Avi 2 Vcd

[Artman]

I was very excited to recieve many AVI formated movies on CD from a friend (Downloaded). I excited the fact that i could convert these avi 2 VCD's. However after 1001 different attempts and a very thrashed hard drive and full bin i have not succeded in converting a single one. I read all this codex/divx da da da stuff n am baffled i must have loaded gigs worth off so called Divex/codec softwares please please someone tell me what i do wrong i read many other threads here with similar probs but not specific to mine. I can play/view hear the originals perfect...help me make me happy please. Many many thanx in advance

[setarip]

Although other posters may/will offer other methods, this is what I do to create a VCD:

1) Load .AVI file into TMPGEnc
2) Set to "System Video and Audio" (lower right side)
3) Click on "Setting" radio button
4) Click on "System" tab, change mode to "MPEG1-VideoCD" (from default of "MPEG1")
5) Click on "Advanced" tab, change "Video arrange method" to "Center (Custom Size"), change dimensions to 352x288 or 352x240
6) Change "Source aspect ratio" to either "4:3 525 line (NTSC 704x480)", "4:3 525 line (NTSC)", or "16:9 525 line (NTSC)" - If you're in the PAL world choose either of the two similar PAL settings instead
7) Under the "Video" tab, change the dimensions to 352x288 or 352x240 (Note: "Video" tab mode of "MPEG1" is okay) - for highest quality set "Motion Search Precision" to "Highest Quality". Change the "Aspect Ratio" to match, as closely as possible, the "Source Aspect Ratio" you set under the "Advanced" tab.
8) Change "Rate Control Mode" to "Automatic VBR (CQ_VBR)
9) Under the "Audio" tab, set to 44,100 224Kbps
10) Press "Start"


Note that if your video runs longer than 60 minutes, you'll have to subsequently split your VCD-MPG file in two. This too can be easily and precisely accomplished using TMPGEnc. Under the "Files" dropdown menu, click on "MPEG Tools" and select the "Merge & Cut" tab. Once again, make sure to change the mode to "MPEG1-Video CD". Load your file and enter a new (.MPG) name in the "Output file" box. Then doubleclick on the ORIGINAL file's name in the window, which will bring you to the cutting area. Select your desired start and end points for the first half, click on "Okay" which will bring you back to the first window and generate (in a sequence of three automated steps) the first new file. To create the second new file, repeat the steps starting with "Then doubleclick on the ORIGINAL..." (be extra patient with the second half, as the program has to do more seeking to establish the beginning of the new file)

Let us know of your success ;>}

[Artman]

Thankyou am going to give it a go now

[Artman]

Thanx again its now underway 5 hours to go tap tap tap....

next question i have to ask is about all the different codec divx is there any way to identify if the conversion going to function correctly or am i doing it the only way ie convert wait 5-10hrs then test?

In the same way as you've kindly instructed me on the above what about out off sync audio ie a couple of the avi's i have have out off sync audio is there a simple way to correct in the same bullet point method you gave me for tempenc?

[setarip]

"what about out off sync audio"

If the variance is CONSISTENT for the entire video (e.g. audio lags behind video by 1 second at all points - or vice-versa), do the following:

1) Load the .AVI into VirtualDub

2) Set BOTH "Video" and "Audio" to "Direct Stream Processing"

3) From under the "Audio" dropdown menu, select "Interleaving"

4) Enter an appropriate number (positive or negative) in the box at the bottom labelled "Audio skew correction" (This may take some experimentation to get "just right")

5) From the "File" dropdown menu, slect "Save as .AVI" and save with a new filename




"is there any way to identify if the conversion going to function correctly or am i doing it the only way ie convert wait 5-10hrs then test?"

First of all, TMPGEnc will usually generate an error message if it's "having a problem" with your .AVI. Since you're already 5 hours into the process, you already know that TMPGEnc is not having any problem that is codec-specific (It could, of course, come across problem frames at ANY time during the conversion)

Second, you can always abort the conversion AT ANY TIME you choose ans run the resultant short MPEG video (e.g. Let TMPGEnc convert for 5 minutes, click on "Abort" BUT DO NOT CLOSE TMPGEnc, just minimize it), run the MPEG file. If it appears to be okay, maximize TMPGEnc and start the process again "yes" to "Do you want to overwrite..."

[Artman]

wow you certainly know your stuff i will let you know how i get on with my first VCD only 4 1/2 hours to go. I cant thank you enough for your time in helping me...

[Artman]

Fantastic i just stopped it and tested i have twenty five minutes off near perfect conversion.

Seems picture slightly unfocussed now any ideas

God i feel really guilty asking all these questions..



I appreciate the help you given me setarip where can i learn more many suggested sites but as an amature (soon not b i hope) have developed the bug and would in the way you instruct like to learn and understand more. So can assist others and develop my own skills.

[setarip]

"Seems picture slightly unfocussed now any ideas"

Not to worry. Your PC's monitor plays back at a much higher resolution than does the television on which you'll be viewing the VCD...

[Artman]

I have now just got up up my encoding is still going its 54% through and 2gb in size original avi was 700mb approx seems little large only expected it to double in size. Hopefully time i return from work today it will have completed.

[Artman]

It failed again file was nearly 4gb in size from original 700mb and no audio. Trying to create another one again just in case setting were incorrect.

[setarip]

"It failed again file was nearly 4gb in size from original 700mb and no audio"

You're not clear as to which process (VirtualDub or TMPGEnc) this has happened under. I'm guessing that it's when you were using VirtualDub - in which case you probably did not set "Video" to "Direct Stream Processing"...

[Artman]

No definatly tempgenc i had a setting wrong (my error) and now running again with a different film and your instructions from last evening looks much healtier ie 55% 500mb in size (mpg format) so fingers crossed will let you know a little later.....

[Artman]

I wish i would do things properly Setarip if your picking this up i forgot to split my original avi file and now have one 800mb mpg(smiling to my self for stupidity) it play perfectly sound audio and would like to know can i split and mpg without converting it again.

Sorry to be so dumb grovelling again i am.............

[Artman]

Sorry just went back to your instructions and in section 2 you have explained.....duh here i go again....the whole forum can have another laugh at my expense...

[Artman]

YAHOOOOO.........my first VCD complete and working.

Thankyou

One last question in using Nero to complete the VCD it came back and suggested the mpeg file was non VCD standard and did i want to disable compliance and continue which i did it then proceeded and wrote the cd's i did play them on my DVD player ok... any ideas