I don’t use
WinAVI, but that problem suggests you either picked quality settings way too high for your output AVI, or you didn’t choose a proper codec (one with higher compression than MPEG-2 - that’s what DVD uses for compression). You have two choices:
1. During the
WinAVI conversion process to AVI, find some advanced settings somewhere and pick another codec (I suggest
DivX 6 or
Xvid- both MPEG-4 family codecs) or tweak the advanced settings for the codec.
2. Work with the large AVI file you originally got and convert it using a different codec.
WinAVI may be able to do that. If not, you can obtain the freeware
nandub. If you use NanDub, be sure to click Video, Compression to pick a codec, otherwise the default is UNcompressed which is humongous.