How do I convert avi to mpeg 1 with a maximum file size?

cornellg · 06-11-2007, 08:42 AM

Hi there!

I wanted to upload some videoclips to a smugmug gallery. They have to be mpeg1 files with a maximum size of 8 MB.
I managed to convert the avi files my camera shoots to mpeg using tovid, but then noticed that those are probably mpeg2, which won't do.

What programme or programmes will let me convert avi to mpeg 1 allowing me to set a maximum size? Ease of use and a gui would be nice, if possible.

Any help is much appreciated.
Cornell

PS Platform is Ubuntu Dapper Drake

chuckbuhler · 06-11-2007, 09:35 AM

I don't know about the maximum file size, but you could use ffmpeg to do the conversion. Try -

ffmpeg -i myfile.avi newfile.mpg

or something similar.

cornellg · 06-12-2007, 08:05 AM

Tanks Chuck, it worked! The compression rate is so high that most of the clips are below the maximum of 8MB.

Still, I would like to be able to set the size manually as the quality is now often suffering needlessly. I checked ffmpeg's man page, but didn't see anything that would let me set a file size. Or do I need to calculate a bit rate that would result in a file close to 8MB? That seems tedious, there must be some programme that does this automatically. Anyone?

UhhMaybe · 09-09-2007, 07:07 PM

Try here for many thoughts and many questions about image saving. http://books.google.com/books?id=OZV...#PRA1-PA109,M1

cornellg · 09-10-2007, 04:19 AM

Thanks, I'll give it a read!