VCD v/s SVCD v/s miniDVD

[kktk1]

Can anyone explain the difference between these formats..??
I know a VCD is a mpeg-1 format and a DVD is a mpeg-2 format--but I am unclear on what is what depending on what media and writer we choose to do this with...

Is the difference between what media I write these to--like a CD-R v/s a DVD-R(or DVD-RW)? Or does it solely depend on the kind of file???

thanks
kapil

[kinneera]

Try the "What Is" section to the left (in blue).

[resnullius]

actually all these are done on cd-r/rw. A normal burner will do these. full dvd tho(not minidvd) must be done with a dvdr/rw burner. Minidvd is not very compatible with most settop dvd players and you can only put about 20 minutes worth of video on a cd. svcd has a better image quality than vcd but not as good as dvd, it's lightly less compatible than vcd tho. Vcd is by far the most compatible. It plays on most settop dvd players... it's image quality is comparable to vhs.

hope that helps

[AntnyMD]

The main advantage to miniDVD is the ability to retain 5.1 Dolby Digital sound. If playing time is more of a desire, you can fit more info at the same bitrate and resolution, minus Dolby Digital audio, onto an XSVCD.

[kktk1]

thanks for your comments on this...
I did read the section on the right..but it was not very clear on what media I was writing me mpeg-1 and mpeg-2 to...

Hence the confusion....

I have tried making a DVD on a CD-R(which I guess would be a cDVD or miniDVD)--did not play in my Toshiba 4700.
I tried making a VCD on my CD-R--same result.

Never tried SVCD....so dont know compatibility issues with those...

BTW--can we burn a DVD or SVCD using a DVD burner on a DVD-r/rw etc? Just curious

[Markkus]

Vcd is cack quality.......

Svcd is ok if your happy with a six disc film..........

And minidvd is only compatible with a few players....

[resnullius]

yes you can burn dvd with a dvd burner up to now dvd-r/rw gives the best results. But you can't just pop a commercial dvd in and burn...

[Faceman101]

don't listen to Markkus, he does not know what he is talking about.

[kktk1]

so a mpeg-1 file burned on a DVD-R/RW with a dvd burner is still a VCD?

[haymes]

I think that the best route for compatability and quality if you don't have dvd burner is an xvcd. Just use the standard vcd resolution and up the bit rate to lets say 1800 for black and white, 2048 for color movies. Use a good audio bit rate such as over 224, dual channel, and after capturing at this rate, author it with ulead dvd movie factory. It works great. Actually, I found that an 830 meg file that I caught on mpeg1 wouldn't burn to a 700 meg cdr/w using nero. I took that same file, authored it with ulead dvd movie factory and magically it turned into a 670 meg file! I was able to fit almost 45 min on the cdr/w (700 meg) and had a little room to spare. The sound was also improved!

[vitualis]

so a mpeg-1 file burned on a DVD-R/RW with a dvd burner is still a VCD?

No. A VCD by definition must be on CD media.

However, you are allowed to use MPEG-1 files (of particular specs) on a DVD. You can definitely make a fully compliant DVD with MPEG-1 source files.

Regards.