How to limit footage to CD size?

Banji Abereoje · Post by **Banji Abereoje** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 9:29 am

Hi all,

After taking pretty time to work on & edit a video, I discovered - in the final stage of burning to CD, that the video is about 1hr 40min than what can fit in into my CD playing time (80mins).

I know DVD can conveniently take this, but if VCD is my target, is there any way I can burn the first 80mins of the video into CD and the latter part into another CD without going back to or adjust anything in the timeline.

Your response is highly appreciated.

B.A.

Accolades · Post by **Accolades** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 12:09 pm

Changing the BITRATE will allow it to fit but less quality.

I thought VS could Auto fit?

Someone I am sure will post the link.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 12:23 pm

As stated above you have to alter the bit rate.
VCD is an old format now - I don't know if VideoStudio autofits that particular format - it is a case of try it and see.

Banji Abereoje · Post by **Banji Abereoje** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 6:01 pm

Thx for your response. The issue is not in the size of the video fitting in to a CD volume/capacity BUT the lenght (no. of minutes) of the video. In a simpler form, if my video is 1hr 40mins, how I can I instruct VS to burn its first 70mins on timeline to CD and the remaining 30mins into another CD without tampering with the well-edited video?

I still need some clarification.... Thx in advance

B.A.

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 6:47 pm

You can't. You will either have to reduce the bitrate to make the entire 100 minutes fit on the disc, or you will have to split your project into two, and burn them separately.

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 7:13 pm

Jeff, Have you tried this feature in the OPTIONS section before rendering?

I would give this a try:
If you make your project settings = VCD standard (very easy to do). Under the "Compression Tab" just select VCD.

Then from the VS timeline goto "Share -> Create Video File -> Same As Project Settings -> Options
In the Options mark the TIME you want by putting a check in the box " Make Video File with Specified Duration"
Note: Read this carefully, the format is Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Frames format.

If your project settings <ALT + ENTER> equal VCD standard what will happen is your complete project will be broken into the TIME LENGTH you specify and as separate videos.

Example: Using this feature if you had a VCD file on the timeline that was 2 hours long (120 Minutes) and under "Options" " Make Video File with Specified Duration" and typed in 30 minutes, then when the project is rendered you will end up with 4 video files, each being 30 minutes long.

I'm sure you can do the math to make this work for you. I would suggest if for the VCD format to use 60 Minutes, which will produce 2 video files that can be burnt to 2 separate CD's.

Note: Also under "Make Movie Templates" you can make a custom template that produces a certain Video file size when you select it to render. The difference is a customized template uses file size and the Options method will use time.

Hope this helps

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 7:39 pm

Now that you mention it I do recall that. But if you just randomly select a time for your project to be split, it could split it in the middle of a scene, in the middle of a speech, etc. Whatever the case, probably wouldn't be a graceful transition.

I would rather take the original "Project A" and manually split it at a practical place, maybe even add some text saying "insert next disc", and fade out. Delete the remaining clips, then save that "first half" has Project B. Then I would open Project A again and delete the "first half", leaving what will be put on the second disc. Save that as Project C. Render Projects B & C to their own video file. Burn each one to a separate disc.

Just my opinion.

etech6355 · Post by **etech6355** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 8:03 pm

Jeff,
That's exactly how I would also do it.
Just wanted to point out this feature because it works pretty nice.

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 10:58 pm

...than what can fit in into my CD playing time (80mins).

When a CD says "80 minutes", it does not mean 80 minutes of video... An "80 minute" CD can hold 80 minutes of (uncompressed) CD audio. With video (or compressed audio), the playing-time capacity is determined by the bitrate (as Accolades said).

You can estimate file size with the following formula:
File Size in MB = (Bitrate in kbps x Playing Time in minutes) / 140

Or, if you need to know what bitrate to use,
Bitrate = (140 x File Size in MB) / Playing time in minutes

(Don't forget to include the audio...The bitrate in the above formulas is the combined audio & video bitrate.)