Could be a simple problem…

[k3yD]

I used Eazy VCD to convert a DVD to SVCD and the output mpeg file was PERFECT! The sound wasn’t out of synch, the video was clear, perfect perfect perfect! HOWEVER, once I burned that output mpeg file to a CD-R (using Nero) and tried it on my DVD Player, I was disappointed to find out that the video was blocky/choppy. Now, mind you, I’ve burned TONS of (S)VCDs before so I can’t figure out what’s wrong. I tried dropping the burn speed to 2x and still, the video was blocky/choppy.

Help, guys!

[k3yD]

Come on, guys! Anybody? Any help?

If I'm missing ANY information that I should give at all, please tell me. If not then I'm just gonna kill myself and all will be good.

[daamon]

Hi k3yD,

What app are you using to do the burning?
What burner do you have?
How long have you had it / how often do you use it?
What media are you using?

One, some or all of these could be having an effect and it'd be useful for people to know the answers...

[Hardcoreruss]

Vary your speed and your media.

Does your completed version look blocky when you play it on the pc also ?

[k3yD]

Hi k3yD,

What app are you using to do the burning?

I'm using Nero 5.5.10.15

What burner do you have?

It's an external 6X4X6 writer I got some years back from RadioShack.

How long have you had it / how often do you use it?

I've had it for more than 3 years now and I've probably used it to burn more than 300 movies.

What media are you using?

Imation CDs which I've used for a number of years now also.


I've NEVER had a single problem burning movies or audio CDs. This month, however, I've tried converting some of my old DVDs and although I didn't have any problems ripping a DVD using Eazy VCD, the output file burned to a CD plays choppy/blocky.

Thanks for your reply, man.

[k3yD]

Hardcoreruss wrote:

Vary your speed and your media.

Yes, I've tried doing that. Read the last sentence of my first post. What I noticed was that while it is being encoded to mpg using TMPGEnc, the format (?) being used was NTSCFilm. I have a Mintek DVD player and I don't think it can handle that format (?). Maybe I'm wrong but what the hell. What I did was I opened up TMPGEnc and encoded the previous output file to just NTSC. I'm currently burning it onto a disk and hopefully that should fix it.

Does your completed version look blocky when you play it on the pc also ?

As for your second question, no. It is not at all blocky when I play it on my PC (the output mpg file, that is). I think even when I tried watching the CD on my PC, it was also chopppy/blocky.


I appreciate your help.

[k3yD]

Hmm... maybe, instead of having an mpeg file as the output file, I should select cue/bin instead and then use VCDGear for example to correct any mpeg errors it might have?

It wouldn't hurt to try...

[daamon]

Hi k3yD,

You could always try VCDEasy (you'll need the SVCD MPEG2 file first), or DVD2SVCD. Just some alternative options, rather than known solutions.

This kinda thing can be a bit like shooting in the dark...

I'm using Nero 5.5.10.15

I recall reading in another post that Nero pre-version 6.3 (I think it's 6.3...) had issues (bugs?) burning DVD's. Might be worth upgrading - even if it's not that, as you've been burning loads already.

Have you made any changes in between "burning OK" and "now not burning OK"?

It wouldn't hurt to try...

I like your style, if only more could be like you...

[jimmalenko]

I hate to say it, but "imation was created when they spelled imitation wrong".

Try different CD-Rs.

[k3yD]

Hi k3yD,

You could always try VCDEasy (you'll need the SVCD MPEG2 file first), or DVD2SVCD. Just some alternative options, rather than known solutions.

That's EXACTLY what I'm going to do! Thanks for telling me those two other options, daamon.

This kinda thing can be a bit like shooting in the dark...

You're right... this seems like I'm shooting in the dark here because on one hand, I'm not really doing anything wrong. I followed the guide to the letter and had an output mpeg file that was perfect. The problem is when I try to play that output mpeg file on a CD. On the other hand, I haven't changed any settings at all in Nero. I've been using the same settings for years now. I know nothing's been changed because everytime I am going to burn a file, I always check the settings to make sure they are correct so I have pretty much memorized the settings that have always worked for me.

I played the movie on my PC and it doesn't seem like it's choppy/blocky at all. I'm maybe wrong because I only watched about 5 minutes of the movie but I'm 95% sure that it is not. And I know it's not my DVD Player because that's the same one that I've been using for years now to watch all those movies that I've burned in years past.

So I think here's what I'm going to do:

*Upgrade to a newer Nero version.
*Instead of having an output file that is in mpeg format, I'll see what happens when I have a cue/bin file instead.

*Try VCDEasy.
*Try DVD2SVCD

I've heard that DVD2SVCD's encoding time takes MUCH MUCH MUCH longer compared to, say, Eazy VCD or TMPGEnc. Is this true?

Oh well, I guess I'm back to experimenting again.

MUCH thanks, daamon!

[k3yD]

I hate to say it, but "imation was created when they spelled imitation wrong".

Try different CD-Rs.

LOL!

That could be true because they really are cheap. As for your suggestion, I already tried that. This time, I used a Memorex CD-RW disk. Same result though.

:/

[daamon]

Hi k3yD

Have you made any changes in between "burning OK" and "now not burning OK"?

I didn't necessarily mean just to Nero, but to your whole PC setup overall - i.e. added new software, codecs, played with the registry, etc.

I've heard that DVD2SVCD's encoding time takes MUCH MUCH MUCH longer compared to, say, Eazy VCD or TMPGEnc. Is this true?

I don't know about Eazy VCD, but DVD2SVCD uses 2 external encoders, one of which is TMPGEnc, so I'd be surprised if it was more than "just a bit" longer, if at all... The other encoder is Mainconcept I think, which is supposed to be quicker than TMPGEnc by a good margin.

MUCH thanks, daamon!

No problem. Pleasure - Just hope you get to crack it. It's really frustrating when things just stop working.

Keep us posted... (Useful for others if they have the same problem).