Toast Is Enlarging My Files...?

[JoEsther]

So I've been doing the same thing with a number of files I have: I convert them to mp4s with Squint, I put three or four of them on the "create DVD" menu and I burn them, and they've been doing fine. For the record, they're all about 350-400MBs and when I'm done with importing them, there's always a bit left at the bottom strip (usually anywhere between 400-700MBs).

 

But now I have some files that should be identical in format to those ones that worked, but something's weird. I do the same thing I've always done - import, change title, etc, and it says at the bottom (on the strip) the same things it always has. But. Now, after it does all its encoding and stuff, I get a message that the DVD I have in there (regular DVD-R format) is too small and that it needs 11+GB space. WHAT?? These are four files, each of them no more than 400MBs (maybe up to 450, but that's the max), and it needs 11GB? What gives? I tired an experiment and I took one file out, tried to burn it with three files, and it still asked for 8GBs. So something's weird in that I think it's enlarging my files. Or... something... in the encoding process.

 

I haven't changed any of the settings that I used when it did work, and the only difference I can think of is the need to transfer these files from PAL format to NTSC, although I've done a few like that, too, and it worked just fine as well. So. Help???

[tsantee]

A video DVD uses MPEG 2 format which is larger than MPEG 4. What matters in determining what will fit your video DVD isn't the file size of the source file (unless it is MPEG 2), but its length in time. Toast can fit up to about 3-1/2 hours of video to a single-layer DVD at the Automatic setting. Therefore, don't put more than about 3 hours of video in the Toast window.

 

I recommend choosing Save as Disc Image rather than clicking the burn button. When that is done you can burn the disc image to DVD using the Image File setting in the Copy window. If the disc image is too large for the single-layer disc you can choose to use Toast's Fit-to-DVD compression to get it to fit.

 

An alternative for you is to create a DivX DVD. DivX is an MPEG4 format so you can get a lot more video on a disc. The problem is that many DVD players do not have DivX playback capability. If yours can play DivX then I suggest giving that a go. However, you may want to skip using Squint since Toast can encode the DivX files directly.

 

If you don't care if these videos can play with a DVD player then just burn your MPEG 4s to DVD in the Data window.

[JoEsther]

Wow, OK, this looks a lot more complicated than my capabilities warrant. I should state that along with being supernew to Toast in general, I'm pretty new to Mac as well, and am not a techie at all. Not by any stretch of the imagination. I tend to need step by step instructions in matters like this.

 

I've only been putting the time limit that I can, for the most part. Three files are going to be about three hours, I know this, and yet it's still too big. I tried with three files just a bit ago and I got the same message, only this time it said it needed 8GBs, not 11 (like before with four files).

 

Is there a way to change the audio of a file from one version of MPEG to the other?

 

Can you give me more details on this?

 

I recommend choosing Save as Disc Image rather than clicking the burn button. When that is done you can burn the disc image to DVD using the Image File setting in the Copy window. If the disc image is too large for the single-layer disc you can choose to use Toast's Fit-to-DVD compression to get it to fit.

 

I don't know if my DVD player will play DivX. How can I check? It's pretty old, if that has anything to do with it (3 or so years).

 

Thanks for your help! Much appreciated.

[tsantee]

I don't know why Toast is claiming that three hours of video will require 8 GB. So let me walk you through the steps. By the way, what kind of video was it before you used Squint. I'm not familiar with Squint and I suspect there is no reason to put it in the middle of the process.

 

Here are the basic steps:

1. In the Video window choose DVD video as the format.

2. Add your MPEG video files to the Video window.

3. Prepare the menu the way you want including selecting the thumbnail image for the menu button. You do that by clicking on the thumbnail and dragging the scroll bar that appears underneath.

4. Make sure Automatic as selected for encoding and choose "Better" quality.

4. Click the Save as Disc Image button and select where you want to save the image file.

 

When Toast finishes making the disc image (the file ends with .toast) check its size. It should be less than 4.32 GB. If it is a little bigger than that it isn't a problem.

 

Go to the Toast Copy window and choose Image File as the setting. Select in that window the .toast image file you just created. Insert your blank disc and click the burn button. If the disc image is too large then Toast can use its Fit-to-DVD feature to do additional compression before burning the DVD.

 

You asked about audio formats. I don't know what audio format was created by Squint, but it should be one that Toast will encode as 192 kbps AC-3. Toast allows selecting a lower bit rate setting in its custom encoder window but that shouldn't be needed.

 

It is unlikely your DVD player supports DivX. The DivX logo would appear on the front of the player if it is supported, or at least it would be mentioned near the front of the manual. DivX has the advantage of fitting a lot on the disc but the playback controls and menu are not as user friendly.

 

If you still have the source video that you put into Squint, the best approach may be to use that original video in Toast. Let me know more about what you started with and I can walk you through it.

[JoEsther]

Thank you so much for all your help. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

 

I should say, first off, that I tried it with the original formatting of the files (which is .avi) and it wouldn't play on my DVD player for some reason (like I said, it's oldish), so I gave the mp4 option a shot (after running it through Squint as a converter) and it worked. So that's why I do it this way. And just so you know, I gave up on those particular files and started some new ones just a bit ago, and they ran smoothly and perfectly so I think it really is just those particular files that are reading as huge for whatever reason. It's good to know I didn't mess the settings or anything.

 

I'll read the rest of your comment and reply to it as needed right now.

 

Again, thanks!!