How much video can you get on a 4.7gb DVD

need to convert footage from AVI to mpeg2 after editing, in order to play as DVD

can easily get 2hrs + at pretty high res on to a DVD, with care.

Hi Deon,
There are several spects to your question.

Camera to PC:
Always do it at the highest quality.
If doing this via firewire alone, 1 hour would take 13gb.
If you have a capture card, it may also apply a codec(compressor/decompressor) that reduces the file size down a bit more.

It is general practice to keep quality at highest level for capture and editing.
I don't use Intervideo windvd, but after editing, you normally end up with an avi file of your movie.

If you want to put it onto a DVD for putting in your set top player or to copy and send to friends etc, then this BIG avi file needs to go through a MPEG conversion process so that it's file size is reduced. Nero is often used for this along with many other DVD burning programs.

What I think you have attempted is to place the avi file on the DVD as data - that is unconverted and still as a big file.This process wouldn't be done for a DVD to watch a movie but to perhaps provide a backup copy of the data files (avi and other).

I believe the former is what you are after.

I can get 1hr 55min @ 5.5 mgb/sec with PCM audio or 2hrs 18min @ 5.5 with a lower audio rate, I almost never get complaints!

If that fills up a DVD5 disc (Single Layer), then it might be good to specify that your actual AVERAGE bitrate is MUCH LOWER than 5.5mbps (i.e. your encoding process is probably using VBR with an AVERAGE bitrate about ~3700kbps or ~4200kbps -- depending on the times and audio-formats you mentioned).

Regards,
George

When dealing with DVD (or hard drives) the time is irrelevant and the data is the limit. it is not like VHS as we know it.

So on DVDs you can get 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours and more, you have to take the the amount of data the video uses per hour (minute) down to allow more time to fit on the DVD this then reduces the quality of course.

I use about 6Mb/s variable bit rate to get about 90minutes or 2 hours on to a DVD

One more point to remember is that the more movement (dancing, sports)the worse things can look so will need more data, but the more static things (news reader) are the less data will be used so more time can go onto a DVD.

Well Z Cheema, Iam doing wildlife hunts so i want as little quality loss as possible, and Ive tryed another Program called Ulead Videostudio10 and iam now getting more video on a DVD, at HQ level.What Mb/s Iam using, Iam not sure, thats more that what i know about this stuff, But Iam slowly learning. Thanks.
And Barry Hunter, Iam only a rookie at this stuff but Iam sure your video's are not crisp clear, maybe yes you might get 1 hour a 55 minutes but i want to be able to enjoy my DVD's.
Dave R Smith, yes i use a firewire, the capturer card Iam not sure of ,and yes after editing i do end up with a avi file,but when Ulead Videostudio10 adds it to the movie,it aotomaticlly estimates the size it will be after its compressed,so no My Dvd dont end up with avi files on it cause i play them all the time in my DVD player. Ive took notice that when i put a list of video clips that i have edited on my list of files to be burned to my DVD that when i look at the size of them before they are added to my dvd, it seems to be impossible to put all the files on one DVD but like i said the program estimates the size of each one and lets me know when i have enough added to be burned.i hope iam making it clear to how i understand whats happening
Fuddam I know i can get more Video on a DVD than 48 minutes but Iam just concern about the quality,especially in low light situations. But thanks for your help

Sorry about the VBR mistake :-(

I understand re getting crisp & clear DVD`s but you have to balance clarity with the grat mass of DVD players out there in consumer land! The higher the encoding, the better the picture but the more problems you will experience from the great un-washed saying "but it doesn`t play properly in my player"

Hence the r5eason for the rate that I have found to be best all round.

Encode at a higher rate, but don`t come crying when the dirt hits the fan! You could however always have a glass master made & that way you know it will play in anything. Only trouble being you may well need a minimum of 500 copies.

yep, a lot of people try to encode at 8mbs or higher, in the mistaken belief that it will enable their dvds to look like some hollywood stuff. I know that's not the situation here, since you don't have control of the bitrate AFAIK other than to choose high quality.

there are many many factors that contribute to quality of the final image, just in terms of mpeg2 settings. If you get a prog that will allow you to fine-tune the encoding, you'll definitely be able to get away with more footage on a DVD than a wizard will allow, without compromising quality. 6mbs is a good average.

also, remember you can encode the audio as AC3 rather than PCM, with the right programme, which compresses far more efficiently with no quality loss, allowing one to allocate more space to the video.

On your first post:

On your last post:
'My Dvd dont end up with avi files on it cause i play them all the time in my DVD player. '

I'm guessing you didn't mean your first post - or put it in context.
A dvd for set top player is mpeg2 at a quality determined by the bit rate mentioned in various previous posts. mpeg2 by it's nature can't be avi quality- unless it is a low quality source avi by virtue of codec with high compression (and not 'SD').

Set top recorders and pc software often provide names like 'HQ', 'SP', 'LP'.
Each is a user friendly name to different bit-rates it will use.
Also 'HQ' on one m/f's recorder or software isn't necessary the same as the same 'HQ' setting on another m/f's burner/software.

