How much avi will fit DVD?

Lonn wrote on 7/9/2003, 11:44 AM

I am saving family video off an analog panasonic camcorder in uncompress NTSC DV (avi) in small 2, 3, & 4 min. clips. I want to edit the small clips and then put a number of them together to make a movie that will fit on a 4.7gig DVD. I may make even make some smaller movies and put more than one movie on DVD with chapters. What I need to know is how large of an uncompressed avi will fit on a 4.7gig DVD after compressed to mpeg2 format. I am planning on dragging the uncompressed avi files into Sonic MyDVD and letting MyDVD convert the avi to mpeg2. I can't seem to figure this out.

Thanks,
Lonn

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 7/9/2003, 12:25 PM

It all depends on the bitrate you use when encoding to MPEG-2. I assume MyDVD lets you tweak the bitrate, but in any case, 4Mbps is probably a good average choice. At this rate, with audio at 224Kbps, you'll probably fit about 32 minutes per GB. You'll have some overhead (unusable space) on the DVD due to menus and directory structure, but you will probably have at least 4GB of space for your video, which is about 128 minutes. Encoding with a variable bitrate makes the size calculation a little hazier, but usually you can fit a little bit more at a given variable bitrate average than at the same constant bit rate.

If you want to encode at a higher bitrate for better quality, you'll get less time on the disc. Encoding at 6Mbps instead of 4Mbps would allow 85 minutes instead of 128.

DaveCT wrote on 7/9/2003, 3:27 PM

Lonn,
In MyDVD, look in the lower left of the main screen. As you "add movies" it will show you how much disk space remains. So just keep adding files until you run out of space. If you have no more room then make an additional disc.

-Dave

Lonn wrote on 7/9/2003, 7:14 PM

Thanks very much for the help. This is a great forum!

Lonn