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August 17, 2001  |  Paul Thurrott  |  Getting Connected
Can't Afford DVD+RW? VCD It!

Like many digital-media endeavors, today we record video to the PC with a look to the future. It's nice to put master copies of your home movies on your hard disk, but eventually, you'll want to copy these videos onto recordable DVDs so you can more permanently archive your memories and share events with friends and family. And although archiving to DVD is possible today, it's also expensive: PC-based DVD +RW drives begin at about a thousand dollars, and the least-expensive Macintosh that can record DVD runs about $2500 sans monitor.

So, in the meantime, I archive video on inexpensive, large hard disks while I wait for the price of recordable DVD to come down. I recently came across an interesting technology called Video Compact Disc (VCD) that's inexpensive and lets you record video onto normal CD-R discs and CD-RWs. You can play these VCD discs in most home DVD players just like a DVD movie. The caveat, of course, is quality--VCD offers sub-VHS quality at best, with frequent visual glitches that are reminiscent of what we see in compressed JPEG-based still images. But you can't beat the price, and VCD technology is available now.

VCD discs can hold 74 to 80 minutes of compressed MPEG-1 video per standard CD-R disc, and the technology also supports stereo sound. NTSC VCDs run at 352 x 240 pixels at less than 30 frames per second (FPS). MPEG-1 video is fairly low quality; for comparison purposes, NTSC DVD movies use MPEG-2 technology, which offers 720 x 480 resolution. The primary differences between MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 are the aforementioned resolution and the fact that MPEG-2 supports variable bit-rate (VBR) recording; MPEG-1 uses only fixed bit-rate recording. If you've recorded audio in MP3 format, you're probably familiar with VBR; it lowers file sizes by encoding at varying quality throughout a single recording.

In theory, making a VCD is simple. You acquire video as always, edit it as you desire, and convert it to MPEG-1 format. Then you write the video to a CD-R disc and play it in any standard DVD player. In practice, making a VCD is a bit more complex. The steps I outline here are just one way to accomplish this goal, but I've found that the VCD-creation process can be somewhat difficult because the video must be in a very specific format. For this reason, you'll need to work with specialized tools. Fortunately, some tools are available for free, and you can also find commercial applications that do the trick.

Let's assume that you created a video in noncompressed AVI format. AVI is generally the best way to go because you want your source material to be of the highest possible quality. However, you must convert your AVI source material to VCD-compatible MPEG-1 format, so you'll need a third-party tool. I've used the TMPGEnc MPEG Encoder for this task.

The TMPGEnc UI (Figure 1) lets you specify an uncompressed video source (typically AVI format) and audio source (typically the same file as the video source). You can then specify an output path, file name, and the settings you'll use. (This last part is particularly important because VCD video needs to be encoded just so.) Click the Load button and navigate to the TMPGEnc directory. Inside the templates folder you'll find a file named VideoCD (NTSC).mcf; this file loads the template for creating VCD files.

After the Load dialog box closes, click Start to begin the conversion process. As the conversion progresses, the video in the TMPGEnc window will step forward slowly, and the Progress section will count down the time remaining.

After you convert the file, you can view it in Windows Media Player (WMP) or write it to a VCD. Several applications can write your file to a VCD, but I use Roxio's EZ CD Creator 5. To create a simple VCD, start EZ CD Creator and select Make a photo or video CD and Video CD. This action launches the VCD Creator application, which displays the Video CD Creator Wizard by default. Because you're working on a simple first VCD, the wizard is probably sufficient for now.

In the wizard's second step, choose Simple Video Sequence because you're adding only one video to the disc. Then add your play items, which in your case is the single MPEG movie you created. Note that you can add more than one play item, as you might on a DVD movie. In the next step, set the play sequence. Then you simply create the CD.

EZ CD Creator will probably give you one or more errors. For the most part, any problems you experience will probably revolve around the MPEG file you created. For example, the resolution might be wrong or the audio bit rate might be too high. If you experience a problem such as this, you'll see it during the Add Play Items phase. For this reason, I recommend testing a short video first; if you experience any problems with an MPEG video, you'll have to reconvert the file, which is a lengthy process.

The process presented here is one of many ways to create VCDs. For more information and alternative methods, I recommend the VCD Help Web site.

Resources
TMPGEnc AVI to MPEG conversion
EZ CD Creator
VCDHelp



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Reader Comments    
 


SVCD improves the quality, and works...

