Originally posted by attar:

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It's not the size of the source that determines the size of the output.
It's the running time X the bitrate.
Different programs offer different levels of control to the user as to output size - two hours, six hours etc without regard to quality.
Two hours of running time on a standard disk isn't unreasonable.

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Originally posted by attar:

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It usually works out to the eye of the beholder.
Some people swear through a six inch plank that HcEnc provides a better output than QuEnc, but a Philistine like myself can't see it.
Taking nothing away from Afterdawn, for expert opinion on the difference between these programs I would try the Videohelp site.
Another is the Doom9 Forum - but they often expect you to know the answer before asking the question;forbye they discourage questions that they suspect involve downloaded material.

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