100% Newbie

[dj plastic fork]

Hi, I don't know if this question has already been asked, (i'm pretty sure it has, but I couldn't find it) but I am currently setting up a high end sound system + monitors in my car, and I would like to know how to burn video cds that I can watch in the car. Should I go with VCD, SVCD, HQ-VCD, etc.? After the video is downloaded, what steps would I take to convert the files to these formats, and how do I burn them onto a regular cd? (not DVD)
I'm sure these instructions are posted somewhere on this resourceful site, but I am an idiot, and can't find them. It would be appreciated if someone could explain to me how to do this, as if I were a 6 year old. Thanx for your time.

[hwoodwar]

This is largely dependent upon the precise make/model of the DVD player you will be putting in your car. Some DVD players don't play SVCDs but play VCDs, some don't play any kind of VCD, some play DVD+r but not DVD-r, etc, etc, etc. Please give us the exact make/model of the DVD player you will be using or, you can look it up yourself in the DVD players section at : www.vcdhelp/dvdplayers . If you "look it up" make sure you read all of the individuals' user comments as these can give you additional insight into compatabilities, problems and fixes.

There is no special instructions for Video CDs in the car. There are probably hundreds of guides on creating VCDs and SVCDs on this website and to some extent they depend on what software you are going to use. There is a menubar on the left side of this website, you can start with the "How To" section. Additionally you may want to search through the User Guides in the forum at: http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=15

Those should get you started and give you some insight as to what you're "getting youself into".

[Wetmonkey]

look to the left of the site, you see that menu bar? it says
WHAT IS...
VCD
SVCD
DVDR
then it says
HOW TO...
Newbie
Author
Capture
and so on and so forth
It would be wise to check out the newbie section and the dvd ripp section. the guides are all listed in there
I know that menu bar on the left is hard to find its so damn el usive

[twodogs]

Plastic Fork,

I've had a Kenwood 907 VCD Player/Screen in my car, so here's my opinion. (I can't comment for DVD as the Kenwood is only a VCD player).

I found that since you are watching on a screen of no more than 7 inches (in my case 5.8 inch), there was no point in exceeding the quality of VCD.
All my downloads/rips/burns looked as good as I felt they needed to in a car - in fact I don't think there would have been much to gain by going to SVCD or DVD anyway (others may disagree with me here & you can always start with VCDs and move onto SVCDs later if you reckon there's more to be gained from them - the conversion/burning process is identical)

In terms of how to make a VCD, click on the Convert link at the left and read the first item: "How to convert to VCD with TMPGEnc"
This will make VCD compliant MPEG movie from whatever you downloaded (DivX, MPG, AVI, etc)

Once you have the VCD compliant MPEG, burn it onto CD-R using Nero or other burning software.
The first item under the Author link to the left tells you how to burn the MPEG to get a VCD disc.

I've had no problems using TMPGEnc and Nero (in their standard formats - ie. without changing any settings except the obvious ones), so suggest you give these a go first.

Hopefully any 6 year old can understand the guides I refer to.

[Conquest10]

LMAO@Wetmonkey

[dj plastic fork]

Ok, that sounds pretty simple, my last question is, how can i get the BEST, absolutely BEST sound quality. I don't care about the video quality as much, but what's important is the sound. Will VCD give me CD quality sound?
what about SVCD, any difference in sound?
or HQ-VCD?