vcd re-encoding problem

[nexus123]

A few years ago I encoded some two hour long television programs to two vcds. I would like to pull those off and re-encode them to none standard vcd (mpeg1 850ish kb/sec 128kaudio) to fit on one cd. Low bitrate aside am I going to be losing a lot of quality. Also do ya'll think that I would lose to much quality for it to be viewable. I would try it and find out for myself but it would be a very time consuming task having to transfer from disc to hd re-encode then back to disc amd then come out with crap. Just wandering if anyones tried anything similiar and what kind of success or failure resulted.

[mats.hogberg]

Regular VCD is low quality as it is. I personally wouldn't dream of encoding to "XVCD" @ 850 kbps even from a perfect source - With VCD as source - well, you see where I'm going.
Why not reauthor as DVd instead? That way, you'll at least not lose any quality (as no vide reencoding is necessary), and you'll get it all on one disc.

/Mats

[nexus123]

Well the qualitys not to great to begin w/ they were recorded to vhs in the early 80s to the mid 90s I believe and I'm really not concerned to much w/ the quality of video. I've many that Ive encoded more recently at the lower bitrate from avis I believe there divx not sure the quality is fine for my taste though(I dont own a huge tv anyway.) I dont have a dvd burner either and I've devoted myself to vcd due to low cost of cds. I can get a 50 pack for 10 bucks, though since I've come into the scene the price of dvdrs have dropped dramatically I still prefer my vcds. Anyways was just trying to find out if I would experience a severe quality drop between re-encoding fresh from a high quality source or re-encoding the ones that I already have thanks for the quick reply though.

[mats.hogberg]

a severe quality drop between re-encoding fresh from a high quality source or re-encoding the ones that I already have

Yes. There'd be a big difference.

/Mats

[Abond]

I am wondering if it can be done with ReJig. Originally it is for mpeg2, but who knows... And of course drop the audio bitrate to 96.

[mats.hogberg]

Doubt that. I don't think there are any tools for transcoding mpeg1 (if at all it's possible)

/Mats

[Abond]

I think it is worth to try. Once I had a mpeg1 file with wrong AR written to it (1:1 instead of 4:3). So I decide to correct it (after demuxing as m1v) in ReStream (it is also designed to work with mpeg2 files). To my surprize ReStream accepted the file and even more correctly showed all the properties of the file, including the matrix. I changed the AR from 1:1 to 4:3 and start the conversion. The new file was with .m2v extension, I renamed it as .m1v and TMPG Mpeg tools happily accepted it, showing it is mpeg1 file and muxed back the VCD.

[mats.hogberg]

Yeah, never say never! ...and nexus123 - In the end, there's no one but you who can say if it's good enough for you. Why not go ahead and reencode (or transcode) a short clip from your VCD and see how it looks to you?

/Mats

[nexus123]

thanks appreciate all of the suggestions I believe I'll give it a go and see what happens

[Bjs]

Buck the trend , and re-encode too mpeg2 with the same resolution , and convert audio to ac3 .

1: Rip mpeg from vcd's
2: Open first clip in windows movie maker ... when imported is done ... "save project now"
3: Build 3 minute clips , export as dv avi (do till all has been exported)
4: Use one of the free dv convetor's to convert each exported clip to dv2 (delete each original clip when it's converted)
5: Use vdub , open first clip , then use append method to link all other's in correct order
6: Resize back to original resolution
7: Frameserve to bbmpeg (bbmpeg is the better encoder , never crash's ifoedit authoring)

8: In main window of bbmpeg , see size , if not same as input , change it now
9: Hit start or encode

10: enter setting's (follow this from my guide of vdub frameserving)

11: If pal source , generate dvd title using ifoedit ... rejig for ntsc

12: Create basic dvd with dvdauthogui (add on small title in required format)
13: Creat menu's with enough button's for need's , connect link's (nav) , author to folder .

14: Open pgcedit , import you vcd converted title (copy)
15: Import menu ... save dvd now .
16: Check menu link's , button link's are correct , save dvd .

Basically you can ignore that original clip used by dvdauthorgui (or clear it off using vob blanker , later)

Playback your new creation , before burning to media .

===================================

Rather long in some area's , but simple in other's .

It is the only method I have found that help's me to retain the quality from original vcd's ... and you can add multiple audio and subtitle's if your game (foobar/besweet for audio , visualsubsync / srt2sup or sub for subs)

[MOVIEGEEK]

You might also try KVCD templates,I heard they are good for low bitrates.I would seriously consider making a DVD though.

[nexus123]

I wish I could make a DVD out of them, but I don't have a DVD burner. If I had a desktop computer I would consider purchasing one, but I only have a couple of laptops which puts the price out of my range. Anyways thanks for the suggestion, I think I'll just start from scratch w/ a fresh source rather trying to re-do the old versions. It'll be less on hands work and more batch unattended work for me. I hate having to pull something off a disc it takes so long especially if theres a few scratches or stubborn smudges. Thanks for all of your suggestions.

[mats.hogberg]

Wise decision, IMO.

/Mats

[whitejremiah]

thought about a USB 2.0 based dvd burner? I'm not trying to push it over on you, but honestly, you really need it if your still messing around with vcd/svcd/xvcd, ect....you can build your own external dvd burner with an external case and an IDE based dvd burner, you can pick up both for probably under 70 bux on say newegg or something....