Nero adds to file size

[Flying Z]

I have just upgraded to the latest Nero Burning Rom suite, (had this problem before though) and I record VHS tapes I own to backup in MPEG 2 format and have set the recording options to be the same (aprox) as nero uses when it transcodes, 720x480 48khz audio, 3 mbits/sec. My question is, how come my video file is say 2.25 gb but Nero makes it about 3.5 gb? I use the setting Extended play which is supposed to give 240 minutes of play but i only can get about 150. It does transcode really fast, 15-25 minutes to do a 2+hr movie. Any suggestions? Thanks

[tigerman8u]

3000kbps is low IMO for full D1 resolution. Open the nero encoded file in Gspot or Avicodec and see what the nero encoded file's video bitrate is. You will probably see nero is encoding it with a higher bitrate thus giving you a bigger file size.

[Flying Z]

Hi tigerman8u, thanks for the reply. I kind of thought the same thing, but i tried recording in 1/2 D1 and transcoding to 1/2 D1 and only save a few hundred mb's, with the file again growing quite a bit. Thats why i thought maybe something else was going on. I'll check with one of those programs and get back with you.

[Flying Z]

Ok, I downloaded Avicodec and looked at my file created by my recording software (ATI All in wonder composite in) and it is 2752 Kbps full D1. I exported the video using Nero Vision? 3 set to extended play 2537 Kbps but when i analyzed the resulting file, Avicodec reports it is at 8286 Kbps. I am at a loss as to why it is set to one setting but still exports at another. If I burn by original files which are Mpeg2, 720x480, D1 2752 Kbps to a dvd-R disc will they play on a stand alone player like the ones i create with Nero, or do you have to use DVD authoring software with menus and all ? Thanks again, Randy

[tigerman8u]

if your dvd player plays mpeg 1/2 without authoring yes. you might want to pick-up a dvd -/+ rw for experimenting.

[Flying Z]

No, it doesn't. Thanks for trying though. It is probably that my version of nero is not the full version because the help files say i should be able adjust the P and B frames to like 12 and 3 but i can only adjust to 4 and 2. So i'll just live with it. The DVD-R disks we bought were only 35 cents apiece anyway. Thanks, Randy

[tigerman8u]

"Thanks, Randy"

you're welcome