VCD authoring. BIG problems.

[eedavidee]

well there is the problem,

for the last month i have been trying, but without any consistent result, trying to burn a simple VCDs.

what i need: a simple VCD, with a simple menu and a background picture, that will play on my DVD player without any problems.

what i have:for conversion: cucusoft AVI to VCD DVD MPEG pro. v.6.11
for burning: NERO 6 Ultra Edition v.6.6.0.16

first i convert the file into VCD, using PAL option and then i burn the files on a CD with Nero Express(before i used some other software that came with Nero).

the problem: if i burn, let's say, 14 disks, i will have at least 3 that have distortion, such as the sound will becoem screatchy or will compeltely disappear for a second or two, or the picture will become all disturbed or disappear for 1-2 seconds, just liek you are watching old VHS tape.

what should i do?
what are the steps that i have to do?
waht speed do i burn with, does this matter?
which application should i use, because i have noticed that you can burn VCDs with many of the Nero application, but how are they different?
i am trying to use the simpliest method to achieve just simple results, but i have to watch all burned VCDs after i burn them. and if i try to burn them again, there is not much change in the result.

am i doing anything wrong?
please help.

Devastated Newbie

[freebird73717]

I don't know anything about cucusoft products but I do know that for good results on vcd I used dvd2svcd in conjunction with tmpgenc in the past. It's pretty much a one click application (once you get it set up correctly Using a guide like the one at doom9 ). It allow for dvd or avi input and will output vcd, svcd, or dvd. You can use free encoders or commercial ones like tmpgenc to encode the vcd. If all you want is vcd then use tmpgenc as it's mpeg1 encodeing is free.

Also remember...Garbage In = Garbage Out
Make sure that your source file is good to begin with...

[Cornucopia]

Normally, I would recommend VCDEasy, but since you've already mentioned that you have Nero Ultra 6, why don't you just add the original file directly to a VCD template in Nero Burning ROM (I avoid Express)? It should directly accept an AVI and encode it itself (not the BEST quality, mind).

Scott

[mats.hogberg]

If possible, make sure your ??? source is error free. (That a media player plays it without obvious hiccups means nothing!) Encode ??? to VCD specs mpg with TMPGEnc. Play the resulting mpg, to check for errors. If OK, go ahead and author as VCD with VCDEasy.

/Mats

[saramalik]

Well I have always had problems with nero in burning VCD.
I use a combination of software to make vcd. For capturing from camcorder I use Ulead video studio 7, best thing about this is that it can capture in Mpeg, Svcd or VCD formats direct from the camera, this will save space on PC. U can use the same software to edit, make menu etc, but u cant make indexes, for this I use vcdeasy, in this u can make indexes with regular interval of time, that will work with your prev and forward button in DVD remote. I also agree with Cornucopia, that the simplest way, but again u cant make indexes in nero.
Good luck

[eedavidee]

i have tried using VCD easy but it is not that easy. and there is no good manual on it. i know there are a couple here but i find them not very useful. i still have it on my computer. will try to use it next time.

btw, i am also capturing video directly form a camcorder, btu for that i use Pinnacle Studio 9.

now we are talking about video files already on the HDD and not convertet into the VCD format.

thanks all for the support, i am waiting to get more ideas. this may be useful for other people beside me, when they get the same problem.

[mats.hogberg]

i have tried using VCD easy but it is not that easy.

No, that may be (depending on your knowledge), but it's without any doubt the best there is for VCD and SVCD authoring. (I haven't tried the Philips tool - so that may be even better, but surely even harder to come to terms with...)
Nero, depending on version, can be anything from bad to outright incompetent at authoring anything.

/Mats

[eedavidee]

now i am using VCDeasy but i still get some picture distortions. for convertion i used WinAvi. what is the best video decoder. i tried to use this TMPGEnc but i can not open the files i have downloaded, it says they are unsupported.

please help.

[mats.hogberg]

TMPGEnc is considered one of the best mpeg1 (VCD) encoders out there, and free for mpeg1 use on top of that.
It's worth trying to get TMPGEnc read your source file, but don't expect it to open "any" video format you find on the Internet. Nothing does.
If worst comes to worst (as it at times do!), load the AVI in VirtualDub and frameserve to TMPGEnc.
There are guides both for frameserving and curing TMPGEnc problems under how to, left.
WinAVI and other oneclickwonder apps might be good at accepting most material, but isn't that good qualitywise as dedicated encoders.
Also, what "distortions" are you experiencing? Could it be you're expecting too much of the VCD format? It is low resolution, low bitrate -> low quality.

/Mats

[the * dude]

yeah tmpeg + vcdeasy!!!!!

change the url back to vcdhelp.com !!!!!

[mikesbytes]

The problem with recording home video to VCD is that the home video generally contains shaking and this shaking consumes valueable bits that could be used to maximise the quality.

Where you are getting distorion, you could try either or both of the following;
1. Clean up the video. There are various filters available that can clean up the video and therefor save the bits that are wasted on noise. Try Virtualdub and a filter called deshaker. Read the guides carefully as deshaker is difficult to understand.
2. Either fiddle with the settings within TMPG to assist with the encoding, or get a templated from somewhere else. I'd tell you where to get the template, but the "K" word is hated by many in this forum.

[mats.hogberg]

KVCD (See I did it!) The problem is that VCD is such a tight standard, there is nothing much to do within it. All KVCD, XVCD MVCD and whatnot simply isn't VCD. Your player might accept them nevertheless, but there's no telling if your neighbours player, or your next player will.

/Mats

[eedavidee]

well the distortions i am talking about are two strips - on the left and top of the screen, about inch thick.

apart from that it is wonderful.

please tell me how to fix those strips.

i love the option that i cna create chapters, i really love it.

[mats.hogberg]

...and those strips aren't present in your source video, I take it? Sounds odd indeed...

/Mats

[mikesbytes]

well the distortions i am talking about are two strips - on the left and top of the screen, about inch thick.

None of the above is probably a solution to the problem you have. It does sound like a problem with the source.
1. Is the distortion present on the origional tape.
2. Is the distortion present on the AVI as imported into the computer.