Nero5.5 enlarges files?

[Vaughn]

I am using Nero 5.5 in my attemps to burn a dvd rip that
is in dvix format to a Cd. This is called making a VCD right?
The problem is that when i drag a movie into Nero and it is 650 MB for example, Nero changes it into a 40 percent bigger file
for no apparent reason. THis 650 MB file then becomes a 1200 MB
file for instance and then Nero won't burn it because it is too large for the CD. All these dvd rips are in AVI format. THere are no
Video quality settings that i can find, any ideas pls?

[setarip]

"The problem is that when i drag a movie into Nero and it is 650 MB for example, Nero changes it into a 40 percent bigger file
for no apparent reason."

It's NOT for no apparent reason. The reason is that VCDs are encoded in MPEG1 format, which compresses approximately only half as much as does DivX.

The simplest thing to do (there are alternative methods available, but since you're using NERO to both convert the file and create the VCD, this is the simples) is load your DivX-formatted .AVi file into VirtulDub, set both "Video" and "Audio" to "Direct Stream Copy" and split the file. Make certain to do your splitting on a keyframe.

Let us know of your success ;>}

[Vaughn]

Thx setarip for the reply! It is appreciated, once i figure
out how to use this tool i will let you know how it works out.
By the way how are people dropping a average length movie
onto one CD if the file has to be converted to MPG-1 first?

[setarip]

"By the way how are people dropping a average length movie
onto one CD if the file has to be converted to MPG-1 first?"

You now seem to be talking about two different things. the reason you create a VCD (typically requiring two CDs) is so you can play it on a standalone VCD player. This requires that the video be in MPEG1-VideoCD format.

If you simply wish to burn a DivX-compressed .AVI video to a CD (which will typically fit onto one CD), you don't have to create a VCD - you simply burn it as a "Data CD"...

[Vaughn]

Jeez setarip where have you been this last month? Ok so
i just burned a AVI file to CD as a data file and it works great
on both my CD-Rom and DVD-Rom on my computer. BUt you
say that this is not a VCD and it would not play on a standalone
DVD player even if the player supports DVD-R recordings? WHy does it work on my DVD player on my computer?

Also if i were so inclined to make a VCD can a guy split a AVI file into two files so they will fit on two CD's (after they were converted to MPG-1 of course).

[setarip]

"WHy does it work on my DVD player on my computer?"

Why not? Your computer's DVD player is also a CD player - and many software DVD players (in addition to Windows Media Player and many other "players") play .AVI files, while standalone DVD players cannot.

"Also if i were so inclined to make a VCD can a guy split a AVI file into two files so they will fit on two CD's (after they were converted to MPG-1 of course)."

Yes - and so can a gal (converted to MPEG1-VideoCD format, NOT plain MPEG1)...

[Vaughn]

Hmmm, ok then may i ask what utility is recomended for splitting avi's in half?
Also hypothetically if you burnt a AVI file to CD then played it in your CD Rom but the movie would play too slow so you moved the file from CD to your desktop so you eliminate the possibillity of a slow read speed on your Rom drive but the file still played too slow, would your hypothetical answer be?

[setarip]

"Hmmm, ok then may i ask what utility is recomended for splitting avi's in half?"

I use VirtualDub (Make certain to set both "Video" and "Audio" to "Direct Stream Copying").

As far as your hypotheticals are concerned, you might seek out "Batman" on these forums. He/She appears to have a similar penchant for hypothesizing...

[Vaughn]

Okay if a VCD is a Video CD than what is a SVCD that people are talking about?

[setarip]

"Super" Video CD. MPEG2 format instead of MPEG1. 480x480 resolution instead of 320x240 or 352x288. Larger files, requiring more Cd-Rs. More standalone players play VCD than play SVCD...