Please help, not sure what is going wrong!

[jbrown]

I'm new to burning VCD's. I've got some avi files that I converted to MPEG-1 files with EO Video. Then I've taken those MPEG files and with Neo, I've burned them to a CD-R. That resulting disc I have been able to play on my PC DVD player, but when I put it in my standalone, it tells me that it is unable to play it.

I called the manufacter, Hitachi (the model is a DV-P305U), and they said that the DVD player cannot play CD-R's. However, the manual states that it can play Video CD's, which the telephone rep confirmed. I thought that was what I made. Am I using the wrong kind of disc (are there special Video CD discs I need to buy), or did something go wrong with my conversion? I thought I followed all the instructions, but the two I have made never will play on the Hitachi. The fact that they play on my PC when I pull up the DVD player program indicates to me that I followed the right procedure, although the Hitachi clearly states that it will play Video CD's, which is what I thought I created. I'm using a standard CD burner to make these, if that makes a difference. Do I need a DVD burner to create Video CD's?

If anyone has ANY help, I would be MOST appreciative! This has been rather frustrating!

[mdm]

Your DVD player does not support CD-R *media*, which has nothing to do with VCDs. This is quite common for older players. Try burning to a CD-RW disc (they more closely match DVD laser/media specs) as many players support these.

[Tommyknocker]

When your DVD says it will play VCDs, it means the commercial ones you buy. When you create a VCD, it is not a commercial VCD, but either a CD-R, or a CD-RW. You player has to be able to play these disks, or hopefully you fellow owners know of a workaround.

I am skeptical though. I own a Hitachi 315U, and all the tips and tricks my fellow owners say work left me with a huge supply of coasters. Good luck, though.

[jbrown]

so then you think perhaps I am just SOL on burning a VCD to play on the Hitachi? Crud...so I would be wasting my time in trying different methods...perhaps I should take my VCD up to Best Buy and test if it works in any of the players up there. That would be my test, that my player is total crap!

[Tommyknocker]

I am not ready to toss mine just yet. Our players both run DVD-RWs. So I will hang on to it see how my DVDs turn out once I buy a DVD-RW, so maybe you may want to in case you decide to move on to making DVDs.