Captured?--Maybe yes maybe no

[Safari]

I am a total newbie to this video editing thing so please bear with me. I have downloaded mpegs from the internet and they are now on my hard drive. Does this mean that they have been "captured"? If not, what else do I have to do? I also downloaded easyvcd ver.1.1.5.2. but I don't have a clue as to how to use it. I have tried to click on the help button but nothing happens. I would like to burn these mpegs to a vcd and am not sure if easyvcd will do that. I have read the guides but they don't seem to talk about this. Can anyone help with this question.--------Thanks very much.

[fmctm1sw]

The first thing you will need is more information about theses mpegs. Run them through AVIcodec (which is what I use) or gspot (used by many others) and get information regarding the resolution, bitrate and audio format. Then post it here.

[Richard_G]

Depending on what they are, the mpegs you have downloaded may well have been captured, but not by you. Capturing is the name given to the process of connecting your analogue video source (be it camcorder, VHS machine or whatever) to your computer and capturing the analogue video as a digital file on your hard drive.

Also be aware that any discussions regarding pirated copyright material is not allowed on this site. If the downloads you have are copyrighted movies that you don't own, you'll get a warning from the Moderators and the thread will be locked.

[Safari]

Thanks for the info. I downloaded avicodec. I don't know if this is the information you wanted but this is what I came up with.
File: 198mb, type, mpg, / audio, 63%
Video: 163mb, 1150kbps, 29.970fps, 352X240(4:3), mpg1=mpeg 1 (VCD)
Audio: 31mb, 224kbps,44100hz, 2 channels, 0X51=mpeg 1,audio layer 2(OxCO)

Regarding the capture issue, I thought that if the mpeg was on my HD and I could view it, it had been captured. Now I would like to burn it on a vcd. I am still confused as to whether easyvcd can do that or not? Where do I go from here?-----------Thanks

[Richard_G]

The mpeg files are VCD compliant but you need to author then before burning. EasyVCD can do it, just follow this guide

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

Regarding the definition of capture. The file may well have been captured if it has come from a different source. If it has been generated within a computer it has not been captured. For example. If I connect an analogue video source (from a camcorder say) to my computer and use software to get the analogue video saved as a digital file on my hard drive, that video has been captured. If I then edit that video file, add bits, take bits out, add titles etc and then save as a new file. That file can still be in exactly the same format and can still be viewed on the computer but it has not been captured. It hasn't come from an external source, it has been created within the computer. In your case, the file you downloaded may have been captured by somebody, but you have downloaded it, you have simply transferred it to your hard drive, you haven't captured it.

[Safari]

Thank you Richard for that excellent explanation. I will visit the site you suggested and see if I will be able to use Easyvcd to now burn a disc.