Dave Brumbaugh -October 25, 2001



I have been trying to burn avi/mpg files to cd to play in my DVD player and all I get is the initialization taking forever and then the no disc error. I have tried to burn regular video and also super video in Nero 5.5. I have been working on this for 2 days and I am ready to throw something out the window. Can you assist, I am new at this....

Thanks Jim

Jim Alderman -February 27, 2002



I am new to this VCD burning. Let me tell you what I am trying to do 1. I have 700MB cd-rw disc 2. Movie that is 668MB and in .AVI Format 3. Using Nero 5.5 when I try to burn this it goes upto like 30% and later give a message that "NOT ENOUGH SPACE ON THE DISC" Can you please tell me what I am doing wrong. And what I should be doing. Oh yeah I am using TDK CD-RW writer. I would appreciate any help you can provide Thank you in advance Sam

Sam -June 18, 2002



I have the the whole idea of making a vcd, i was wondering what you have to do if your file is more than 80 mins, i have one that is 92 mins, in avi format it will fit on a cd and when i convert it to mpeg the its longer, is there anyway to compress it or leave it in avi format so it will play in a standard dvd player.

Dwayne -October 16, 2002



here's a little trick you can try if you want im able to fit nearly 3 hours of movie on 1 700MB 80 min cd-r yes that right 3hours how you ask? with TMPGEnc. open up TMPGEnc close the wizard that pops up, then select Browse to open up your .AVI movie then select setings.click on the video tab then where it says bitrate it should be something like 1150 you want to lower that to say 500 to 600 click on the word bitrate if it's locked then unlock,next change the VBV buffer size to 0 which is auto also if it's lock click on the word to unlock,next click on the audio tab up the top change the bitrate to 128 kbits/sec then click ok, next click on save and give the template a name. now you ready to incode your movie it takes a while depending on your pc speed best to do b4 you go to bed. also not all dvd players can play these vcd's only some but work fine in a pc

fred -November 11, 2002



Dear Sir I want to know the list of free softwares available which can convert images to a vcd.

thank you

Raghav -March 12, 2004



Thanks for all the great information. Very Good. I bought "Dazzle" Digital Video Creator 80, so I would have a video in line, to record VHS tapes. I don't have a DVD burner yet, but I was able to record them onto VCD. Not bad. The answer that I'm looking for, is in what format should I record my VHS movies in for my eventual burning onto DVD+, or DVD-, as VCD isn't why I want to store them into my PC files. I'd appreciate any advice you may have to offer me. As long as this Dazzle device that gets my VHS movies into PC data, other than the DVD burner it's self, do you think this should be sufficient? I already got a copy of DVD X copy. Thanks for your time, Sincerely, Tom W.

Happy Lucky Guy -March 13, 2004



hi i was wondering could you help me, when i try and burn mpg/avi files on to dvd-rw it says insert disc this is on both wmp and real player. if i put in a cd-rw its ok but depending on the size of the video. only problem is that when i try and watch them on a dvd player or ps2 they say no disc. could you help with any of that, all i want to do is download films to watch but it just seems impossible to me.

Ryan Patterson -September 1, 2004



i only have a cd-rw, can i use nero software to create a vcd, and can i use dvd-r disc to make the movie on with my cd-rw

bertram Knight -December 10, 2004



hi im stuck iv got a 700mb cd and i wont two fit a 900mb movie on this cd how can i get it two fit on and work on my dvd thanx craig

craig -April 6, 2005



i want 2 be able 2 write 800 mb on a 700mb disk help me send me an email thank u

abdul -June 4, 2005



hurry up and answere the question *******

rudeboy -June 4, 2005



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rudeboy -June 4, 2005



i want 2 be able 2 write 800 mb on a 700mb disk help me send me an email thank u abdulhassanjunior@hotmail.com

abdul -June 4, 2005



You can't fit 800MB on to 700MB just split it up with the DVD ripping tool and use 2 VCDs.

Inseguro -June 15, 2005



Your Comments (required):

poon -October 1, 2005



There are some 800 MB cdr available. Funny,but I couldnt fit my 775.60 MB mpeg on it.However I started Nero 6 and created vcd.guess what the size came down to 650 MB.Yeah Nero showed one error something about audio rate but i just clicked CONTINUE ANYWAY. SO........EASY.No quality loss.

commander -February 2, 2006



Just Lower the video bitrate and audio bitrate until the movie fit...