You don't mention the purpose, but just because it plays back on your dvd player doesn't mean it will on other peoples. Copying loads of dvd's and then get lots of unhappy viewers with pixelated images is not what you want. The answer is a best compromise as Barry mentions.

Sounds to me your all pro's so thanks for bearing with me ,I've been digging into my Ulead Program a bit more and now i can see where i can get different amounts of time on a DVD
Here is what iam guessing i should Burn my DvD's at
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 7000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,Ro
At this setting i can get about 1 hour and 20 minutes

OR
MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 7000 kbps)
LPCM Audio, 48000 Hz, Stereo
At this one I can get 1 hour and 10 minutes

MPEG files
24 bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: Variable (Max. 4000 kbps)
Audio data rate: 256 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio, 48 KHz, 2/0(L,R)
Here I can 2 hour and 20 minutes!

But like iam saying i want the best quality ,and yes i understand that the dvd might play in my dvd player and not others, so out of these 3 settings that i have shown what do you suggest i'd use?

Hi Deon,
If I understand you right, it's to play on your machine and you are not bothered about others.

The first 2 will each give a high quality image (and both be very compatible on friends machines).
'Variable' is important - it usually means longer to transcode - you often have singele pass vbr and 2 pass vbr - the latter is better if available.
The data rate goes up for action/complex scenes and down for static scenes or flat backgrounds (like in cartoon) so keeps quality up with data rate not so high.

This is in contrast to the more usual cbr (constant bit rate) - as implied - each frame uses a set amount of data - but usually quicker to transcode.

Audio - I'm no expert here - so can't comment on the 2 formats/codecs;
The second option may give better audio than the forst as implied by the greater space taken (smaller time) but that isn't always true.

Hey there Mr Dave,thanks for helping me,What does kbps mean? its under video settings
You said that the 2 pass vbr is better? Well i can select ''two pass encode,is that the same idea?I can also select variable over constant. And i also can select the number or''kbps''. From a range of 1775 to 9800.
I misleaded you if you think that Iam only concern about watching the dvd"s on my own player cause i take it around to my friends and places , and iam having trouble with other people's player's ,seems weird to me but i guess there is alot of little things to keep in mind, So Iam trying to understand and pick a setting that is mostly compatable with my own and most everyone elses players. I really enjoy doing this stuff and i ''really'' appricate you folks helping me out.
I can also select the speed quality ,a choice from 0 to 100
I also have a choice of MPEG or LPCM or Dolby Digital Audio, audio format
I can pick from 2/0[L,R] o3/2 [L,C,R, SL, SR] audio type.
And an Audio Bit rate of either 128 up to 448.
And also, what frame type,''Frame base , lower field field , or upper field first''
So with all these choices in mind and keep in mind i want as good quality as i can get and be able to watch my DVD's on most everyones players, what are the settings i should select??

Since you are capturing via firewire to .avi (I am assuming dv .avi -- about 13gb per hour), I would change your setting of FRAME-BASED to LOWER-FIELD-FIRST.

I would also go with Dolby Digital Audio 2/0 (unless you are adding 5.1 audio to your project).

How much time are you trying to get onto the DVD? That will help determine what bitrate to use for the video...

Normally, 2-pass VBR isn't needed if you can use such a high bitrate as 7,000kbps (imho).

Regards,
George

>What does kbps mean?
Kilo bits per second
> You said that the 2 pass vbr is better? Well i can select ''two pass encode,is that the same idea?
Yes
>I can also select variable over constant. And i also can select the number or''kbps''. From a range of 1775 to 9800.
Or express as 1.775 to 9.8mbps (if diving by 10 rather than 8 to calculate)
>See previous replies for comment re bit-rates I misleaded you if you think that Iam only >concern about watching the dvd"s on my own player cause i take it around to my friends >and places , and iam having trouble with other people's player's ,seems weird to me but i >guess there is alot of little things to keep in mind, So Iam trying to understand and pick a >setting that is mostly compatable with my own and most everyone elses players. I really >enjoy doing this stuff and i ''really'' appricate you folks helping me out.
The Max. 7000 kbps you quoted should be fine for you and friends
I can also select the speed quality ,a choice from 0 to 100
This is probably a reference to key frames - every nth frame will be fully defined.
See Mr Cheema's last line. More action means more key frames required.

For upper/lower field, follow the link to Colin website, which talks you through what it means if you fancy a longish read:
http://forums.dvdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=40843&page=2

Hope that helps.

That quality/speed slider tells the encoder how much forward/backward "motion searching" to do while encoding. Push it towards SPEED, and the encode will go relatively faster, but the final quality might not be what you want. Push it towards QUALITY, and the program will take longer as it "searches" backwards/forwards during the encoding process to make the final quality better (given the same bitrates). I usually set it to 90 or 100.

Regards,
George

Thanks George - good job I qualified my comment.

Thanks for all your help guys,i believe Ive learned some great information,all the way from over europe!!

well, FWIW, I just burnt 2:28 to DVD last night, at max rate 4.2mbs, and average 2.5mbs. Am surprised at how good it looks

mind you, is for preview purposes, not about looking good.
a 16 x 9 project, mostly talking heads - so compresses well.

only took about 2.5GB :)