Can't fit 1.5 hour capture onto DVD

[WestbrookNH]

I'm having problems with file size.

I got VS 7.0 SE bundled with my AverMedia PCI capture card (details below).

I captured a video from a VCR. The video was only 1 hr 25 minutes, but I got a MPEG2 file greater than 5 GB, far too much to put on one DVD.

I should be able to get 2 hours of high quality video onto a DVD.

What am I doing wrong?

Here are my settings.

Project properties:
---------------------
NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Field Order B
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: 8000 kbps
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

Clip Properties:
------------------
File:
File Size: 5,214,906 KB
File Duration: 1:24:45.07

Video:
Format: 24 Bits [740 x 480]
Compression: NTSC DVD, Field B, 8000 kbps
Comp. Ratio: 0%
Frame Rate: 29.970 Frames/sec
Total Frames: 152405 Frames

Audio:
Audio Format: MPEG Audio Layer 2 Files
Attributes: 48000 Hz, 16 Bit, Stereo

NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Field Order B
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: 8000 kbps
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 48 KHz, Stereo

Input Source:
Video Composite
TV System NTSC_M
AverMedia MPEG ExMaker 88X

MPEG Setting:
Stream Type: MPEG2
TV System: NTSC
Bitrate Mode: 720x480
Resolution: CBR
Video Bitrate 8000 KBits/s
Video Peak rate: 8000 KBits/s
Audio Mode: Stereo
Sample Rate: 48000
Audio Bitrate 256 Kbits/s

Did I miss anything?

[kebrinton]

At the last step where you still have an option, try 6000 instead of 8000kbps and see how that helps.

If you then burn to a DVD-RW you can test your final product without wasting a DVD.

[WestbrookNH]

At the last step where you still have an option, try 6000 instead of 8000kbps and see how that helps.

If you then burn to a DVD-RW you can test your final product without wasting a DVD.

Thanks!!

I'll give it a try tonight and let you know how I make out!

[jwarner]

I capture to MPEG-2 at 4500 kbps variable bit rate and get just over 2 hours on a DVD.

The quality is as good as the source material (and better than VHS quality).

[WestbrookNH]

I capture to MPEG-2 at 4500 kbps variable bit rate and get just over 2 hours on a DVD.

The quality is as good as the source material (and better than VHS quality).

Wow, great. I wasn't sure VBR would work on all DVD players.

I'm having another problem, now.

I edited the captured MPEG file into clips and added some music.

Then I went to the Share step to create a new MPEG file. When I click the settings to be the same as the project settings, I get 8000 Kbs! I can see that the image was captured at 6000 Kbs, but the Edit step says that the project's resolution is 8000 Kbs, and there doesn't appear to be any way for me to change it in the Edit step, and it generates a huge 6.5 GB file.

Is it ok to change it in the Share step to 6000 Kbs or even the 4500 Kbs VBR even though the project settings are 8000 Kbs CBR?

[deeker]

hi, i am basically a rookie but keep in mind that there are dual layer dvds and i believe most commercial movies use this to get over 8 gig's on a disc. i am getting like 2hr. 15min.'s of high qualty home/child vids onto a 4.? gig dvd with similar settings as you so...

john

[WestbrookNH]

hi, i am basically a rookie but keep in mind that there are dual layer dvds and i believe most commercial movies use this to get over 8 gig's on a disc. i am getting like 2hr. 15min.'s of high qualty home/child vids onto a 4.? gig dvd with similar settings as you so...

john

Are you using 8000 Kbs CBR ?

I get huge MPEG files with that setting.

Using 5000 Kbs VBR, I have no problem getting 2 hours onto a DVD.

Thanks everybody!

[Trevor Andrew]

Then I went to the Share step to create a new MPEG file. When I click the settings to be the same as the project settings, I get 8000 Kbs! I can see that the image was captured at 6000 Kbs, but the Edit step says that the project's resolution is 8000 Kbs, and there doesn't appear to be any way for me to change it in the Edit step, and it generates a huge 6.5 GB file.

Is it ok to change it in the Share step to 6000 Kbs or even the 4500 Kbs VBR even though the project settings are 8000 Kbs CBR?

From file / project properties / edit / compression tab / change bitrate to 6000.
You should then be able to use 'same as project settings'

Tip:-

From File / preferences /tick 'show messages when inserting first video into timeline'

Start a new project. When you have completed capture VS will prompt you to change the project properties to match the captured video properties.

[lsilver]

Two questions along the same lines:

If you're going to output at 6000 VBR, should you capture at that VBR or go ahead and use 8000 and then change it to 6000 in the Edit phase?

If I'm converting VHS to DVD, will there be a noticeable drop off in quality if I use 6000 VBR?

Thanks.

[jwarner]

I would capture at the same rate you plan to burn. It saves lots of time in rendering and eliminates a major problem area (like audio sync problems).

In my experience, capturing at 4500 kbps VBR gives better-than VHS quality and allows for over 2 hours per DVD (about 2GB per hour).

[lsilver]

I understand that if you take digital video and convert it using a lower VBR you'll get better than VHS quality. But what if you START with VHS quality and convert at a lower VBR? Will the quality be reduced?

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi
I agree with John
In general the best quality is capturing at 8000 kbps, this will give you a one hour video on one Dvd.
At 6000 kbps you will get 90 minutes per dvd.
at 4000 kbps you will acheive 120 minutes per dvd.

The quality at 4000 is good. Providing your source footage is good quality.

If you know how long your final movie is then you can estimate what bitrate you need to burn your dvd.

Use this setting as your capture settings/project setting/create video setting,

Where posible keep your settings the same from start to finish.

look at my quick guide from the link below.

[jwarner]

I understand that if you take digital video and convert it using a lower VBR you'll get better than VHS quality. But what if you START with VHS quality and convert at a lower VBR? Will the quality be reduced?

VHS tapes are analogue and don't have "a bitrate" to start with so you cannot "convert them to a lower bitrate".

Capturing them to digital format using an analogue to digital capture card or device at a minimum rate of 4000 kbps VBR will generally give a result as good as the VHS or 8mm source material.

Anything above about 4500 kbps is probably just wasting disk space as I doubt you'd be able to see the difference.

I ran a few tests of a short clip at various bit rates and both VBR and CBR when I was starting out so you might want to do the same before you do too much capturing...

[lsilver]

Thanks for the guidance.

[WestbrookNH]

Then I went to the Share step to create a new MPEG file. When I click the settings to be the same as the project settings, I get 8000 Kbs! I can see that the image was captured at 6000 Kbs, but the Edit step says that the project's resolution is 8000 Kbs, and there doesn't appear to be any way for me to change it in the Edit step, and it generates a huge 6.5 GB file.

Is it ok to change it in the Share step to 6000 Kbs or even the 4500 Kbs VBR even though the project settings are 8000 Kbs CBR?

From file / project properties / edit / compression tab / change bitrate to 6000.
You should then be able to use 'same as project settings'

Tip:-

From File / preferences /tick 'show messages when inserting first video into timeline'

Start a new project. When you have completed capture VS will prompt you to change the project properties to match the captured video properties.

Yes, this works!!!

Thank you!

Great stuff in here, by the way.