Why do My VCD's Sound/look so bad?

[Ensign]

This question may have been asked many times before, but, why should I be difference.

Why does my VCD's sometime have VERY bad audio/video sync, and beak-up in the "blocks?"

Is it the (under)power of my Celeron 330 MHZ CPU with 320 MB of memory?

Is it that my CR-RW drive is too cheep, or I run it to fast (I burn at 4X).

Or the software I use to convert files into the correct MPEG-1 352x240 format? I use TMPEG - Movie Star by Dazzle - Ulead Movie Maker.

The reason for so many is that each has features the other don't. For example, Editing is very easy in Movie Star, but, Titleing is better in Movie Maker.

Maybe it the software I use to make a VCD - Ulead DVD Movie Maker.

Or the type of media?

Then again, maybe it a combination of all of the above?

It's so frustrating that something you spend hours to perfect on you computer, is ruin when turned to a VCD. So, any advice would be helpful.

[lordsmurf]

Combination.

VCD is inherently low quality. Unless your source is progressive, expect artifacts.

If from interlaced source, be careful to adaptive deinterlace and just eat artifacts. Or update to DVD.

For the audio sync, encoder/file errors.

For the breakup on screen, encoder errors (from fragmented HD), burn errors (frag HD), or bad media.

It's not easy to make a good VCD. I can do it, but it takes a lot of time and effort. Easier to do DVDs, less steps in the encode process (native interlace support).

[Ensign]

Thanks for the input.

I think that in the end the type of application used is the most important component when it comes to making successful VCD's (or even SVCD/DVD etc.).

The reason I came to this conclusion is that I tried to again make the same VCD, only this time using NERO 5.5.10 instead of ULEAD DVD Movie Maker.

Boy, what a difference!

This time the VCD came out sharp, clear, and with-out any audio sync problems.

I think that ULEAD's DVD Movie Maker must have a flaw in it. For the same VCD "compliant" MPEG 1 that Movie Maker used in producing the poor VCD was rejected by NERO. Even to the point that NERO shut down even if I tried to drag and drop said files in to it!.

In the end I was forced to re-encode the files (taking over 6 hours) using TMPEG before NERO would take them.

From now on I'll be using TMPEG/NERO, but, I did like ULEAD's ability to allow you to have a introduction video (like the FBI warning for example) automatically play when you load a VCD.

And the choice to pick what images/titles to use on the menu page.

Oh well, one can't have everything.

Or can they?

[lordsmurf]

Use VCDEasy 1.1.5.2 (last free version) instead of Nero.

[wulf109]

You can still have an intro movie with TMPEG/NERO. Load the intro first and then the movie in Nero burning template. Intro will play and then the movie. I use to do it with SVCD.
You think about a DVD burner,good 8X burners are down to $70.00 at sellers like Newegg.