File too Big. Partial rendering?

[Mike Kujbida]

How long is the project?
What format did you render to?

[Jean-pierre Zephir]

The project takes up 5.2 gigs of space and of course the DVD only 4.7 gigs of space.The project is about an hour and 40mins. I rendered it to DVD NTSC format.

[Mike Kujbida]

My guess is that you used the default template which is why it went over the limit.
Unfortunately Sony doesn’t tell you how long of a project you can have before it’s too long with that template.
For that very reason, I always use a bitrate calculator for anything over 70 min. long.
If it’s less than this time, I use a CBR of 8,000,000.
Anything longer and I use the one at https://www.johncline.com/bitcalc110.zip.
It’s my personal favourite and has never let me down.

You have a few choices now.
#1 is to render the project again using the bitrate you get from this calculator.
#2 is to split it up and make 2 DVDs.
To do this, place a marker (use the M key for this) at an appropriate break point).
Highlight the first portion and render making sure that the “Render Loop Region Only” box is selected in the Render window.
Repeat for the second portion.
#3 is to use DVDShrink/ to automatically shrink it for you.
I’ve used this program a number of times and it works like a charm 🙂

[Ralph Hajik]

Hi Mike & Jean-Pierre Zephir,

And #4 is to buy a dual layer (DL)DVD.
Then you can burn your project using 1 DVD. It’s a little more expensive, but it will do the job. The only thing I don’t like about DL DVD’s is they’re not printable DVD’s. If anyone knows where I can find printable DL DVD’s, please let me know.

Happy Travels
Ralph Hajik
View my demo reel at
https://reels.creativecow.net/film/from-the-country-of-oman-to-opray

[Jean-pierre Zephir]

Thanks guys for all your advice. Very help full. I will look into all these options you have given me. I do have a question. How do I know if I have a dual layer Drive? Also, I don’t know if you use DVD architect. once I was over the 4.7 gig size it wouldn’t let me even prepare my DVD to burn. So how do I override that if I have a dual layer DVD?

[Mike Kujbida]

Ralph, thanks for the suggestion on dual-layer DVDs.
I don’t use them so I completely forgot about that option.

“How do I know if I have a dual layer Drive?”

The manual for the burner or an online search should tell you whether it is or not.

“So how do I override that if I have a dual layer DVD?”

In DVDA 5.0:
File – Properties – Target Media Size.
Click in this box and change it from 4.70 to 8.50

Look up “Burning Your DVD Project” in the online help menu in DVDA for information on creating a layer break point.

[Jean-pierre Zephir]

Thanks again. You guys have really helped me out.