Nailing the final file size with CCE

[jankster]

I'm new at CCE but have used Rempeg alot. My only goal is to make movies that auto play. I strip out everything but the movie and 1 ac3 track. If the movie can't fit on 1 DVD-R, then I transcode it. If Rempeg fails, then I split it over 2 DVD-R's. This and speed issues is why I'm learning CCE. I have not seen any quality differences between Rempeg and CCE while playing them side by side on my computer monitor (both compressed to the same data rate, never lower that ~70% of org).

The good thing about Rempeg is it is VERY good at hitting your desired end file size. I like to fill the DVD-R to 4.30GB, that is 99% full. This gives you the highest possible data rate. Here is my procedure for CCE that for 4 tests has come within ~10MB of my desired file size.

1. Demux entire movie to one big m2v and ac3 files.
2. Open m2v with Rempeg. When it finishes scanning the file, write down the avgerage bitrate, let just say its 5250. Close Rempeg.
3. Determine what your final m2v file size needs to be, lets say 400MB for ac3, 100mb for VOB nav packs, and 3800MB for the m2v, for a total 4300MB. If your source m2v is 4500MB then 3800/4500=.844, so take your Remeg data rate (5250 * .844) and you get 4431. This will be used in CCE.
3. Create a DVD2AVI project for CCE. I used "multipass VBR" set to 1-pass. Q=25, min=0, max=9000, AVG=4431. All other settings set to the guide's values. Encode.

Finally, being I'm new at this, I would like your opinions about this procedure. Am I doing it wrong?? Is there a better way to met my goals stated above (that is just a stripped down, auto play movie, full disc).

Thanks ahead for your comments!!

[old-hack]

It looks like you are only interested in making one pass using CCE. However, if you use the minimum 2 pass process as explained in the "getting the most out of CCE" guide, you will see an advanced option to select during the second pass. In that advanced options window, you can set your min, max, and average bitrates and the "stream information" section will display the resulting size of your movie file. I do not go so far as to examine the movie in 10 sec intervals and adjust the bitrates based on the gray areas. Just set your values based on the guide and adjust the average bitrate until your desired movie size is displayed. Then you should be able to encode with those settings and have a movie file very close to the size projected.