SVCD Probs - tried a bunch - just won't work - any help?

[md3d]

:x

I have a Sony cd-rw CRX168B and I've been trying to write a SVCD for a little while now with no results.

I've tried burning with the demo of Nero 5.5.8 and I've tried VCDeasy. I've followed the steps on this site to the T and obviously something is wrong. I've encoded the MPEG2 video using several tools, such as Ligos plug-in in premiere and the freeware TMPGEnc. The video seems to be encoded correctly as Nero and VCDeasy accept it AND it plays back by itself from the HD ok. I've tried burning on Imation 700mb media and also on memorex 185mb media. I have BOTH winDVD and PowerDVD - neither would play the SVCD and PowerDVD said that it couldn't accept the disc -although windows will accept it. My stand alone DVD is a Sony DVP-NS700P and it says it can't read the discs either! Holy cow! What's the deal?

Next I tried a VCD and it worked right out of the gate - no problems on either the computer or on the DVD player.

If I want to distribute a short video to potential clients, should I just go with a VCD and skip the SVCD? Even if I did get a SVCD to work, would many other people have problems playing it back? Quality is an issue, so I was hoping for the SVCD. In the future I'll do DVD, but I want to try this and use the mini CD's 'cause they are pockect size and can be mailed so easily.

My system is Win 2k with SP2. Athlon xp1700+ etc...

Any advice?

Thanks,
Marc

[SarahVA]

The SVCD should play in Windows DVD (I use Intervideo WinDVD) player. However, I don't try to play the disc- I play the mpg file on the disc. I load the mpg file from the MPEG2 or MPEGAV folder on the SVCD, then I get an error that says "Error downloading codec", and then the file plays correctly. I can't just pop in the SVCD and play the disc- that doesn't work.

Go here and and make an SVCD from the sample bin/cue files provided:
http://www.vcdhelp.com/svcd.htm

If these SVCDs play in your DVD player, then you're making the SVCDs incorrectly. If they don't play, perhaps your player doesn't play SVCDs.

As far as your customers go, distributing VCDs is probably safer since more players play VCDs than SVCDs. But you could always ask your clients what player they have, check the compatibility list here, and give them an SVCD or VCD depending on what's supported.

Also mini-cds might be tricky- I'm not sure if they play in DVD players.

Sarah