Help with XSVCD video

[BlackAdder2TheRescue]

Hi guys I have some questions please.
I have downloaded an XSVCD video and I am wondering if I can somehow, with some program convert it to AVI so that I can play it with Windows Media Player and also be able to play it with subs.
I have an old pc with only 3 giga space and Windows ME. Can this conversion be done? Or in another case, if it cannot be done...
I have PowerDVD 6 and I am wondering if I can play this XSVCD video on PowerDVD with the subs showing?
Thanks in advance guys

[mats.hogberg]

For conversion of XSVCD to anything, just follow some "SVCD to anything" guide. "X" just denotes "out of specs" - may be bitrate or audio sampling rate or frame size or... that makes it out of specs, but neither affects converting it to something else very much.
As for subs, it depends on how the subs are "stored" on the SVCD. SVCD can have "external" subs, in a separate stream - Really don't know how to convert these to some other format. Not many players support this type of subs either.
Most likely tho, the subs are rendered on the movie itself, and will follow it around whatever conversion you do.

/Mats

[BlackAdder2TheRescue]

So all I need to do is to convert this XSVCD video file by using the SVCD guide and then I can play it with Windows media player along with the external subs with the filters, is that right?

[mats.hogberg]

Yes. With reservation for what kind of external subs you have.

/Mats

[BlackAdder2TheRescue]

The subs are .srt files. So I'll be ok with this convertion right? Its difficult though

[mats.hogberg]

Yes, convert SVCD to AVI. Use an AVI player that supports .srt subtitles, or any AVI player + ffdshow, or any AVI player + Direct VobSub.
As you're going to reencode the SVCD to AVI, you could also hard encode the subs into the movie.

/Mats

[BlackAdder2TheRescue]

Ok I think I have made a small mistake.
The video that I have downloaded says file.xsvcd.name on the title but the extension is .mpg
that means that the video is not xsvcd right? Its an mpg file which can be played with divx and external subs without any conversion, am I right?

[mats.hogberg]

mpg is the codec used in SVCD (with or without the "X" modifier). SVCD is not a file type per se, but a video disc format. On a SVCD, you'll find mpeg video.
You can well play this mpg as is, but it might have the wrong proportions. As it's mpeg2 video (just like on a DVD), PowerDVD or other software DVD player is best suited for playback.
Other alternatives may be VLC or Mediaplayer Classic.

/Mats

[BlackAdder2TheRescue]

So you say that the file will play with those programs, PowerDVD and Videolan and Mediaplayer classic right? With the filters for the subs?

[mats.hogberg]

Not sure, but I think at least in MPC, you can select a subtitle file to play. Try. For filters to work, make sure the mpg and subtitle file has the same name (except for the extension, of course) and are in the same directory.

/Mats

[waheed]

Ok I think I have made a small mistake.
The video that I have downloaded says episode5x01.xsvcd.arrival on the title but the extension is .mpg
that means that the video is not xsvcd right? Its an mpg file which can be played with divx and external subs without any conversion, am I right?

Wait for the DVD of Smallville Seaeon 5 to be released. Read the rules concerning warez.

[BlackAdder2TheRescue]

waheed yes I know I just wanted to mention an example, I used the name as an example

mats.hogberg thank you very very much for your help very appreciated

[lordsmurf]

No warez.

Download files tend to be crappy quality because the people don't know what they're doing. Along with that is the fact that their stupidity is seen on file names, with all kinds of nonsense written down (xvid, svcd, kvcd, lol, blah blah blah). I think "tv rip" is the pinnacle of idiocy, as you cannot "rip" a tv.