As newbie as can be...

[ericdudeus]

Hey -

I'm new to the whole VCD/SVCD/DIVX/etc. stuff. I did some searches on the forums here for my problem, but nobody seems to have addressed it exactly.
I have an avi from kazaa that is about 70MB. What I want to do is make a VCD to play in my DVD player so I can watch it.
I understand that QT pro exports a VCD file, but in all my various attempts to make this work, I get poor results.
When I export the file, Divx Doctored or not, my results before Toast is a playable file on my computer complete with picture and sound. After I burn the file, I get picture only when I play it in my DVD. Any ideas about what is causing the lack of audio? I appreciate any suggestions you might have. Thanks!

[spiderman2k1]

Im a pc user so I can only help you a little bit. You can try to get help at www.doom9.org also go to tool's on this site. I use a program call TMPG on the PC you you must have divx 5.0 install before TMPG can read it. in toolls there a program for the MAC called ffmpegX try that one. Sorry I can not help you any more

[galactica]

Hey -

I'm new to the whole VCD/SVCD/DIVX/etc. stuff. I did some searches on the forums here for my problem, but nobody seems to have addressed it exactly.
I have an avi from kazaa that is about 70MB. What I want to do is make a VCD to play in my DVD player so I can watch it.
I understand that QT pro exports a VCD file, but in all my various attempts to make this work, I get poor results.
When I export the file, Divx Doctored or not, my results before Toast is a playable file on my computer complete with picture and sound. After I burn the file, I get picture only when I play it in my DVD. Any ideas about what is causing the lack of audio? I appreciate any suggestions you might have. Thanks!

Hello:
I think I may be able to help.

1. are you using OSX or OS9?? Hopefully OSX.
2. Does the 70 meg .avi play back in VIDEO LAN or MPLAYEROSX fine?
3. Once the .avi is doctored, does it playback fine in quicktime??
4. can you download MPEG INFO and open your .mov and paste the data it provides here (this will let me see what the audio component is and what khz the audio is at)

vcd runs 44.1 khz and is usually mp2. if your divx doesnt have this format your dvd player probably wont recognize the audio.

Likewise, how did you image the vcd? or did you let toast handle this. I get better results when i do this myself. vcd is mpeg1 so you should get a mpeg file after export from quicktime.

Take this and run it through vcdtoolsx to create your vcd image, then burn that image using toasts disk image function. MANY times its the burning process that also affects playback on dvd's

lets get some more info and go from there.
thanks

[killfire]

another option:

use DivX Doctor 2 to convert the AVI --> MOV
use ffmpegx to convert it to mpeg1. (choose VCD preset)
should produce .BIN file as well as other files.
use toast or missing media burner to burn the image. i have more complete tutorial (with images) and email me if you want it (sorry, website down)
killfire101@hotmail.com


--killfire--

[ericdudeus]

Galactica -

I am using OSX - 10.2.5
The avi will play in VLC with audio.
After Divx Doctor, it plays in QT6 just fine.
MPEG Info is:
Mpeg 1 System File [Video/Audio]
Muxrate : 1.41 Mbps
Estimated Duration: 42:09.78s
Size [352 x 240] 29.97 fps 1.15 Mbps
Audio : Mpeg 1 layer 2
224 kbps 44100 Hz
Stereo, No emphasis
I have tried exporting thru QT6, i've let Toast do it, and i've tried ffmpeg too (I get confused with that one). I tried a completely different file today that I exported out of Final Cut Pro 3 as a Toast VCD - I got the same results - good picture, no audio. I'm using Toast 5.2.


Killfire - Thanks to you too!

[Thargok]

Before you burn does the audio play fine on the computer?

Try something that uses VCDImager in it (can't think of something off the top of my head, but stuff is out there)

[ericdudeus]

I have just downloaded vcdtoolsx and tried it - what do I do with the files it made? I got a "videocd.toc", a "videocd_01.img", a "videocd_02.img", and a "videocd_02_pregap.img" - how do I use these?

Thanks again!

[ericdudeus]

I figured out what to do with the files from vcdtoolsx - I still get no sound.
I'm wondering if it's Toast causing the problem or my DVD player...?

How would I get the burned VCD to play on my computer? If I can play it with sound then I would know my DVD player doesn't work. If it still has no sound then I would know Toast is the problem.

I tried MissingMediaBurner - my burner is not supported (DVD-104/SuperDrive).

Any other ideas?

[galactica]

yes, most likely its toast causing problems with your dvd player.
Do this.....
Using vcdtoolsx, rather than making a .img, make a .bin/.cue set (ensuring that VCD or VCD2.0 is clicked)

Open your .mpeg, choose a save as location and process.

You can then open this .bin in videolan (essentially, the .bin is an image file which represents the vcd. If it plays back fine, then it HAS TO BE TOAST!


Therefore, dont use toast

Use MISSING MEDIA BURNER (versiontracker.com) and click video, then using the pulldown menu choose .bin/.cue and burn that set.

Likewise, you should also be albe to use VLC to check the .img.

Not that experienced with VCD, mostly i do SVCD - but they are essentially the same

best of luck

[ericdudeus]

MissingMediaBurner does not support my burner...

I will try your other suggestions after work. Thanks!

[galactica]

MissingMediaBurner does not support my burner...

I will try your other suggestions after work. Thanks!

What type of burner do you have?
For example, I have a combo drive i use for my cd burning. This is in tray 1. I have to have MMB set to a dvdrw drive with generic driver for it to recognize the combo drive (although combo doesnt burn dvd's)

IF you have tried each drive type with the generic and still get terminal errors, try the Firestarter Program. http://mywebpages.comcast.net/ernsta/FireStarter_FX-1.0b1.dmg
this may support your drive if MMB does not.

[ericdudeus]

Maybe i'm wrong... I have a Pioneer Burner A04 - one of the first SuperDrives.

[galactica]

Does firestarter work with this drive?!?

[ericdudeus]

I have no idea - I had not heard of Firestarter until you mentioned it.

[galactica]

!

Well download it, using the link i provided and give it a try. You dont need to specify a drive, it just works or doesnt work. For those whos drives are not supported by MMB, firestarter is an alternative.

enjoy

[ericdudeus]

I just clicked the link you provided - it opened to a page of code...?

[galactica]

I just clicked the link you provided - it opened to a page of code...?

because its a private webspace and depending on your web browser settings loading to the code may happen.

Try just right clicking (or control-click) on the link in this post and save as (or download link to disk)

again depends on your web browser.

if you have trouble, let me know and ill email it to you.

[ericdudeus]

I just downloaded Firestarter from the link you gave me - I get a mesage saying the beta has expired


Never mind - I found the update.


I found the update, but it doesn't do anything. I locate a .toc file and click 'burn', but it just sits there.

[ericdudeus]

OK... I updated Toast to 5.2.1 and re-burned the VCD. I get picture only when it's played in my DVD player.

I downloaded MacVCD from versiontracker and the same VCD plays just fine with audio on my computer - my DVD is the problem.

I have a few questions. Can I use the same file but do something to the audio track to make it work?

Would an SCVD be better? Could I make an SVCD with the same source file?

I've been using TDK brand CD-R discs, could the media be the problem? I've read that CD-RW media is a more reliable way to go.


*****UPDATE******

I went into my DVD setup menus and swited a few things and the VCDs are working! I wasted several discs, but it works!

Thanks again!