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ffmpeg - file size

  • 12-01-2011 02:17PM
    #1
    Jagera
    Closed Accounts Posts: 910 ✭✭✭


    My camera takes HD video and creates MOV files, which I generally convert to mpeg using ffmpeg.

    One thing I have been stuck on is the output file size. The MOV files are huge, ~900Mb for 6 minutes. I would like to reduce that for creating "home movie" DVD's.

    Also, I converted a load of MiniDV tapes to MPEG recently (using dvgrab), and they came out at a whopping 13Gb per 60 min disk. I'd like to reduce them but I am not sure really how much quality I will lose. Downloaded movies are 700-1400 Mb and are fine.

    I tried the -fs option, however rather than restricting the file size of the entire conversion, it simply stops when the file reaches that amount.

    I know little about digital video and encoding/sizing/containers, however this post has probably already highlights that...


Comments

  • #2
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 36,040 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    I think raw DV video is 2GB for 15 minutes, possibly more for HD capture. You'll need to compress this using some codec or other. What is the end result supposed to be - compressed AVI (divx etc.) files for viewing on a PC or MPEG/VOB burned to DVD? You might find it less taxing to use authoring software like Bombono or DVD Styler for the conversion that fiddling about with command line parameters for ffmpeg.


  • #3
    Johnboy1951
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,081 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    One thing I have been stuck on is the output file size. The MOV files are huge, ~900Mb for 6 minutes. I would like to reduce that for creating "home movie" DVD's.

    Yes HD is very 'heavy' ...... the requirements for DVD are those for standard TV ... PAL or NTSC or whatever ... much smaller size files.

    Simplest is to use an app that produces suitably converted files for DVD from your originals.

    WinFF, Sinthgunt, Avidemux or similar should do as you require without you needing to delve into all the details before getting any results. Just select the preset that suits your purpose, such as
    DVD PAL HQ WS

    regards.

    regards.


  • #4
    Jagera
    Closed Accounts Posts: 910 ✭✭✭Jagera


    Some further on this:

    I have a media player hooked up to the TV, it plays all of the divx/xvid AVI and MPEG files I have.

    I have yet to do a conversion, from either MKV / MOV / RMVB which successfully plays on this machine. The converted AVI file will play in VLC no problems.

    So far I have tried numerous -TARGET options, but I am not having any success... I am at a loss on the ffmpeg doco as to how to set the codec.

    I can paste a few examples of what I am doing if required. But essentially I am totally guessing which -VCODEC to use, and I think thats the problem..


  • #5
    Johnboy1951
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,081 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    Have you tried any of the apps suggested?


  • #6
    Jagera
    Closed Accounts Posts: 910 ✭✭✭Jagera


    I tried WinFF and another one I can't remember the name.

    My preference is to stick with ffmpeg, because I have several hundred videos to convert from various digital cameras, in various formats. I prefer the control of using the terminal in this case.

    The learning curve is steeper. But I will be doing this often, with home movies, and some other downloaded stuff, its better to get to know ffmpeg better.


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  • #7
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 36,040 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    You can run avidemux from the command line. I was able to get it to make a readable video file for my portable player in one go whereas I failed repeatedly with ffmpeg. Annoying as hell.


  • #8
    Johnboy1951
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,081 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    bw wrote: »
    I tried WinFF and another one I can't remember the name.

    My preference is to stick with ffmpeg, because I have several hundred videos to convert from various digital cameras, in various formats. I prefer the control of using the terminal in this case.

    The learning curve is steeper. But I will be doing this often, with home movies, and some other downloaded stuff, its better to get to know ffmpeg better.

    WinFF and Sinthgunt both use ffmpeg ....... and if either did the conversion correctly then you can just copy the command used.

    In addition you can edit an existing preset or create your own and have it available through the GUI.
    Multiple files can be added to Winff for processing.


  • #9
    Khannie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 37,485 ✭✭✭✭Khannie


    +1 for avidemux. Choose x264 as the video codec and mp3 / lame as the audio codec. I'd suggest a CRF of 20 for the video and a bitrate of 140 -> 160 ish for the audio if it's home video. Should get you a reasonable file size with good quality.


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