Making a SVCD DVD-r ?

[jazevedo1]

is this possible ? having some trouble with it all my dvd authoring software wants to convert it anty help would be great

[Greg12]

If you have a DVD-+RW, just make it DVD-Video, it's much better

[Faustus]

actually if the video is already in a lower video format the conversion to DVD video would murder any hope of a decent picture. To answer you question yes is possible tho I myself have never done it, nor do I know how off the top of my head. HOWEVER if you plan on playing this in settop players know that almost no players actually support it.

[alkieman]

Jazevedo1, what you are trying to do isn't strictly possible.

VCD specs are within the DVD specifications on the video front, only the audio needs to be re-sampled up from 44.1khz to 48khz. With SVCD however, both the video AND audio are outwith the DVD specifications and thats why your authoring software complains.

DVD needs one of the following video formats:
MPEG1 352X288 PAL
MPEG1 352X240 NTSC

MPEG2 352X288 PAL
MPEG2 352X240 NTSC
MPEG2 352X576 HALF D1 PAL
MPEG2 352X480 HALF D1 NTSC
MPEG2 704X576 CROPPED D1 PAL
MPEG2 704X480 CROPPED D1 NTSC
MPEG2 720X576 FULL D1 PAL
MPEG2 720X480 FULL D1 NTSC

As you can see, SVCD does not meet these specs. SVCD is 640x576 for PAL and 640x480 for NTSC. You would have to re-encode the MPEG2 file to a different video resolution which can be done, but your video may be stretched or skewed, and it would have to be done with another application like TMPGEnc. There are other parameters that would also have to be changed, DVD files need 48Khz audio for example. It can be done, but it takes a long time to get things right. If you want to give it a go check out the links to the left for all the help and apps you need.

If your DVD player can play SVCD discs why not just stick with that for existing SVCD files you already have and use your DVD writer for stuff you encode yourself from VHS, camcorder, DVD rips etc.

[Pisa Asitopa]

If what you say is true?

Then why does Ulead Video Studio 6 burn SCVD in 480 x 480 for NTSC, not the 640 x 480 for NTSC as you stated, which plays very well in my Samsung DVD player?

It burns DVD's at 720 x 480 for NTSC.

Just curious?

[nick1977]

SVCD is 480x576 (PAL) or 480x480 (NTSC) as you correctly stated. The previous poster is correct however, when he states that SVCD is not a standard DVD resolution/format. Some set-top players will play it but not many.

Nick

[xzarkad]

What alkieman said is true.

I think that he just made a small typo. SVCD for PAL = 480x576 and for NTSC = 480x480.
SVCD's authored as SVCD and burned to CD will normally play in your standalone DVD player.(when it supports SVCD's)
SVCD authored as DVD and burned to DVD-R (or +R) can cause problem for your player as Alkieman stated.
In such a case you should go for the formats he suggested. (for PAL 720x576 and 352x576 or for NTSC 720x480 and 352x480, or one of the other formats)

Please note that 352x576 is not a official DVD format, and that I cannot guarantee that it will work.

[energy80s]

352x576 is the CVD format (half D1 resolution - sometimes called D2) and if you use 48k audio, should be perfectly compatible with DVD. SVCD on the other hand is compatible with bugger all. Also the picture quality of a CVD is better than SVCD.

... do you see a pattern emerging here ....

[Faustus]

Here ya go: http://www.vcdhelp.com/vcddvdr.htm

Told ya it was possible. Have fun, but it doesn't work on all players.

[xzarkad]

Energy, I am a bit lost here.

SVCD format = 480x576
CVD format = 352x576

How can a CVD format have a better quality than a SVCD format?

[nick1977]

Obviously quality is a very subjective thing. In my experience you will get a better picture with a CVD simply because the bitrate required to stop the macroblocks is less. However, there is no denying that standard SVCD resolution provides more detail. Perosanlly I find blocking far more distracting than a slightly lower resolution, but everyone is different!

Nick

[xzarkad]

Thanks, that explains.

[lee mu bai]

i've burned several SVCDs to DVDRW using the guide on this site, and they worked great on my standalone DVD players. takes a long time, though, to resample audio, but it's worth it for archival purposes and if you hate switching discs every 40 minutes. you can fit two high quality 3-CDR SVCD movies onto one DVDRW.

[xzarkad]

As far as I know:

there is no need to downsample the audio to 44.1 KhZ, as SVCD's with 48KhZ audio are (in most of the cases) supported by your standalone.

This will save alot of time when encoding. And in your case: you do not have to resample.

[lee mu bai]

hmm, i've yet to come across a downloaded SVCD that came with 48 kHz audio. they've all been 44.1, which i believe is the standard for S/VCD. ergo, you almost always have to upsample the audio.

[xzarkad]

In this case I agree. It depend what your source is. Mine is always a rip (backup).

[Digitizer]

actually if the video is already in a lower video format the conversion to DVD video would murder any hope of a decent picture.

Nope. Digital reincoding loss is MUCH less severe than, say, copying from analog to analog, which usually results in unacceptable quality loss. I once reincoded an SVCD twice and I could not tell the difference between the original and the second copy (using TMPEG). And that's at the same bit rate. If you work with very high DVD bit rates, the loss is basically in numbers and you will never be able to tell the difference if it's done right. So I say, go with reincoding. Try making it DVD compatible and see for yourself. It won't kill ya