Xvid with Ac3 to VCD using Panasonic MPEG1 & Ac3tool

[Dutch Coder]

Dutch Coder's alternative guide for converting Xvid with Ac3 to VCD.

Tools:
- Gspot
- Virtualdub
- Virtualdub Mp3
- Cillers Ac3tool
- Panasonic MPEG1 Encoder

1) Check codec/ framerate.

Open Gspot ( see Tools section ), load the Avi to check what codecs are used & framerate. This guide is for Xvid, but can also
be used for Divx, but for Divx I prefer TMPGenc.

2) Check the AVI for bad frames.

Open Virtualdub Mp3, and scan the AVI for bad frames, and if found; edit & delete them. Use this guide to do:
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/userguides/142555.php

3) Converting the Ac3 sound.

Open regular Virtualdub, load the AVI, and under "audio" select "direct stream copy".


Then save the WAV. When this is done, we are going to rename the xxx.wav to xxx.Ac3.
Windows will give you a warning; ignore it.


4) Using Cillers Ac3tool.

I know many people use Headac3he, but I prefer Ac3tool, because it's very easy to use.
http://www.digital-digest.com/dvd/downloads/ac3tool.html

1) Here you will see the xxx.Ac3 file. ( where ever you saved it to... )
2) Click "Ac3 to WAV"


On the next window........... click "AC3 to WAV"....... thats all.


5) Converting to VCD.

Now open Panasonic MPEG1 encoder, and choose your settings.


1) Switch "identical files" off.
2) Select your ( scanned & edited ) AVI.
3) Select your edited "Ac3" WAV.
4) Choose Pal or Ntsc VCD.
5) Choose your frame-rate here.
6) Start converting......................
For more advanced options in Panasonic encoder; see the guide here:
https://www.videohelp.com/panasonic.htm

You will notice that Panasonic is a bit slower than TMPGenc. But for me this method works very well.
Give it a try! Any comment/ suggestion is welcome.

Dutch_Coder ( Rene ) 8)

[sdebo]

Is it possible to make SCVD from XVid ? If yes can you tell me how as every time I try it goes out of sync.
I can make VCD no problem.

[Dutch Coder]

Sure it's possible; but not with Panasonic encoder. This guide is to convert Xvid's with Ac3 to Vcd using Panasonic encoder. Xvid is just a codec..... so can be converted to vcd/xvcd/svcd/xsvd........ Check the link below...... you'll find many usefull guides here.
https://www.videohelp.com/convert

D.C.

[sdebo]

I wish it was that easy. Can't get them to convert to SVCD. I can however convert them to VCD.
If you know how to make SVCD from XViD, it will be appreciated.

[BHbrown8]

I'm very confused at why you change the extension from .WAV to .AC3 and then back to .WAV again......please clarify this. And if it is necessary, how do you do it? I'm running Windows 98. I remember changing a file extension once before on my system and I think it was when I was using Napster. Other than that, i'm stumped, b/c anywhere I try Windows automatically keeps the same extension; you're just changing the file name. Please justify. thanks.

[Dutch Coder]

That's 'cause Ac3 files are compressed; to encode to (x)vcd we want to work with uncompressed files.

If you cant change the extension of your audio-file; you have to do this:
Double click on My Computer

then go to Tools->Folder Options
-- select the view tab

then uncheck "Hide Extensions for known file types"


I hope this answer your questions.
D.C.

[BHbrown8]

Ok I understand your reasoning now, ... but when I extract audio from an AVI, I always go to full processing mode and make sure the compression is at No Compression. Then I save the WAV, which saves it as an uncompressed WAV file, correct? I just find it easier to work with the same program rather than 2 and have to do some manipulating along the way. Please let me know if this is a correct assumption because I have always done it this way and it has worked so far. thanks

[Dutch Coder]

I think I see your point ; but my guide is about dealing with Ac3 files . If the audio is not Ac3; you don't have to go " this way " . And yes..... then you choose the " full processing " mode to save the WAV.
Read the basic-guide ( below ) about decompressing audio-files.

https://www.videohelp.com/virtualdubaudio.htm

D.C.

[svens son]

hi, i`m using your guide ok upto the point where you use the Panasonic Mpeg encoder, this has since been updated so i thought rather than pay £40 i`d try tmpgenc.

for some reason this keeps crashing after the first second, i`ve d/led the xvid codec & have various other codecs installed, hope you can help

cheers