720p MKV to 720p XviD using 'Target File Size'.

Share with other users your experience in using MediaCoder.
Post Reply
Krangath
Amateur
Amateur
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 9:52 am
Location: Australia

720p MKV to 720p XviD using 'Target File Size'.

Post by Krangath » Thu Sep 25, 2008 5:25 pm

What I’m trying to do:
I want to convert 1.1GB & 4.4GB 720p x264 AC3 5.1 MKV movies to 1.1GB & 4.4GB 720p AC3 5.1 XviD movies. I wish to keep them the same size as they’re multiples of a blank DVD, ie 4.4GB. My reasoning for this is as most people would have noticed, x264 movies require quite a bit of processing power to decode smoothly. I have an xbox(1) that outputs to a projector natively at 720p. I have found, despite what most forums say, that the xbox(1) can play native 720p AC3 5.1 movies if they have been encoded as an Xvid, not DivX. My kids also have older PC’s that struggle with x264 movies, so the XviD format is perfect for them.

Overview:
I am of the view that we have moved on from bitrate calculators quite sometime ago. Most programs now have inbuilt bitrate calculators, whereby you stipulate the desired output size and the rest is taken care of by the program. I did some investigation on the forums and stumbled across the almost undocumented feature, ‘Files – Settings – Overall – Video Options – Target File Size (KB)’. This feature yielded good results except some minor calculations are needed. When setting this parameter for 1.1GB outputs, I found that I needed to minus 75MB off the value before I applied the setting. So 1.1GB = 1126MB = 1153433KB, now minus 75MB = 76800KB off of 1153433KB = 1076634KB. This now produces the output file size of 1.1GB every time. With 4.4GB outputs, I had to minus 301MB off the value. So 4.38GB = 4485MB = 4592762KB, minus 301MB = 308164KB off of 4592762KB = 4284598KB.

Method and Settings:

Image
Fig 1. Source file info


Image
Fig 2. Audio settings
  • Auto Select = ticked
  • Enable Audio = ticked
  • Copy Audio = ticked

Image
Fig 3. Video Settings
  • Mode = Two-Pass
  • Enable Video = ticked
  • Slider = 9000 Kbps (Playing it safe)
  • Format = XviD
  • Copy Video = clear
  • Container = AVI

Image
Fig 4. Picture Settings
  • Resize = clear
  • Crop = Disabled
  • Frame Rate = clear
  • Aspect Ratio = clear
Image
Fig 5. 'File - Settings - Overall - Video Options - Target File Size' for 1.1GB output


Image
Fig 6. 'File - Settings - Overall - Video Options - Target File Size' for 4.4GB output

Using the above settings with result in the following outputs:
1.1GB settings will output a 1.06GB 720p XviD AC3 5.1 movie.
4.4GB settings will output a 4.36GB 720p XviD AC3 5.1 movie.
Both outputs result, in my honest opinion, in the same quality video as the original, but can be viewed on much lower spec’ed systems, including the xBox mentioned above.

Happy converting and let me know of any corrections, suggestions, additions etc, that you would like added.

User avatar
SirAuron
Expert
Expert
Posts: 798
Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 1:39 am
Location: Germany

Post by SirAuron » Thu Sep 25, 2008 7:16 pm

Looks good! Thanks for the great guide!
MediaCoder settings:

x264 (backend/source: mencoder, fps: 23,976, Fabio Sonatti's settings) + nero aac 64 in matroska

Nightscream
Beginner
Beginner
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:56 pm

Post by Nightscream » Thu Feb 26, 2009 5:00 am

I'ts a great guide, however I seem to have the opposite "problem". I have to specify a bigger target file size so I can get the desired size. A good tool nevertheless.

claw
Beginner
Beginner
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Oct 10, 2009 10:22 am

Re: 720p MKV to 720p XviD using 'Target File Size'.

Post by claw » Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:43 am

Hello,

I have some questions regarding file size.

I am converting a .vob file using x264, copying ac3 audio stream, into a .mkv container.
So , not having any trouble achieving this amazing feat. :P however getting a desired file size is
proving very difficult.
I have tried the setting mentioned by the OP, and have experimented a little, but am having no luck.
So I'm thinking I might just convert my vob using x264 lossless, is someone able to offer some direction on how to
do this settings wise?
Sorry if this isn't making much sense, I'm on my first coffee....

Cheers
Claw

Post Reply