making a vcd

[Glanz]

I have never made a vcd before and i would like to make one. Can i take one of my divx files and put them on a cdr, and this will play in a dvd player. Will i lose Quality? what are the steps involved in this process. I have the program nero that will allow u to burn a vcd but im not really sure what i need to do in order to make it work. any hel p would be appreciated

[The Maynard]

You will need to goto the Articles section of this site and scroll down to Divx to VCD converstion. That will give you everything you will ever need to make VCDs and exactly how to do it. THere are alot of very well written articles there on how to do everything you ever wanted to do with video.

[setarip]

"I have the program nero that will allow u to burn a vcd but im not really sure what i need to do in order to make it work. any hel p would be appreciated"

The more recent versions of NERO 5.5xxx (I assume you have one of them) allow you to directly create a VCD from a DivX-compressed .AVI. All you really "need" is your video and NERO. BE advised though, that this "quick and simple" method of creating a VCD often yields less-than-perfect results (Upside down display, distorted images, etc.).

If this method proves to be unacceptable to you, try the following:

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) - set "Motion Search Precision" to "Normal 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"

(Or, instead of the steps 1)-10) above, you could attempt to use TMPGEnc's VCD "wizard"/template)

Note that if your video runs longer than 70-80 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).

Use a burning program, such as NERO to burn your CD-R or R/W CD as a VCD (DON'T ask NERO to format the file as a VCD, since you've already accomplished this!)

[Glanz]

great, thanks alot, u guys never fail

[setarip]

"great, thanks alot"

My (Our) pleasure ;>}

[I26]

I always set the Rate Control to "Constant Bitrate". Whats the difference between the mentioned and "Automatic VBR"? Thanx.