What the HECK am I doing wrong!!!???

[gone64]

8) OK, Im trying to learn as I go here, but so far....complete failure. I am trying to learn how to burn vcd's and then in the future....svcd's and dvd's.
So far I have created 4 very nice coasters. I am using Nero to burn them, only because I don't have the Deluxe Adaptec version. What's difficult is discovering which problem I have. Am I burning coasters or am I burning correctly but my CD-Rom drive just refuses to see what I have burned (except 2 .cda files)?

[mats.hogberg]

Hard to tell, if you don't provide a step-by-step description of your strategy from source to CD.
One problem might be that some DVD players have problems with Nero made menues. I used Nero in my first attempts, just to create another coaster - then discovered VCDEasy. Haven't touched Nero since.

/Mats

[gone64]

8) OK, I do have VCDeasy so maybe Ill give it a shot. I will be burning and MPG onto a CD-RW. Any tips? I haven't tried VCDEasy believe it or not because it just seemed to difficult. My stategy is simple. Just to make a vcd and check it with my pc for success.

[mats.hogberg]

There's more involved in creating a VCD than "burning an MPG onto a CD-RW". That's what authoring software like VCDEasy are there for. From the VCD point of view, there's no difference between CD-R and CD-RW, even if your player may read one but not the other - Check the compatibility list. For pure PC use, there's no need to take the step to VCD. A plain MPEG file will work just as easily.

/Mats

[gone64]

8) Alright, I dont know what else to say other than, I have been trying to create a VCD using the program NERO, and yes I do WANT to make a VCD (not just an MPG burned onto a CD-RW). I just need to figure out if the problem lies in the software I am using to burn (NERO). The medium I am burning (Philips CD-RW74), My CD-Writer (Phillips), or that I am the problem with my limited knowledge on the whole subject.

[mats.hogberg]

OK:

• What is your source material? (file type, encoding method - all about it.)
  Did you read the guides under HOWTO CONVERT for XXX to VCD?
  What did you use to create the MPEG file from this source?
  What settings did you use for above?
  Did the resulting MPEG play on the computer without any problems?
  What settings did you use in Nero?

Be as specific as possible!

/Mats

[gone64]

Unfortunately Im at work right now and dont have the details of the file. What I can tell you is that I am just experimenting right now, but my goal is to burn my family videos from an analog video camera to either svcd or dvd depending on the stand alone I have at the time. Right now I just want to see if I can accomplish this thing so the file I used is just a downloaded mpg from the internet. Id be willing to use anything if it was certainty that it would work. The mpg did play just fine on my computer and I believe I just used the wizard to create a video cd on Nero.

[mats.hogberg]

So am I - At work, that is
To make a VCD, you need an MPEG file of a certain kind: Video MPEG1 1150 kbps multiplexed in a certain manner with an MPEG1 layer 2 audio stream at 224 kbps.
If you use Nero, and Nero finds that the MPEG is not of the right format, it will try to reencode it to specs, not making a very good job at it.
Try the (S)VCD sample files found here at this site that are in a certified correct format for creating (S)VCD.

/Mats

[gone64]

8) Alright, Ill do that. Thank you very much for your help. By the way which cd-burning software do you think is the most reliable. Adaptec, VCDEasy,or Nero? I will try to make more coasters when I get home this morning and if I am successful I will be back in touch!

[mats.hogberg]

I always use VCDEasy (which uses CDRDAO for the actual burning) when I create VCD's. To make this work, your writer has to be supported by CDRDAO and your ASPI layer has to be valid. I love command line tools, so for my other writing needs, I tend to use MKISOFS and CDRECORD, even if I at times use Nero. Burnatonce is also a great app for cd creation.
To avoid coasters, try a CD-RW as you experiment!

/Mats

[gone64]

8) OK heres a tough one for you. How do I know if my burner is supported by CDRDAO and my ASPI layer is valid?