Large file size

[Tony Bertone]

Hello,
I don't think I'm at the right place but I am wondering if someone can help me just the same.
I digitized some analog and Hi8 camcorder videos saving the files to PC. The are in an avi format and are huge, like 25GB huge. Can someone tell me how I can compress this videos to a smaller size file?
I am new at this and don't understand many of the terms. I read on the web that reducing bitrate will make the file smaller. Please explain and show me how this is done. I have Premiere Pro.

Thank you so much.

[David Strelitz]

You need to encode to mp4. If they are SD encode at 5k KBS a one hour file will be about 4gb.

[Mitchell Dvoskin]

Yes, digitize or convert to .mp4 .

[Janice Glesser]

You can use Adobe Premier to reduce the file size...but I recommend using the free program called Handbrake

It doesn't require any knowledge of encoding settings. Try it just using the default .mp4 setting and see how it magically reduces the file size... yet maintains the quality.

[Ed Gordon]

I agree with Janice. Handbrake is the best tool for reducing video file size. See attached usage guide.

Handbrake 1080p Blu Ray Video Conversion.pdf

[Larry Arpin]

wetransfer.com offers to send and receive up to 200 GB for $12 per month.

https://wetransfer.com/pricing?trk=W...rade_fa_to_pro

Under 2 GB is free.

[Tony Bertone]

You need to encode to mp4. If they are SD encode at 5k KBS a one hour file will be about 4gb.

Thank you

[Nantawat Kittiwarakul]

How did you do the capture process in the first place?

If using Digital8 camcorder as the capture device, no wonder you'd get relative large file size as the result. AVI file - as a container format - can contain several types of video compression format.
In this case I assume that to be DV codec - the very same thing used in miniDV format. While relatively high quality and easy to work on during editing process, it isn't very efficiency in compression. The bit rate would be constant at around 25 mbps if my memory is correct.

I also capture from analog source (be it VHS or hi-8) as DV AVI as well. But after the editing/color correction/whatever process in-between I usually end up with with either plain old mpeg files for quick & dirty jobs, or still AVI files but with .h264 compression instead. The bit rate can be lowered to 4-6 mbps for mpeg files, or down to as low as 2-3 mbps for AVI with .h264 compression.

So yes - 10 fold file size reduction with roughly the same picture quality is very possible.

The good news is that HandBrake can output .mp4 files with .h264 compression as well. So if you do not need any heavy editing/color correction/whatever process, just "as-is" conversion, this freeware will fit nicely to your requirement.

[Mitchell Dvoskin]

I have been using Any Video Converter (Free Version) for years and have never had a problem. Does AVI to MP4 and many more.

https://www.any-video-converter.com/en6/for_video_free/

[David Strelitz]

I have been using Any Video Converter (Free Version) for years and have never had a problem. Does AVI to MP4 and many more.

https://www.any-video-converter.com/en6/for_video_free/

Not in the same league as Handbrake for quality mp4.

[David Strelitz]

How did you do the capture process in the first place?

If using Digital8 camcorder as the capture device, no wonder you'd get relative large file size as the result. AVI file - as a container format - can contain several types of video compression format.
In this case I assume that to be DV codec - the very same thing used in miniDV format. While relatively high quality and easy to work on during editing process, it isn't very efficiency in compression. The bit rate would be constant at around 25 mbps if my memory is correct.

I also capture from analog source (be it VHS or hi-8) as DV AVI as well. But after the editing/color correction/whatever process in-between I usually end up with with either plain old mpeg files for quick & dirty jobs, or still AVI files but with .h264 compression instead. The bit rate can be lowered to 4-6 mbps for mpeg files, or down to as low as 2-3 mbps for AVI with .h264 compression.

So yes - 10 fold file size reduction with roughly the same picture quality is very possible.

The good news is that HandBrake can output .mp4 files with .h264 compression as well. So if you do not need any heavy editing/color correction/whatever process, just "as-is" conversion, this freeware will fit nicely to your requirement.

The o/p is using analogue capture to AVI. This would give a file size of 13gb per hour. I give my clients SD mp4 at 6mbps which if they want to edit they can but I would agree that Handbrake 2pass will give great results lower rates.