703Mb to 700Mb avi file

[Stav]

I have a video file that is 3Mb too big to fit on a CD (ie 703Mb) Any idea how i can reduce this, maybe but cutting the end or beginning credits off? Or condense a tiny bit more. If i do this, will it take a long time though?

[StuDapples]

I think Microsoft have a free program you can download which compresses videos. I'm afraid I don't know the website address but doing a search on their site should produce a result.

[moonacre]

You could redusce its size by compressing to a lower resolution but this would reduce the quality. You could use an editor to snip a bit off. You could convert it to an alternative format which is more effecient than avi. Each of these things will require specialist software which can be expensive. Go to nonags.com and see if you can find a shareware or demo tool if you don't want to spend any money.

[smorodina]

Are you sure it's too big? Because of the way these things are measured I have found that most avi files up to about 720Mb or so will fit onto a CD. I think your burning program will tell you if it is too big to burn. If so try avisplit which you can find on www.vcdhelp.com together with loads of useful information and programs to manipulate video files. I shouldn't think 3Mb is more than half a minute anyway.

[lisaj]

assuming cutting the end of the file off won't ruin the film (ie. it has credits), the fastest way would be to truncate the file, and then reindex it using something like DivFix. However, you may well find that the file will fit on the CD anyway, and even if it doesn't, you can always buy a 90 minute CD

[d.beer]

If you use Nero to burn your CD's, you can "overburn" your CD, meaning you can write more information than is allowed. However I have not been able to get this function to work. But I do have a trail version of Diskjuggler, which "overburn" works. I have managed to burn a 830MB file onto a 700MB CD, and it works a treat! However the trial version only lets you burn at the CD burner's lowest speed.