VCD + SVCD on one disc?

[Paul D]

I have some material I want to send to a large number of people. It's clear from my tests that VCD gives the best compatability, but SVCD gives better quality (DVD is too expensive).

So, as there is only a limited amount of material, is it possible to put it twice on the same disc - once as a VCD and once as an SVCD?

If it is possible, how do you do it, what software will I need and how can I provide a menu so that people can choose between VCD and SVCD?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice

[Cornucopia]

I'm going to assume a few things:
1. That your audience have a variety of devices-computers and VCD or DVD settops.
2. Program is short enough to where you can get 2 copies onto the disc (with room to spare).

No, it's not possible to do both together and be according to spec. If you could conceiveably author and burn a disc the bends the rules somewhat and ends up with both, I would expect that it wouldn't play correctly in MANY settops.

Things to remember:
VCD and SVCD are "expected" to be playable on dumb Consumer devices and as such their structure is based on absolute positioning, not relative logical positioning (i know there's probably a better word for the term???) and VCD and SVCD put certain required info in exactly the same spot--conflict!

IIWY, I'd go with VCD, or maybe semi-(X)VCD, where an opening menu gives you a choice of versions--normalVCD, higher bitrate XVCD, higher rez and bitrate XVCD, and HIGHEST REZ/Bitrate XVCD.

There are other methods that could give a variable experience on computer, but not settop.

HTH,
Scott

[TBoneit]

Short Answer = yes you can have both on 1 DVD Disk.

Use Something like TMPGEnc DVD Author program, I like it since It'll let me see non standard Mpegs for editing (480 by 480 or 544 by 480), Create the VCDs with 48Khz Audio, Likewise the SVCD. Stay standard with bitrates (More compatible that way).

Use DVDPatcher to patch the SVCD header to DVD Specs. Add the VCDs & SVCDs, Save your project.

Patch the SVCDs back to SVCD resolution, Reopen the DVD Author program, Create Chapters, menus, And Author.

They, VCD & SVCD, both work on my Players.

May or may not work on every player, almost guaranteed not too with some players. So I'd create a short DVD resolution Intro explaing both formats are there and how to use.

Good Luck

[Ejoc]

the original poster didnt want to use DVDs.

You could do some VCD header hacking, but it probably would become less complient. Basicly lookup the VCD header trick, if you applied it to the SVCD, you could burn a VCD disc with the real VCD and the SVCD on one disc, but your DVD player will think its all VCD

[Paul D]

Many thanks for the responses. The suggestion that I put VCD and some form of semi-(X)VCD on the same disc is interesting and I will give that a try.

Compatability with a wide range of players is important. I tried the header trick and although it fooled my Sony DVD player it failed to impress my Toshiba machine.

Thanks again.

[Ejoc]

The VCD Header Trick doesnt work w/ computers, at least I didnt get it to work. It does work on my DVD player, I just made one to see if it would work.