I have been trying to put a series of Lost onto dvd for my mum and for some reason I can only fit 2 episodes (each around 350Mb) on a 4.7Gb dvd. Now basic mathematics suggests that I should be able to fit around 10-12 episodes but no matter what I do there is no change to the file size.

I am using Nero Start Smart and I am not sure about the make of my burner.

I need to know if I am being really dumb about something here or if there is any way to fit more episodes onto the dvds.

Thanks to all who help and I hope that the answer to this offers relief to everyone else that has the same problem.

Welcome to the forum.

If I'm not wrong, you want to burn some avi files on a DVD.

Your problem is that you use nero start smart. In this way nero try to convert avi in mpeg, because mpeg is the standard format for standalone players, and mpeg files are larger than avis.

Try to select Data DVD to avoid such conversions.

How's your mom gonna watch, on a computer or a standalond dvd player?
Just a few newer standalones play divx.

This is to be played in a normal dvd player and it is about 18 months old. I don't think that it will play divx.

And also, when I hover above the file, it shows as being an mpeg.

Will it play in a dvd player if it is made into data dvd?

probably not, how are you capturing the videos? if you capture at a lower quality, you can probably fit more episodes on 1 disc....

I can't remember the exact math, but if your capturing in VHS quality, you should be able to cram 4 or so episodes on 1 4.7 dvd disc....

If the files are mpg, which I doubt, then authoring programs like DvdLab will enable you to add your 10-12 episodes on to a DVD.

However, these are more likely avi files as 350mb is very typical of what's been available for download from the internet.

You could convert these to SVCD format which comes out at about 740mb & then fit 5 or 6 per DVD, again with a good authoring program. Quality will still be very good.

Yeah this is probably your problem. Nero is converting those files to mpeg. I assume your mom is going to use a standalone player. If you want to fit that many episodes onto a dvd, then your best bet is to convert to vcd.

Why the vcd train? I'm a big vcd fan, but she's talking full episodes of a show........who here can sho or tell honest they've fit 10 12 episodes of a 30 minute show on a single vcd, playable set top resolution an a 70 min cd?

Back in the pre-dvd burner days, I just used video out and captured on vhs tape.
Primitive but effective.

or convert to mpeg2 titles then shrink to fit 4 50min episode on dvd?