Does it still make sense to work with VCDs??

[jtoolman2000]

With the price of DVD+-RW drives being as low as they are, and good DVD media for less than a buck, why would I or actually anyone bother to create a vcd from a DVD.
I know this forum has an equally oportunity policy and all subjects in the field of dvd is included equally. I still just marvel at some of the requests for help. For instance, someone will ask that they have this one Divx or Xvid video that they want to convert to something else such as vdc, svcd, or even dvd. Now if we are to assume that most although not all divx or xvid movies refered to are from p2p sources and therefore of a frowned nature, not to mention that they are simply much lower in video and audio quality than the original dvd, why go through all that trouble to convert to divx or vcd somtimes with multiple programs and processes just to save the $15 it would have cost to buy the original and back it up with say, dvdshrink or other software and burn it to dvd-+r.
I have done my share of backing to to divx but wouldn't bother to even attempt it when there are so many good and efficient dvd to dvd backing up methods avaiable to us. If it is a rare piece of footage that does fall in the realm of a hollywood movie or other release, I could see the point but otherwise I'm just perplexed at the actual number of questions being asked about vcd.
I hope this does not begin a flame war!

Thanks

[disturbed1]

VCD can still be a valid format. In many other countries, DVD Burners are not as cheap, nor the media, as it is in the US. TMPG is free for mpeg1 use, as are many VCD authoring application, and CD writing software. The free/cheap software for DVD authoring is still in its infantcy, and not as popular yet.

In ASIA VCD is still a very popular format.

Every week Office Max has free CDs and a $19 CD burner, that's far cheaper than any DVD Burner and DVD media. These CD Burner usually come bundled with Nero, which has built in VCD capabilities. The DVD capabilities require a plugin to author/encode.

Divx Networks sells legal Divx clips, there are also VOD sites that sell legal divx clips. Some people capture to Divx.

Not trying to say your wrong, but there are other things besides just illegal divx clips.

[jtoolman2000]

I agree with all you've saud. I guess I dod not take into account the global views and popularity of these other formats.

If I apply it to just the western world, namely the USA, what I originally stated would make more sense.

If my purpose is to preserve the DVD I just purchased by making a backup of it, I have several choices. Each with variable degrees of complexity and resulting quality.

Since often the methodology required to produce a back up of inherently lower quality when compared to the original source can be often be quite complicated, ie. in making a two disk vcd, divx/avi in order to at least have acceptable viewing quality, it would be logical to simply perform a backup to dvd and thus abtain an almost perfect reproduction of the original.

To illustrate what I mean by complexity, just take a look at many of the guides that are available, many of which are quite daunting. It seems to me that it would be so much easier to create a backup directly with say dvdshrink which will take me no more that an hour for a normal movie for the complete process, including burning, than to spend many hours / utilities, as I used to do to create a vcd or divx. Which by its nature will be inferior. I've had the pleasure of viewing many of these vcds that come out of the orient and they are simply awful. It's al relative I suppose. If that's what one is used to an you have not been exposed to anything better, then that's the standart you are used to. I understand that if someone loves something, they just love it and not much will change their minds. To me it's the final outcome that's important.

Sorry about my ranting!

[indolikaa]

Ranting is good. Don't knock yourself.


I still make VCDs, even though I'm proficient enough in DVD authoring that I don't need to. I enjoy VCD authoring just as much, if not more so.

And since TY CDs are more affordable than TY DVDs, and DirecTV keeps trying to squeeze every last bit of encoding out of their encoders, I think VCD will still have a place in my collection.

I like SVCD and CVD, too. I guess it's a hobby thing at this point.

[dvdfreak123]

I will have to agree with indolikaa statement -----> I like SVCD and CVD, too. I guess it's a hobby thing at this point.

just my 2cents
dvdfreak123

[Gazorgan]

I make VCD/KVCD's for my kids. I don't worry if my daughter trashes a 10 cent disk. I really don't worry if she trashes a 90 cent RITEK G04 either :P But, an 8 year old has problems navigating some menues (especially Disney, where it's very hard to find the PLAY button). I also like to make them self-starting and remove the commercials. So, VCD/KVCD is still 'good enough' for many applications.

And besides, a lot more DVD settop players will play a VCD on a CDR than they will play a DVDR. That will change over time, but for the moment it's there.

[jimmalenko]

I guess I dod not take into account the global views and popularity of these other formats.

Typical yank, head so far up your own ass...

Cheap shots aside, VCD/SVCD as mentioned above is a relatively cheap alternative. Just imagine if your collection swelled to 100 movies - $15 ($35 for most DVDs here in Oz) a pop for the original makes it a pretty expensive habit as opposed to the $50 a month for internet access IMO. The quality of most movies on P2P is not worth converting to DVD spec either.

It probably comes down to a knowledge issue as well.

[jtoolman2000]

OK, I can agree with a lot of what has been said, except maybe the " Yank " crack. I'm actuaally from the caribbean but seriously,,,, I have actually make some Divx encodes and now with Nero Recode / Nero Digital, I have to admit that the quality is quite superb. I use it every once in a while and it really does an almost undetectable conversion to a CD sized file. Supposed to be MP4 format. Couple that with the new Phillips DVD and seemmingly every other format out there including Divx. XXvid and MP4, according to the specs. I could see myself doing many DVD to CD conversions. The best part is that it is only like $69. Will be buying this weekend.
I did not mean to belittle any of the vcd and svcd folks out there, just shraring some of my feelings about this game.

Thanks all!

[teegee420]

I have actually make some Divx encodes and now with Nero Recode / Nero Digital, I have to admit that the quality is quite superb. I use it every once in a while and it really does an almost undetectable conversion to a CD sized file. Supposed to be MP4 format. Couple that with the new Phillips DVD and seemmingly every other format out there including Divx. XXvid and MP4, according to the specs. I could see myself doing many DVD to CD conversions. The best part is that it is only like $69. Will be buying this weekend.

Make sure you take a Nero Digital CD with you to test it out, as I don't know of a single player that recognizes the .mp4 container. All mpeg-4 enabled DVD players only read avi's to my knowledge. I would hate for you go go out and buy a player thinking that it's going to be able to play Nero Digital.