressing the burn button.?????

Option two
2 / Share Create Video File.

Here you create the video file first.
You need to understand and have some knowledge of the video file properties.
Understanding Bit Rates is essential. A bit Rate Calculator will help.

Ok
You have finished the editing, go Share Create Video File
If your project is less than 60 minutes select Same as Project Settings
This will render the project to a single Mpeg,
using Smart Render the process should be relatively quick.

If the project is longer than 60 minutes you may have to change the Bit Rate to under 8000.
As a guide.
8000 is suitable for 60 minutes
6000 is suitable for 90 minutes
4000 is suitable for 120 minutes.

To change the bit rate you need to use the ¡¥Custom¡¦ option
Here you have to input your property settings.
(You could also use the Tools---Make Movie Manager to create your own template)

You give the file a name and a save location.
The rendered file should be less than 4.3 Gb and will fit to a disc.

Once rendering is complete, start a new project, use the file in Share Create Disc¡XAdd Video.
The burning process should be relatively short, you should not see ¡¥Convert Menu¡¦

Both the above processes take approximately the same time and use the same file sizes (memory)

With the second option I feel more in control.

[n3vpc]

We took another shot at a DVD video last night. All went well until we got to the burn part. This time the program gave me a screen box telling me the project is too big. I simply click on the “reduce project size” button and off we went.
All Is Well!

You ask about the actual record time? This is a small concern but something to deal with. The project again, as in the first DVD, was 2 hours and 20 minutes long. The actual burn time? 3 hours and some minutes.

Although this may seem like a lot. For me it is well worth the effort. This project, on going as it is, will require many DVD’s. Taking or allowing the extra time for recording each is worth it because I will gain that back as a savings over the long haul in DVD disc’s themselves. There are about 450 shows to deal with and each after editing; is approximately 46 minutes long. I think you can see the reasoning in trying to get 3 on each disc.

Bill

[Trevor Andrew]

You ask about the actual record time? This is a small concern but something to deal with. The project again, as in the first DVD, was 2 hours and 20 minutes long. The actual burn time? 3 hours and some minutes.

Although this may seem like a lot. For me it is well worth the effort.
Bill

Hi Bill

I think the time to render and burn is acceptable.

As i said earlier¡X I assume that is the process you took, if it works for you then all is ok.
Continue doing it this way.

All the Best