I figured out how to successfully encode in VCD format now..

I successfully encoded and AVI file the other day, and opened the .bin file in Toast 6, and burned under the option of multiple XLA or something of that sort. After burning this, the cd wouldn't read in my DVD player. Is there something I did wrong when I burned the VCD? Did I use the wrong file, or is Toast not the best option to burn a VCD?


Thanks,
Brian

[Case]

If you created a .bin image with a .cue sheet, you should use the Bin/Cue Files option. If you created multitrack XA images (.img), you should use the Multi-Track CD-ROM XA option. Mixing between the two options will result in an unsupported disc.

bah, that's exactly what I did then. (mixed the 2) Quick follow up question... can you put more than 1 encoded video on a disc and have it play right? and if so, is there a special way to make scene selections and chapter skips etc?

well i tried burning one with the .bin/.cue format of Toast and still no dice. I don't understand why this isn't working. I know my DVD player supports VCDs, just cant understand why my CD burner is putting them in the wrong format.

I was thinking some more (rare for me ) and do i need to have a DVD burner to burn VCDs or does a regular CDR/RW burner work? I just assumed the latter would work since its a CD-r media disc, but maybe I was mistaken?

[Case]

can you put more than 1 encoded video on a disc and have it play right? and if so, is there a special way to make scene selections and chapter skips etc?

You'll need to do such authoring before creating the disk image. Then all video parts and navigation will be integrated into the image.

do i need to have a DVD burner to burn VCDs or does a regular CDR/RW burner work?

You assumed correct. A DVD burner is not needed for a CD-R media disc.

well i tried burning one with the .bin/.cue format of Toast and still no dice.

It is possible, but unlikely, that your burner is at fault here. I would think it failed because the image is not good. If you never had a succesful VCD with this burner before, then try one of the sample images on this site first.

I downloaded one of the test VCD files, burned it with Toast, and still no luck. The only problems I might see is that I could be using Toast improperly... where I choose CD Copy and then .bin/.cue files instead of choosing the video cd option in toast. The reason I do this is because the video cd option in toast won't accept .cue or .bin files. Secondly, does it matter whether im burning NTSC or PAL formats? Do some DVD/VCD players play one but not the other? Thirdly, you mentioned my CD-burner could be at fault. I have a fairly old burner so this could be, but could you explain how/why my burner might be to blame?

Thanks again,
Brian

[thoughton]

If my (S)VCD is in the .img format I use Toast in XA multitrack mode and that works great. However I've never had much luck burning bin/cue files with Toast. Instead I use the free (donation-ware) Firestarter FX app to burn them. Maybe this will help you out too.

[Case]

I choose CD Copy and then .bin/.cue files instead of choosing the video cd option in toast.

Correct, as mentioned in the second post of this thread.

does it matter whether im burning NTSC or PAL formats? Do some DVD/VCD players play one but not the other?

If you normally play NTSC DVDs on your player, it would make sense to get the NTSC VCD image. If you normally play PAL DVDs on your player, get the PAL VCD image.

you mentioned my CD-burner could be at fault.

I only wanted to mention that I didn't exclude it from the possibilities.

Ok, I think I figured out what the problem is, but I'm hoping someone (Case??) can direct me in the right direction or give me some info as to why I'm having this problem.

I've now figured out that the burner and all the software I had been using was working fine... it was my DVD player acting weird. I popped the VCD's into another DVD player and they worked fine. The DVD player that didn't work is a Sony DVP-s360.... which clearly states it plays VCD's. I've read in other forums that this player has problems with certain brands of CD-r's ... but that most CD-RW's work in it. I tried both a CD-r and a CD-RW and neither would work in this DVD player. Does anyone know where I can get definite info about which CD's might work, or is there a setting on it that needs to be changed, etc. I checked here on dvdrhelp... but this particular DVD player isn't listed.

Thanks again,
Brian

[Case]

Sony DVP-s360, that's the clue that was needed. This site has a compatibility list, which will tell you that it doesn't play CD-R, but some people reported it does play CD-RW. The latter probably means the player is picky about which brand. Read the comments below on that page, some useful tips to get the max out of your player.