CVDpr -March 7, 2006



i cant copy some video cds into my PC. It say's after 20 or 30% invalid dos function. When i try copy to CD using buring software also the same thing happens . Can anyone help me to solve this.

jok -March 10, 2006



I am trying to write a movie filw which is of 780 MB on a 700 MB disk. This is a dat file. Can anybody help me in this. PLease mail at avinashsakhardande@gmail.com

Avinash -September 16, 2006



hi i am using nero and i need to know how to download 1 movie on to 2 blank cdr asi dont have enough room on 1 disc thanxs michelle

Name (required): -February 5, 2007



Your Comments (required):

Name (required): -April 24, 2007



plz help me how to rip or convert dvd 7 bg to 700 mb withen 15 to 20 minutes

Name (required): -April 25, 2007



Hey... 13-May-2007 22:03

Ok, let’s give everyone a VERY QUICK rundown on every thing... ok, let’s say it all starts off at the DVD Shop, you rent an original DVD Movie, let’s say it’s an 8.5Gig Movie...

So now how to get that on our pc... we use “Clone DVD 4.0” you can just type that in “Google” and download it, download the crack from www.crackfind.com ok, once that done, you can cope the movie to your PC, select to copy it as an ISO, which you can always mount with Daemon Tools...

Ok, now we got it on our pc, but remember its still DVD Size... so yes... what we going to do now... we are going to mount the “ISO” with deamon tools, and then use software called “Fair Use 2.5” you can also type that into “google” and download it...

Select the iso of the movie you want... follow the ON SCREEN INSTRUCTIONS!! Don’t try to be a hero and change settings, let it do it by itself.... it will rip the DVD ISO to a 700MB AVI!!! 100% guaranteed...

(Takes about 2hours +/-)

Once that all done, you will have your DVD Movie, into an 700MB Avi File, which u can put on a CD and will play in the newer Xvid Dvd Players, but if u don’t have one of these, you will need to convert once again this AVI 700MB File into a VCD File...

Ok, how do we do this one now... we use a program called “Davi Konverter” ITS GERMAN!!! But like i say, it works 100%!!! You can try searching for it in “google” but u going to fight to find it... once you have found it you can pretty much make out what’s what...

you will add you AVI 700mb Movie, and click next next next... and once that’s all done, it will BURN your 700AVI to a CD as VCD, just done be a hero and change settings... let the PC do it, after all, it’s an computer, and computers know everything!

Ok, now the CD that’s burnt from the 700MB is now an VCD which u can pop in ur VERY OLD **** DVD player and it will play...

-= DVD 8.5/4.3gig – AVI 700mb – VCD 700mb =-

((ps.. the quality is very good)) Hope you come right with all of these steps.. if not, email me and ill try to help you out...

--== Ripping & Cracking the **** out of life ==--

dvdavivcd@executivemail.co.za

DVD AVI VCD -May 13, 2007



Your Comments (required):

Name (required): -July 9, 2007



how to convert vcd (dat) DVD

viswanathv -July 9, 2007



There is no any other link i had found.

ASIM -July 13, 2007



there is no any other link i had found.

asim -July 13, 2007



This site was acutually worth my time and attention.

Granny D -July 30, 2007



hi there dear new team for this new website for me 2 visite... i am bahaa 31m from marsa matrouh city in the western north of egypt ..i work in electronics repairing n developing..developing own projects only as high efficiency ultra high voltage inverter circuits..but...this recent days in my small city i cannot earn enough money for living..so wanna u keep me as a far brother to care about...in example i thought for a moment that when i know new developed encoding methods as playstation2/playstation1 playable video cds i may earn some kind of things when try 2 sell it here or even go 2 cairo(capital or egypt) n try 2 manage them for saling...so f u plz 4 god sake try 2 do yr best guiding me the way u think it may be usefull..am a good professional preprogrammed applications user n spend many hours aday 4 many years ago searching n trying 2 find a solution for my daily life troubles..i have a desease like matter in my heart muscles prevents me 4m doing hard efforts else riding my bicycle down city n working few months(2-3) ayear in summer only in repairing electronic apparatouses as vcds dvds cdroms playstation consoles laptops desktops hardware n softs but itonly lasts for no more than 3 months a year so.....hope u connect me as fasat as u can .............yours bahaa

bahaa noseir -October 1, 2007



can you help me?????????? I want 2 ppt to vcd software or how it works? Answer me.

Sahasra -March 11, 2008



Your Comments (required):

Name (required): -July 11, 2008



saya belum tahu alamat e-mail saya juga password dll mohon beri tahu saya

susilo -August 26, 2009



Your Comments (required):

susilo -August 26, 2009


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