VCD and SVCD questions

[Sigmar]

I am having a problem burning some files to SVCD format.

The files are approx 350 megs each in XVid format. I am using Nero Ultra 6 with the latest major update.

The file burns and plays fine in VCD mode. The quality is lower then I would like (similar to VHS which I guess is to be expected) so I would like to try to burn it in SVCD format.

When I drag the file to be burned in SVCD mode, Nero estimates that the file will take 650 megs of space . Nero then encodes the file and when it is done it tells me the file is now 802 megs which will not fit on my 700 meg CD's.

Why is the estimate so off and what can I do to make the file fit??? Any suggestions would greatly be appreciated.

I must say I am above average tech savy but a newb when it comes to working with video files ( to be honest the first time I stumbled on this site I was pretty overwhelmed. I never realized how involved and varied video could be.)

[jggimi]

Hello, and welcome to the forum.

Nero's encoding/authoring tools that are built into their burning packages (Burning Rom & Express) offer significant ease-of-use and convenience, but they also have less flexibility than applications designed for encoding and authoring. In this instance, you have content that spans 2 CDs, but no ability to author multiple discs with the tool.

You have several choices. For example, Doom9 has an AVI -> VCD/SVCD guide that uses the DVD2SVCD encoding suite set to AVI->SVCD mode (and called AVI2SVCD when used that way). You might want to take a look: http://www.doom9.org/conversionguides.htm. Another option is to use a commercial video editing/encoding/authoring tool; there are many, one you might want to try is Ulead's VideoStudio; they offer 30-day trials of all of their software: www.ulead.com.

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Edit: You actually have another choice -- split the source .avi into two files using a tool like VirtualDub and encode/author them separately with Nero. See http://www.doom9.org/virtualdub_procedures.htm.