Making Vcd or smaller mpg?

[suh8lim3]

What are some good simple program to turn a svcd to a vcd? I need to make a file small enough to fit on a cd-rw.I don't have a dvd burner, just cd-rw. I'm making a backup of some of my dvds to bring with me on vacation (watch on laptop) but camt seem to make a vcd or create a mpg small enough to fit on cd-rw.

[jimmalenko]

I don't know of any simple programs - you're gonna need an encoder of some description. My preference would be to use TMPGEnc Plus. If you were able to backup your DVDs to SVCD then I assume you've got a DVD-ROM ? If so, then I'd suggest using EazyVCD and outputting direct to VCD-compliant files(s) that way. Either that or use autogk and convert to 700MB Xvid or DivX files.

[suh8lim3]

I finally got the file down to a 699mb but when i tried to burn it on nero it said: Due to patent license restrictions, MPEG-4 decoding is not available. blah blah" What did I do wrong? Now that I have the file the right size, and I guess apparently a mpeg-4, is there a way to make that into a vcd or burn as is? I'd really like to find an easier way of just making it into a vcd file. That way I can just burn it on nero like all other vcd files with no fuss.

[mats.hogberg]

Once again, we're back to TMPGEnc. But you should:
A) Make the backups the right format to start with.
...or, if that for some reason is now out of the question
B) Encode the SVCD mpg to a VCD mpg.
Taking the detour over mpeg4 is only going to deteriorate the quality even further.

/Mats

[thor300]

For watching on a laptop i would without doubt convert to Xvid or DivX, packs a lot higher quality in less space.

[canadateck]

For watching on a laptop i would without doubt convert to Xvid or DivX, packs a lot higher quality in less space.

Good point I was gonna say the same thing.

[mats.hogberg]

Ah - didn't read the full original question. Yes, for computer viewing, DivX or XviD is the way to go. There are lots of guides on DVD to AVI here for your reading pleasure!

/Mats

[suh8lim3]

Ok sweet. Figured it out. Thanks to all.

[DarrellS]

Great, I download a SVCD sample from the internet and convert it to XviD/MP3 with VirtualDub-MPEG2 and then you tell me you got it all figured out...

[suh8lim3]

lol actually now I have another question. Whats a good program to change a file from .avi to a format that can be converted to vcd using TMPGenc? I try using TMPGenc on some files I have but it says .avi is unsupported or something.

[suh8lim3]

Or, if possible, is there an add-on for Nero to let you burn these type of files? I tried burning these avi files on Nero as VCD and it said something about it not being supported but it encoded and burned them anyways. I got the video working on my VCD dvd player but with no audio. So is there any type of add-on or program to help me with this? If not then ill just stick with my last question/post.

[mats.hogberg]

No, no, no! Not another Nero-solvesitall. If TMPGenc doesn't read an AVI, you either haven't the right codec, or you've set the priority wrong in TMPGEnc. TMPGEnc+VCDEasy is 1000 times better option than Nero for creating VCD. There's even a guide on how to fix TMPGEnc probs...

/Mats

[suh8lim3]

What codec do I need? Is there a guide on here on how to set TMPGEnc to read avi's?

[mats.hogberg]

Reading AVI is all TMPGEnc usually reads all day! I even linked the trouble shooting guide for you in my previous post.
What codec you need is determined by what codec is used in the AVI. Use GSpot to find out which.
If worst come to worst, load the offending AVI in VirtualDub and frameserve to TMPGEnc. I've found VDub is slightly more tolerant than TMPGEnc.

/Mats

[burnman99]

You can get eitber AVIcodec or G-Spot to determine which codec you need. Then get and install the proper codec & you're all set. You probably will not be able to fit a full length DVD (unless it's fairly short) on a VCD. And if multiple disks isn't a problem, you may want to consider several SVCD's or even several miniDVDs instead of VCD, since the quality is much better than VCD.

Hope this helps

Rog

[suh8lim3]

What would be the fastest method/program for changing to vcd? I downloaded a couple programs to change avi (among other formats) to vcdl, but they all seem to take 45-hour to do. I leave tommorrow morning to go camping and im down to some Spaced episodes I ripped from my dvd set but the way this is going it will take almost till tommorrow afternoon to get all these episodes. Not to mention I have to pack and shower and etc etc. Anyways, which way would be the fastest to either changing avi to vcd or maybe changing the avi to another format that could be put onto (or made into) a vcd? I read the aforementioned link about errors and what not in TMPGEnc and I set the priority to 2 for the AVI VFW compatibility and now it reads avi's and also takes the less time of the otehr methods ive tried (takes 30 min) but like I said before it somehow catches the video but not the sound. Ill try the programs mentioned but it would probably be easier if I wait on a reply since im in sort of a hurry and want to get all of these avi's (14 in total) done by relitavely early . thanks btw.

[mats.hogberg]

With your computer specs and TMPGEnc, expect 2 times running length (12 fps) AVI to mpeg1 without filtering and fast motion search precision.
There is no other format for VCD it's mpeg1 at a set resolution at a set bit rate. There are no shortcuts. Tha audio might be AC3 in your AVI - TMPGenc doesn't do that without help.
If you have no more than 24 hours I'd say forget it. Even if you knew how to do it, and had done it 100 of times before, and had perfect known source AVIs, it's not doable. Spend these hours doing something fun. Then come back when you have time to invest in learning. There's no magic wand to be found.

/Mats