Controlling DVD size/reduction

[zforray]

I have a video that is 2:20-long, so it is a bit longer than a DVD/DL (8.5GB) at full HQ. But, when I let X6 "make it fit", it seems to reduce it by almost 50%, making the DVD folders only 5.1GB. This really ruins the quality.

Is there any way I can either control the reduction or tell it to leave the output alone when writing to hard-drive/DVD folders. I can then use a different DVD/video processing program that is smart enough to control the reduction just enough to comfortably fit/fill a DVD/DL (I have such a program) and not use a 100/50/25% approach to compressing/reducing.

[lata]

Hi zforray

The Data Rate aka Bit Rate of the mpeg2 file controls the size in Gb.

For a 60 minute video at 8000kbps will create a file at 4Gb ish suitable for burning a single layer. For a Dual Layer I guess you simply double the figures.

From the burner module select the Options Cogwheel (lower left) to display the Project Settings dialogue window.
The option to Change Mpeg Settings – Customise will allow you to reduce the data rate below 8000kbps.

The overall file size is also influenced by the audio format, using Digital Dolby rather than LPCM will reduce the files size by a lot

In addition using a Thumbnail or Text menu will also help as Smart Menus do require more memory.

The green bar will indicate the size of your project, it should show all green, no yellow and certainly no red.

At 2hr 20 min is very much on the limit for a dual layer but using Digital Dolby and Thumbnail Menu may allow it to fit using 8000kbps.
As I say it is right on the limit, otherwise reduce the data rate to 7500kbps.

[zforray]

Thanks for the info. I have never dug into those settings.

The audio was already Digital Dolby - I was hoping to change it from 48k to 44k but that option is greyed out.

I did notice compress setting was at 70%. I upped it to 100% and changed the bit-rate to 7500kbps per your suggestion. It did not ask to shrink it so hopefully this will work. Rendering right now (takes about an 15-minutes - thank you for 64-bit and multi-core support otherwise it is 2+ hours)

[zforray]

Thanks for the info. I have never dug into those settings.

The audio was already Digital Dolby - I was hoping to change it from 48k to 44k but that option is greyed out.

I did notice compress/quality setting was at 70%. I upped it to 100% and changed the bit-rate to 7500kbps per your suggestion. It did not ask to shrink it so hopefully this will work. Rendering right now (takes about an 15-minutes - thank you for 64-bit and multi-core support otherwise it is 2+ hours)

Well, while it didn't ask for "reduce to fit" at 7500, it still shrunk it to 5.06DB, so that must be what it is doing when it automagically shrinks it. So, I tried 7700 and 7600 and 7600 was the only one where it didn't ask to "reduce to fit".

....

Playing with there other settings, I think I finally found a combination that produces what I need. Had to change the following settings:

Not only did I change the data rate to 7600, also change it from VBR to CBR - of course I have seen discussions about the pros/cons (VBR is supposed to take longer) and CBR makes a bigger file
Also unchecked "Do Not Convert Compliant MPEG files"

So, while it now produces a 7.9GB output, I wonder if it make any difference - should I go back to VBR but leave the "Quality" at 100%. Haven't had a chance to review the resulting output (I am working remotely via RDP until I get home tonight).

[Ken Berry]

I wouldn't do any more until I had a chance to review the outcomes.

As for that 100% quality slider, it is only an indicative balance between getting marginally better (sometimes totally unnoticeable to the human eye) quality, but with a much longer rendering time to achieve it. The default 70% is suppose to be a balance of good quality and reasonable rendering time, and I never play around with it.