How do I convert SVCD to VCD to fake out my DVD

[Still Learning]

My Panasonic RP91 does not play SVCDs. How can I take an SVCD and format it to a high quality VCD so my DVD will play it as a VCD?

[BerrantRyke]

Why not just make a "high-quality" VCD.

Span it across 2 CD-R(RW)'s...

<--------Look to the left

[EDIT: typo]

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: BerrantRyke on 2001-12-25 23:21:03 ]</font>

[Still Learning]

Normally an SVCD is already 3 CD-Rs or 2 complete 80 minute CR-Rs. Are you suggesting making 4-6 CD-Rs? and how do you make a "high quality VCD" ? what product do I use?

[BerrantRyke]

Start by reading this: http://www.vcdhelp.com/dvdlist/745.html

According to this you can make:
VCD
XVCD
2300kbits
XSVCD
4125kbits

I would suggest that you begin by burning a TEST VCD, XVCD, and XSVCD. These test files can be found under tools, or under the approporiate heading under "WHAT IS" (TOP LEFT)

After you burn them, test them all in you player... Pick the format that you think looks the best, then Follow a Guide... I used Sefy's guide to learn how.

I use the following programs to make VCD's that look a little better than VHS tapes:

SmartRipper
DVD2AVI
VOB2AUDIO (optional, can get audio w/ DVD2AVI)
TMPEGnc (using the VCD Template thats included)
Nero (latest, to burn it)

Use TMPEGnc to break up the MPEG, if its too long...

Experiment, you player's review sez it takes CD-RW's, use these to test, test, and test again, untill you find what works best for you...

[Still Learning]

BerrantRyke -- Thx for the help. I really appreciate your advice.

[BerrantRyke]

No probelm. Its frustrating, i know. I spent a month reading these posts, and all the info i could get my hands on before I made my first post asking for help. Just keep trying, you will hit success somewhere along the line.

Then make some popcorn, and enjoy!

[Still Learning]

I have been downloading movies for 6-8 months now, unraring them into bin/cue, using vcdgear to make them into mpeg1 and then burning them with nero. System works great, DVD plays them and life is wonderful. Then I buy an HDTV, a panasonic progressive scan (which is unbelievable on regular DVDs) and I can not play an SVCD on it. S i figure I will convert my SVCD into a VCD, which noe sounds like I should convert it into an XVCD or XSVCD. My question now is, what settings on TMPGEnc do I use to convert it? how do I make it into an X---- ??

[BerrantRyke]

http://www.vcdhelp.com/tmpgencxvcd.htm

and, check your private messages...

[vitualis]

For other people reading this thread, CUE/BIN images are DISC IMAGES. You don't need to extract anything. Just burn it: http://www.geocities.com/medinotes/vcd/burning_cuebin_images.html

Regards.

[scissors]

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On 2001-12-25 23:19:02, Still Learning wrote:
My Panasonic RP91 does not play SVCDs. How can I take an SVCD and format it to a high quality VCD so my DVD will play it as a VCD?
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR size=1 color=black></TD></TR></TABLE>

Hi mate,

You never get the bloody answer you want in here!
to take svcd and convert to vcd ....
get isobuster and extract the mpeg out of the mpeg2 folder using the RAW film option(this is obvious when you have isobuster).

Use flask with the panasonic plugin as you would with a single vob file - rename it to film.vob if you like.

I suggest panasonic instead of tmpeg for vcd as it produces better mpeg 1.

The guides for flask/panasonic are in the how to sections.

Dave

[Eug]

So with a RP91 I can do a 720x480 NTSC XVCD at 2.3 Mbps only? People on the site seem to be getting 4+ Mbps XVCD and XSVCD. And one guy has gotten SVCD to work by doing this:

http://www.geocities.com/newestmoviesencode/dvdvcd

...but I can't get these faked out SVCDs to work reliably, at least with high bit rates. I haven't tried low bit rates.

Also, I tried a 3.5 Mbps 720x480 XVCD and it skips galore on my RP91. True self-encoded VCD at 1.15 Mbps does not look too good on my TV, at least with DVDx's medium quality settings (MMX).

What are the best settings for XVCD? 720x480 x 2300? Should I stick with a letterboxed 480x480 for best image quality? Or even VCD resolution x 2300? (I'd rather have a good quality letterbox vs. heavy duty artifacting at 720x480, when limited to 2300 bps MPEG-1.) I suppose I can do some experimenting, but it'd be good to know where to start.

[VideoJedi]

I got the latest episode of the X-files as an SVCD (MPEG2) I downloaded the other day. I multiplexed in TMPGEnc to put VCD headers on it and burnt it as a non-compliant VCD in Nero 5.5.8. It plays fine in my RP91 (my first working pseudo-SVCD). I turned on the bitrate viewer and saw it shoot up as high as 3mbps which is the highest I have seen on "homemade" material that actually played flawlessly in my RP91. The video was 480X480 in MPEG2 and is very satisfying in quality.. especially since artifacting was minimal. I wonder what exactly the person that created the file used to encode it because it looks very clean. Anyway, just being able to use MPEG2 as 480X480 puts a smile on my face. From here on out I need to be making pseudo-VCD-SVCDs.

I'll tell ya how to make fantastic-looking VCDs though.. Use a program called AVI_IO to capture at the highest possible resolution, standard 29.97 framerate. Then use a program called Panasonic Encoder to convert the huge AVI files to MPEG. You can use Panasonic Encoder to merge all the AVI files AVI_IO created. Also I set the encoder to crop 40 pixels on the top and 40 pixels on the bottom (for letterbox material) and also add 40 pixels of black to the top and bottom of the screen. I think I captured at some weird resolution like 608X484 or something (whatever the highest TV resolution the Pinnacle DC10+ can do). Cropping makes it easier to encode, the focus is encoding is in the middle of the screen, so better quality and the black bars stay true black. It takes my computer about 7 hours to encode a 42 minute clip. After which I use a program called VCD Cutter to snip out commercials without having to re-encode the whole thing. I have been impressed with the results. The videos look much better than my previous VCDs on my 55" TV. I'll mess with the VCD standard and see if I can higher res.. If not, at least I know I can get XSVCD to work on RP91.