Video Size on VCD too Big for TV

[Ranthali0n]

I have created a vcd from from AVI files converted with nero. The AVI files started out as 640x480. I selected to have it encoded as ntsc, like I should, but the bottom of the video is below the bottom of the tv screen. Like the video size is too big for the tv. Is this something I can get around? Is it just nero's crappy encoding job?

Also, the entire vcd has no sound. Again, I used nero to convert it. Is that my problem on this?

[Ranthali0n]

I'm working on it this time with virtualdub, tmpgenc, and vcd easy, so maybe I'll have better luck this time ^_^

Still don't know what to do about the video size though... I'm thinking it may be because the dvd player is hooked up to an older tv through the use of a mod box. Never noticed a problem with dvds though...

[JimJohnD]

What you are getting is called "Overscan" and most all TVs have it. When making a video you have to keep this in mind when doing things like putting a person's name at the "Bottom" of the screen. What you see as bottom of the screen on the computer will be off the screen when viewed on a TV. You need to keep a 10 to 12% "Safe Area" around the video.

Some programs will have a "Safe-Area" setting. The Title Safe Area applies a specified amount of additional scaling to photos and menus to ensure that the edges are not lost when displayed on a TV. Settings of 10% for PAL and 12% for NTSC will keep photos fully on screen for all but the most out-of-adjustment televisions.

[Ranthali0n]

Thanks for the tip. When would I want to implement the safe area. I am using the TMPGEnc and VCDEasy to make the disk. Is the option in either of these programs. I looked but I didn't see it, just want to make sure I'm not missing anything. If not, what programs do you recommend?

[Dave B]

Under "Video Arrange Method" in TMPGEnc choose Center (custom size) and enter your target values.

[Ranthali0n]

Keen! ^_^

[Anonymous65]

Be carefull reducing the image from full screen. If you add black bordes around your image, on some TV's with less overscan you will get a black border, which does not look good. I suggest you get used how TV has always worked, and adjust your video images accordingly. Always use a 10-15% safe area, meaning don't put anything important close to the edge of the frame. You normally don't loose much on the top and bottom, but you might loose more on the sides, all depending on the TV set.

[Betamax]

If you wanna play onto a standalone DVD- or a VCD-player, connected to your tv, stick with the defaults for VideoCD (if creating VCD in MPeG-1) or SuperVideoCD (if creating SVCD in MPeG-2).
Encoding using TMPGenc, use 1 of the templates delivered with the app.
Don't start using one of the many templates you find at this site; while most are not compliant (all for hq-vcd : xvcd, cvd, kvd, etc.) unless you know what you're doing.

The size for NTSC at VCD = 352x240, PAL at VCD = 352x288, NTSC at SVCD = 480x480, PAL at SVCD = 480x576.
You may feed your avi at 640x480 into TMPGenc, TMPGenc will do the required resizing (if neccesary, you may need to set the required ratios in the settings-tab) - but you could loose quality...