point me to info on filesizes

[ShuMO]

I've got a very nice DIVx encoded file, thats 720 mb. it plays for 1:23 mins. I split it using AVIsplitter (virtualdub and tmpeng both cause an audio sync problem and I'm too lazy to strip the streams and reassemble - AVIsplitter worked fast, and had zero sync issues *shrugs* [... try another hammer dad always said])

Now, when I run TMPeng to gen the 2.0 VCD format MPeg1 file, using one of my pieces (1/2 the orig. or 323mb) the encoded result is now a whopping 1.2Gb. this just seems wrong to me. Have any of you guru's written or seen good docs on file size comparators? I'd love to see some basic info so I can set my expectations right.
Ideally I'd like to get a nice 2 CD set of this wedding instead of 4 as it looks now.

Shu

[setarip]

As a rule of thumb, MPEG1-VideoCD files should be in the neighborhood of only twice the size of DivX-compressed .AVIs. I would speculate that you have inappropriate dimensions entered under either (or both) the "Video" or "Advanced" tabs. The following is the tried and true methodology I've used to create literally hundreds of good (and "normal" filesize) VCDs:

To create a VCD:

1) Load .AVI file into TMPGEnc
2) Set to "System Video and Audio" (lower right side)
3) Click on "Setting" radio button
4) Click on "System" tab, change mode to "MPEG1-VideoCD" (from default of "MPEG1")
5) Click on "Advanced" tab, change "Video arrange method" to "Center (Custom Size"), change dimensions to 352x288 or 352x240
6) Change "Source aspect ratio" to either "4:3 525 line (NTSC 704x480)", "4:3 525 line (NTSC)", or "16:9 525 line (NTSC)" - If you're in the PAL world choose either of the two similar PAL settings instead
7) Under the "Video" tab, change the dimensions to 352x288 or 352x240 (Note: "Video" tab mode of "MPEG1" is okay) - set "Motion Search Precision" to "Normal Quality". Change the "Aspect Ratio" to match, as closely as possible, the "Source Aspect Ratio" you set under the "Advanced" tab. (Leave bitrate set to its default of 1,150Kbps)
8) Change "Rate Control Mode" to "Automatic VBR (CQ_VBR)
9) Under the "Audio" tab, set to 44,100 224Kbps
10) Press "Start"

Note that if your video runs longer than 60 minutes, you'll have to subsequently split your VCD-MPG file in two. This too can be easily and precisely accomplished using TMPGEnc. Under the "Files" dropdown menu, click on "MPEG Tools" and select the "Merge & Cut" tab. Once again, make sure to change the mode to "MPEG1-Video CD". Load your file and enter a new (.MPG) name in the "Output file" box. Then doubleclick on the ORIGINAL file's name in the window, which will bring you to the cutting area. Select your desired start and end points for the first half, click on "Okay" which will bring you back to the first window and generate (in a sequence of three automated steps) the first new file. To create the second new file, repeat the steps starting with "Then doubleclick on the ORIGINAL..." (be extra patient with the second half, as the program has to do more seeking to establish the beginning of the new file).

Use a burning program, such as NERO to burn your CD-R or R/W CD as a VCD (DON'T ask NERO to format the file as a VCD, since you've already accomplished this!)