First VCD.... HELP!!!

[DanXLL]

I am trying to create my first VCD and am having no luck! I have a Sony DVP-S530D DVD player, Dell Optiplex 400 PC with NEC NR-7800A CD-RW, and I just purchased CD Creator 5 Platinum.

I have played a VCD made by a friend in my DVD player so I've ruled that out as the problem. I have tried multiple CD/CDRW types, (the same type that worked when burnt elsewhere). The CDRW is recognized at a VCD, but when I push play either nothing happens or I get a C:13:00 error on my DVD player.
So I am down to the drive, the CD Creator 5 software, or operator error...

Any help would be appreciated!!!

Thanks.

[eprunner06]

Well first of all I really dont like Sony DVD players, but apparently that isnt the prob. All I can say is that assuming you're doing everything right, the only thing that you do different than me is burn with Easy CD Creater. To make sure you're doin everything right here is what you should be doing:
Capture the video
Do any editing that you would like to do
Encode with TMPGENC, this is the most important step
Burn the VCD!

Here's what I suggest, try bringing your VCD to your friends house and see if it plays there, if it doesnt, download the trial version of Nero from http://www.nero.com and try burning with that to see if that makes a difference. I have a feeling that that is what the prob is. Hope this helps!
Good Luck!
Eric

[Thurbs]

Have you played the VCD you made in a friends player?
If it works in a friends player, more than likely it is your DVD player.

Unfortunatley the DVD compatablity is down. You could see if yours accepts VCD's and what media types.

If your VCD is not 2.0 compliant EZ CD Creator gives a warning.

[DanXLL]

I have tried my disks in his DVD player with the same results.

I am using MGI Videowave to assembly the video clips into a movie. Then I select a format "VideoCD" and it creates an mpg. Within CD Creator 5, I load the mpg and burn the CD...

What isTMPGENC? Wouldn't one of these packages to that for me?

Thanks for you help!

[eprunner06]

TMPG is what is called an encoder, it encodes or transforms the video into a compatible VCD or SVCD etc. whatever you are making. The DVD player will only revognize files that meet the VCD standard, if only one thing is wrong it most likely will not work, if you aren't using this I know that that is the problem. The editing and burning software you're using is fine (at least I think Easy CD Creater is ok, i've never tried it) but unfortunately it doesn't do what TMPG does. Which then requires another lengthy step. But o well, what are u going to do. Some more advanced (more expensive) video editers will do what TMPG does for you.
Anyways....on to the point, you can download TMPG from the tools section of the site (on the left click on tools and scroll down to TMPG under "editing cut joining" something like that. Then go to this page of the site: http://www.vcdhelp.com/tmpgenc.htm
it is a guide for how to use TMPG, I suggest for the motion quality sensor or whatever that is on the bottom of the settings screen in tmpg selecting highest quality, it makes a big difference, I think.
I hope I'm helping.
It took me about 4 months to get this whole thing down, so stick with it, its really cool once you get it figured out.
Right now I am taking old 8mm filmstrips and putting them on VCD's with music behind them. It's pretty cool
Good Luck!
Eric

[myke]

I had the same dvd player. I had lots of trouble getting consistent results in playing vcds or svcd's. You need to use cdrw's I used memorex. The error you're getting might be because your cd has dust specs on it, or your dvd lens may need to be cleaned. The Dvd player is a great dvd player but sucks as vcd or svcd player. It will frustrate you if you try using it to play vcd's svcd's. If you're going to be doing a lot more vcd's I would highly suggest getting something else that plays vcd's more consistently and use your Sony for DVD's. The cheapo Apex dvd players play pretty much anything as far as vcd's. Pioneer models have been recommended also buy others on this site previously.

[DanXLL]

Update:
I downloaded TMPGEnc and ran that on my .mpg file and then tried to burn the VCD with creator 5... No luck. So I downloaded the demo version of NERO and it WORKED!!!! It will play eveything I throw at it... plain mpg, TMPGenc encoded mpg, and VCD PAL (352x280). This is great except I bummed I just spend $65 on creator 5 that doesn't work!!

Oh well, Thanks for all the help!

[Thurbs]

Awesome, welcome to the world of VCD....It takes a while to make quality VCD's but like people said before once you figure it out it is pretty cool.