Choppy/blocky audio+video on VCD

[Shall]

As many newbies have probably done before me, I've literally made almost 50 coasters in my attempts to create a working VCD, with no success. I request some help and hopefully a mentor. I hope this post doesn't get too long while I explain all the details.

Machine 1 specs: Dual PIII 450, 512 MB, SCSI SAF CD-RW 226, Win 2000
Machine 2 specs: PIII 500, 256 MB, Creative DXR-3 DVD/Decoder, Win XP
Media specs: TDK CD-R 650 MB, iMation CD-R 700 MB
Video specs: 352x240 29.97
Audio specs: 44.1 16

To start, I'm a 3D animator and the source material for the video is original and is not ripped from any other source. I've been compositing the frames in Adobe Premiere 6 and including original sound effects. From here, I've tried exporting the audio/video in several different formats: avi uncompressed, LSX mpeg-1 encoder, Panasonic mpeg-1 encoder which all turn out to be valid VCD 2.0 compliant files (according to "MPEGProperties" program) and playback of those files is perfect on my PC. I've also imported the uncompressed avi into TMPGEnc 2.02.31.119, LSX-MPEG Encoder 3.5 and Panasonic MPEG-1 Encoder 2.51 and exported as VCD compliant mpegs. All of the mpeg files play back flawlessly on my PC using media player, PowerDVD, etc. and they all seem to have the proper format: video-1150 kbits/sec mpeg-1, audio-224kbits/sec mpeg-1 layer 2, 352x240, 29.97 fps.

Problems occur after I have burned the VCD ... video is extremely choppy/blocky and the audio is very choppy and has a digital sound to it. The choppiness almost has a 1/2 second rythm to it as if the player is trying to keep. I have used Nero 5.5.6.4, Easy CD Creator 5 and VCDEasy/CDRDAO to create the VCDs ... all with the same results. I've tried VCD formats with and without menus. I've tried burning all combinations of the various mpeg files from the different encoders (about 28 versions of the same scene). The VCDs all behave the same on both of my PCs (Windows 2000 w/PowerDVD, Windows XP w/PC-DVD Creative). I get the same behavior when I play the VCD on my standalone DVD player (Panasonic DVD-RV31) which has been verified that it supports VCDs and CD-R/W.

What am I doing wrong? Could it be that I'm encoding and burning on a dual processor system? Is it the media that I am using? Should I try CD-RW media? I am absolutely stumped and frustrated. Can someone possibly shed some light on this?

[vitualis]

Odd... you've just about excluded every possible problem...

Now: MPEG files play OK but once burnt onto media, it plays choppy right? Even on your PCs?

And this is regardless of the burning proggy?

Firstly, why don't you try remultiplexing your source MPEGs first with TMPGEnc on the setting of "MPEG-1 Video-CD".

Now try burning again...

Also, it may be possible that you've got a bad batch of media OR that your CD burner is acting up.

Regards.

[DarthZavk]

Hello,

I have a similar problem. I've posted this quite a while back and i think i have tried almost every solution offered and still it doesn't help.

I shoot on DV and edit with Premiere. So it's kinda similar to what you have done.

For me, the VCD plays fine on the computer. I'm sure that every setting is VCD compliant. It's only when played back on my standalone VCD player that the problem appears. I also noticed that my player reads a different time code from the actual length of the video. For example a 55 min video would appear as say, 62 min on the player.

The only thing that seems to work is when I encode the mpeg twice. Only then, does it work properly. However, this only works on video from my DV cam and not when I'm ripping DVDs. So i have no choice but to rip DVDs to DivX only.

Sigh.... What am i to do?

[mmulholland]

I've had the same problem and have also tried EVERYTHING. However, I have found little explanation regarding "multiplexing". What is this? When I convert avi to mpg must I multiplex the video and audio? When I use mpeg properties I notice that some mpeg files have both a video and audio stream while others (the ones that burn to VCD more successfully) have only a video stream.

-Mosephus

[Shall]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. The testing continues ...

<<Vitualis>> Now: MPEG files play OK but once burnt onto media, it plays choppy right? Even on your PCs?

Yes, all of the MPEG files played flawlessly on both PCs. Once burnt onto CD-R, I get the mentioned choppiness on both PCs and DVD standalone.

<<Vitualis>> And this is regardless of the burning proggy?

Yes, same problems occur regardless of burning app (Nero 5.5.6.4, Easy CD Creator 5, CDRDAO 1.1.5).

<<Vitualis>> Firstly, why don't you try remultiplexing your source MPEGs first with TMPGEnc on the setting of "MPEG-1 Video-CD".
Now try burning again...
Also, it may be possible that you've got a bad batch of media OR that your CD burner is acting up.

I will try these suggestions and respond later.

Questions I can't easily test myself ...
Could a dual-processor machine cause problems?
Could it also be that I have both Nero and Easy CD Creator installed at the same time?
Could it be that I have all SCSI devices and no IDE drives or CDROMs?
Could burning to CD-RW be better?

[vitualis]

Questions I can't easily test myself ...
Could a dual-processor machine cause problems?
Could it also be that I have both Nero and Easy CD Creator installed at the same time?
Could it be that I have all SCSI devices and no IDE drives or CDROMs?
Could burning to CD-RW be better?

Dual-processor: not likely
Nero + EZCD: possibly but this doesn't explain why the same thing happens with CDRDAO
SCSI: I wouldn't think so
CD-RW: perhaps...

I think it is still likely that you may have a bad batch of media or your burner is acting up.

Regards.

[Shall]

Thanks goes to <vitualis> for helping me track down the problem I was having burning VCDs (I also had the same problem burning cDVDs). It turns out that my CD-RW burner (SAF 226) is quirky. I have the latest firmware version but it has been the burner all along. I can burn data CDs and Audio CDs all day long without a problem but when it comes to burning these types of formats (VCD and cDVD), it horks it up real good. I verified that all of the different versions of MPEG-1 encoders worked fine (some better than others as far as quality and speed) when I burned a VCD with them on a HP cd-writer 8230. All I can say is "Damnit!," all of those useless coasters because of the burner. Hopefully this thread will help others with the same problems.

Thanks everyone for your feedback on this! Especially <vitualis>!