a dummy asks: how to set file size?

JimmyTheSaint · 1st April 2011, 07:21

I'm one of those occasional users who doesn't fully understand Gordian Knot, but by tweaking a few of the defaults I've always been able to get a result that's usable for me. One problem I can't figure out is how to limit the file size of the final product. For example, I have 5 vob files totalling to about 4.3GB. Under the "Bitrate" tab, I set Average Bitrate higher and lower (it's now 3000), and the amount in the Total File Size box changes accordingly. For my current project, however, no matter how I set Average Bitrate, the final avi file is 6.6GB. Is this a desired result? I mean, if the original is 4.3GB, then a 6.6GB avi must be wasting a lot of space, right?

In the past, if I recall correctly, tweaking Average Bitrate was the way I controlled the file size, but I must be misunderstanding something that I've been unable to find using site search. On the Resolution tab, it says width=736, height=544. Any suggestions that a dummy can understand?

CWR03 · 1st April 2011, 19:39

You may just have the wrong (or too new) codec installed. Gordian Knot will only work properly with VfW builds, and the latest x264 or Xvid will often cause over- or undersized output.

JimmyTheSaint · 2nd April 2011, 02:54

Thanks for the hint. After researching around (starting with the string "VfW"), I see half the links google found lead back to doom9's web site. It's still too complicated for me, but I'm going to try RipBot to make an mkv/x264 version.

My only need is that sometimes I can only get DVD versions of stuff, so a few times a year I need to be able to convert VOB's.

netmask · 2nd April 2011, 21:51

Why not use AutoGK instead of the full Gordian Knot. You can preset the file size in AutoGK

1st April 2011, 07:21	#1 \| Link
JimmyTheSaint Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 9	a dummy asks: how to set file size? I'm one of those occasional users who doesn't fully understand Gordian Knot, but by tweaking a few of the defaults I've always been able to get a result that's usable for me. One problem I can't figure out is how to limit the file size of the final product. For example, I have 5 vob files totalling to about 4.3GB. Under the "Bitrate" tab, I set Average Bitrate higher and lower (it's now 3000), and the amount in the Total File Size box changes accordingly. For my current project, however, no matter how I set Average Bitrate, the final avi file is 6.6GB. Is this a desired result? I mean, if the original is 4.3GB, then a 6.6GB avi must be wasting a lot of space, right? In the past, if I recall correctly, tweaking Average Bitrate was the way I controlled the file size, but I must be misunderstanding something that I've been unable to find using site search. On the Resolution tab, it says width=736, height=544. Any suggestions that a dummy can understand?

2nd April 2011, 21:51	#4 \| Link
netmask Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 260	Why not use AutoGK instead of the full Gordian Knot. You can preset the file size in AutoGK __________________ SONY 75" Full array 200Hz LED TV Yamaha A1070 amp Zidoo UHD3000, Popcorn Hour A-500 BeyonWiz PVR T3 & V2 (Enigma2 clone) Chromecast Pioneer Bluray BDP-150-K Windows 7 Ultimate QNAP NAS TS851

1st April 2011, 19:39	#2 \| Link
CWR03 Custom User Title Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 3,733	You may just have the wrong (or too new) codec installed. Gordian Knot will only work properly with VfW builds, and the latest x264 or Xvid will often cause over- or undersized output.

2nd April 2011, 02:54	#3 \| Link
JimmyTheSaint Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 9	Thanks for the hint. After researching around (starting with the string "VfW"), I see half the links google found lead back to doom9's web site. It's still too complicated for me, but I'm going to try RipBot to make an mkv/x264 version. My only need is that sometimes I can only get DVD versions of stuff, so a few times a year I need to be able to convert VOB's.