File Size of AVI versus MPEG2

[montgal55]

Hello Everyone:

Before importing my files into DVDMF7, I always convert my AVI files to MPEG2. Now, I realize that an AVI file could be as large as 10-20 GB due to it having numerous file formats rolled into one file.

My MPEG2 file was reduced to 450MB from 8GB after conversion. I am figuring that since the file is now a MPEG2 file, DVDMF7 will only read the video format (movie) and its new size.

Can someone tell me why the MPEG2 file is just as large as the AVI after conversion? My thinking was the conversion would eliminate the size issue.

Montgal55

[skier-hughes]

avi is a wrapper, the standard video camcorder avi is dv.avi which is 13gb per hour approx.
divx avi is much smaller, uncompressed avi is about 65gb per hour.

Mpeg2 has lots of variations for compression, at high quality you'd expect about 4gb per hour, 8gb of dv.avi would be about 3gb.
At 450mb you have seriously compressed that file, I wouldn't expect to be able to view it at all really.

Perhaps tell us which avi you are using and the settings for compression to make your mpeg2.

[sjj1805]

A few general figures for you.

1 hour Video.
uncompressed (avi) 65 GB
DV (avi) 13 GB
DivX 700 MB
MPEG2 High Quality 4.3 GB

[montgal55]

Hello Graham:

The type of AVI files I am using are video files from the Internet. When viewing the properties of these files, it only tells you the size of the video. Not the size of the other files included in the AVI file. Interestingly, the average size of ¡§these¡¨ AVI files is about 750MB. But, again, you are right. AVI files are wrapper files.

Since I need to make DVDs out of these AVI files, I convert the files to MPEG2, to make them DVD-compliant for DVDMF7. In the conversion program I use, it gives me the option to adjust the bitrate of the video to make them smaller. So when the conversion is complete, the file ends up smaller (e.g., 850MB turns into a 450MB). It seems to work pretty well. Except when it is time to use DVDMF7 to make a DVD. That is when the ¡§true¡¨ colors come out as to its actual size.

I guess I had the wrong idea that when converting an AVI to MPEG2, that the final product would only be the video that has been converted. Hence, resulting in a new file size.

If you need more information, let me know.

Montgal55

[sjj1805]

.....
The type of AVI files I am using are video files from the Internet. .....

Those will be DivX or Xvid or MPEG4 which come in at 700 Megabytes per hour. See my table above.

[montgal55]

sjj1805:

Thank you so much for the information. With the information you supplied, it will give me an idea what I have to do when converting an AVI and getting ready for making a DVD.

I can't wait until there is a program that can actually strip an AVI file to it raw components to files you will only use.

Montgal55

[montgal55]

Steve:

I was examining your table and realize that when converting an DivX (700MB) file to MPEG2 (4.3 GB) that I would actually be making a larger file????

Because a blank 4.7GB single-layer disc only allows 4.3 GB of data. This may explain why I am getting Project Larger Than Space Allows message before hitting the Burn button (DVDMF7).

Montgal55

[sjj1805]

Steve:

I was examining your table and realize that when converting an DivX (700MB) file to MPEG2 (4.3 GB) that I would actually be making a larger file????
...

Yes that is correct