video file too large to burn on single DVD

Question

video file too large to burn on single DVD

I have a FCE movie running approx. 83 mintues in length. When I go to burn it on iDVD or disk utility, it comes up as too large for a single layer dvd (actually reading 4.44 GB). I thought anything under 2 hours would fit. I have my iDVD preferences set to Best Quality.

Can someone explain why it is coming out so large and how I can best fit the project onto a single layer DVD without compromising quality, etc?

Thanks.

Power Mac G5 Dual 2.3, Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Posted on Apr 28, 2006 11:57 AM

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Answer 1

PieroF

Level 5

4,283 points

Apr 28, 2006 12:49 PM in response to Barry Thorson

This a topic for the iDVD forum.
However, you can fit up to almost 2 hours movies into a single layer DVD with iDVD5. The actual size depends also on the menus: if you have lot of animations, audio files, etc. they also need enough room on DVD.

If you export your 83 min movie from FCE to QuickTime Movie, you should end up with roughly 18 GB movie in DV format on your disk. iDVD will then MPEG2 compress it and easily fit it into a single layer DVD.

I don't think you can use Disk Utility, though, to create a new video DVD, since it doesn't compress into MPEG2; but you can use it to copy a video DVD after burning it with iDVD.

Piero

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Answer 2

Apr 28, 2006 1:02 PM in response to PieroF

Thanks Piero.

I've done all that you suggest, but still iDVD says project is too large for single layer dvd. I made a disc image of the project, and it comes out at 4.44 GB, which is what I tried with disc utility.

I'll repost my question to the idvd forum, but in the meantime, if there is something I'm missing, please let me know.

B

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Answer 3

PieroF

Level 5

4,283 points

Apr 28, 2006 1:54 PM in response to Barry Thorson

Barry,

have you tried to Export/QuickTime Movie (from FCE) making the movie selfcontained ? that will take a while... but you have a Power Mac G5 Dual 2.3.
If you did so, what is the size of the resulting movie ?

What iDVD you use ? iDVD5 ?
If so, check in the status tab of the ad hoc menu: you should see how much room is used by your menus.

Piero

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Answer 4

Apr 28, 2006 2:03 PM in response to PieroF

Yes, I've exported the movie as both self contained and not. In the selfcontained mode, it comes out around 18 GB or so.

I'm using iDVD 5.0.3 with the old menu that takes up the least amount of space. One photo, no music, no moving pictures.

I've been doing dozens and dozens of 5, 10 minute movies with no problem. I even burned an 80 minute movie a few days ago with no trouble. I'm thinking it might have something to do with the limited space on my primary harddrive. I've transferred the project to the secondary drive (with ample room on it) to see if that makes a difference. However, the entire project must encode again, which is eating up precious time.

Any thoughts?

Barry

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Answer 5

MartinR

Level 7

24,378 points

Apr 28, 2006 2:26 PM in response to Barry Thorson

With iDVD, 2 hours will fit when your pref is set to Best Performance.

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Answer 6

MartinR

Level 7

24,378 points

Apr 28, 2006 2:44 PM in response to MartinR

oops ... forget that, I typed the wrong thing. Best Performance limits you to 1 hr. Best Quality works up to 2 hours (on a single side DVD)

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Answer 7

PieroF

Level 5

4,283 points

Apr 28, 2006 2:43 PM in response to MartinR

Sorry to disagree Martin, but according to the iDVD5 help (and my direct experience) Best Quality allows to use up to 2 hours. Best Performence is limited to 60 minutes, and permits optional background encoding.

Barry, couple more questions: how did you create an image of the DVD if the message said "iDVD says project is too large for single layer dvd" ? did you choose 8.0 GB in the Project Information dialog ? could you burn the resulting image with disk utility, or you got some error message also from disk utility ?

But probably it is just a disk space problem as you mention in your last post...

Good luck

Piero

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Answer 8

PieroF

Level 5

4,283 points

Apr 28, 2006 2:46 PM in response to MartinR

(well, we got to the same conclusion, perfectly synchronized !)
Piero

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Answer 9

Apr 28, 2006 4:01 PM in response to PieroF

Piero:

It looks like it was a hard disc space issue. Who'd have thought? A warning to anyone else dealing with large files: keep ample space on your hard disc when burning dvds.

Thanks for your time.

Barry

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