Why does a 700mb file take up most of a 4.7 gb dvd? more

[melaska]

This is so frustrating! I can't even fit a 350 mb file on a 4.7 gb dvd so it's getting expensive! What can I do? Thanks!

[Lord of the Rings]

Most of the videos you come across have been reduced in size from 5-8 GB down to CD size so people can then burn them to CD as either VCD or SVCD. The resolution of the picture (the dimensions) of SVCD is larger than that of VCD. The colour is often a bit better also. A DVD has a much larger image resolution. With larger image resolutions come much larger sizes. So to convert a video to dvd can mean increasing its size.

The resolution of these formats can be seen here: http://www.aluminumstudios.com/digit...reference.html

A VCD can fit about 60 mins, an SVCD perhaps 45-50 mins. A DVD well it depends on the quality settings of both the video & audio, menus, etc.

If you need help with burning or converting see http://www.videohelp.com/ & also http://forum.dvd-guides.com/

A piece of advice, if you have the option, use DVD-RW's until you're happy & confident with what you do.

Some other hints: Movie download issues

[Kwazywabbit]

Any film that I want to watch on the tv. I burn onto a DVD-RW.
Mainly because:

A) I can use the disc again after watching the film.
B) If the films is rubbish, I've not wasted a disc.

If the film was any good I can then either copy it to a normal DVD (DVD-R) or if the film was REALY good, wait for it to be released and buy it.

Downloading films may be illegal, but I have saved a fortune on films I would have normaly been tempted to either, spend a small ransom to sit in a stuffy theater or go out and buy the DVD.

[Lord of the Rings]

Something I forgot to mention earlier is don't set your conversion to be 4.7 GB in size! Just as HDD's don't hold the practical size they say they do (5-10% less), a DVD-5 format 4.7 GB disk only actually holds 4.36-4.37 GB. And you may want to have it a little smaller than that in case you want menus.

I guess it depends on your set-top DVD player as to whether it can play DVD-RW's, whether you have a dvd-rw burner, & what brands of RW both your burner & set-top player are happy with. I also burn lots of videos to rw either to trial them out before burning to dvd-r or if I'm just temporarily backing up a movie to watch at a later time. So then i can erase it when I'm finished with it.