Problem with filesize on Xvid

[stianost]

I've recently purchased Stargate SG-1 Season 1. For those who dont know what that is, its a TV show. Season 1 consists of 21 episodes. What I'm trying to do is to encode all those 21 episodes so that I get 2 episodes on 1 CD.

Here is the problem: Every episode but ONE comes out perfectly with the filesize I want (half a CD per episode). This one episode becomes 5 mb bigger than the rest, with same settings. I've encoded it several time with same result. All the episodes are equally long, on the second. Problem is that I cant fit it and another episode on one CD!

I do not want to make any "shortcuts" by ie removing the credits on this one episode, I want all the episodes to be of same quality. Anyone got any suggestions? It's terrible annoying =P

I've included a screenshot of the avi's and their info.

[ormonde]

"All the episodes are equally long, on the second. Problem is that I cant fit it and another episode on one CD!"

Have you tried downloading a "Bitrate" calculator to figure the proper size for 1 CD?

"I've included a screenshot of the avi's and their info."

Your screen shot never got posted.......

[stianost]

I put the Xvix codec to use a targetsize in kb.

As for the screenshot, hmm, I'll try again =p

[UncasMS]

and decreasing the desired filesize by 5mb does not make a change?

[stianost]

I'm experimenting with that now, but what I'd really want to know is why this episode is so tricky! =P I want perfection!

[zx50]

Does these episodes have either quite a few dark scenes or very bright scenes (i.e like sky or black parts in scenes. If so then i would have lumi masking on. You proably already do, but just incase you have'nt enable b-frames.

[stianost]

This episode is happening on a landscape of ice, so its either very dark scenes or very bright ones. Anyway I've gotten the size how I want to be with a little try and failing with the targetsize. Still very annoying tho =p

[zx50]

Not that i'm critisizing or telling you how to encode. But me personally always have lumi masking on because i think it's a waste of bitrate having either black/dark or white parts in a scene taking up the bitrate, so i just get lumi masking to compress them bits more and then what it saves it uses on other parts (i.e faces and clothing).

P.S everyone has different tastes and likes to encode different. UncasMS hates pyscho for DivX (dunno what he thinks about lumi masking, but love it.

[UncasMS]

i dont like/use chroma in rc1

[zx50]

???????????? i was on about lumi masking. Do you not use the RC3.

[stianost]

I'm not sure what Lumi masking does =P So far I've only left all settings on default!

[zx50]

It's enitrely up to you, but me personally, i tinkered with the setting's to get the best picture. I never encode without lumi masking, because like i said it's a waste to let the codec put bitrate in the dark/white parts of the picture.