Panasomic MPEG1 Standalone Encoder

[Theflash]

Is it possible to get the above encoder to read directly from VOB files. At present the encoder expects to read AVI's, MPG,s etc but I don't want to use an extra tool to create these formats from the VOB's as undoubtedly I will lose some quality in the conversion (whilst also probably doulbling the time of the entire process).
If it not possible for this encoder to read VOB's directly, what tool/tools should I use to create the necessary input files for the standalone encoder.
Thanks in advance for any info.

[vitualis]

Use FlaskMPEG and get the Panasonic Adobe Premiere plug-in.

Or, use DVD2AVI and frameserve to TMPGEnc.

The Panasonic MPEG Encoder cannot directly read VOB files. Using Flask/DVD2AVI makes only a minor impact to the time in conversion and have no impact at all on quality.

Regards.

[Theflash]

Thanks for the reply.

I have tried frameserving from DVD2AVI into TMPGENC but I'm not happy with the PAL VCD format produced. Also, I don't think that the format file TMPGENC produces is VCD 2.0 which is what I am looking for.

I have Flaskmpeg but it appears to be very difficult to get hold of the panasonic plugin. I would gladly give a copy of my Panasonic MPEG1 standalone encoder (non-demo version) for the plugin.

[vitualis]

There is no such thing as "VCD 2.0 file format". VCD2.0 uses MPEG-1 at specific specifications for the video. As long as you selected the PAL Template in TMPGEnc, it will be right. You will still have to author your VCD with a program that knows what a VCD is (e.g., VCDImager, Nero, Easy CD Creator, WinOnCD, etc.)

A VCD is not an MPEG file on a CD-ROM.

As for the plug-in you will be able to find it in many places but not here.

Regards.

[Theflash]

Michael, sorry, I phrased it wrong. I know VCD is not a file format, its a definition on how video/audio is to be stored on CD.

But, the essence of my question still remains unanswered. Are there different VCD definitions? If not then way does VCDEASY give you the choice to choice to create VCD 1.1 or VCD 2.0 VCD types??

[vitualis]

You can use VCDImager (VCD Easy is a GUI) to make both VCD1.1 and VCD2.0 discs. The source video files for these discs are the same, however.

The main difference between VCD1.1 and VCD2.0 is the addition of PBC support, segment play items and PAL support. You can read more about it here: http://www.vcdimager.org/pub/vcdimager/manuals/0.7/vcdimager.html (read point 2.2)

I'm not sure of the capabilities of VCD Easy, but it is trivial to make a VCD1.1 as opposed to VCD2.0: http://www.geocities.com/medinotes/vcd/general_xml_structure.html (read under the tag <videocd> )...
if the above is busy then it is also mirrored here: http://www.vcdimager.org/guides/general_xml_structure.html

Regards.

_________________
Michael Tam

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: vitualis on 2002-01-13 04:36:26 ]</font>

[Theflash]

MIchael, thanks for your prompt responses and links to VCD1.1/VCD2.0 info. I think I now have a solution that works for me which allows me to use the standalone Panasonic encoder. Process I'm using is as follows:

1. Smartripper to rip VOB's
2. DVD2AVI to create project file
3. Standalone VFAPI converter to create fake AVI(this was the key piece of software which I needed to link to Panasonic)
4. Pansonic MPEG1 Standalone Encoder to create PAL VCD2.0
5. Nero

Last question, I am seeing mixed responses to the use of Nero for burnng VCD's. Some day it's OK, others say to definitely keep away from it. I'm using it and it seems fine. I have tried to use VCDEASY but it cannot see my CD writer (even using forceaspi unders Windows XP).Do you have any preference??

[vitualis]

Nero is fine for what I call a "simple multitrack" VCD.

However, if you want something more sophisticated (e.g., menus), then I would advice you to stay well away from Nero.

As for your problems with VCD Easy, remember that this is only a GUI for VCDImager which is the underlying "guts". VCDImager is the probably the most powerful and flexible (and only open source) S/VCD system in existence. It creates CUE/BIN images as this image format is the most compatible across multiple platforms (e.g., Linux, various flavours of Unix, Win32/NT, etc.)

VCD Easy uses CDRDAO to burn these images and if you don't have an ASPI layer, then it could pose a problem. I've got an article on how to burn CUE/BIN images here: http://www.geocities.com/medinotes/vcd/burning_cuebin_images.html or the mirror
http://www.vcdimager.org/guides/burning_cuebin_images.html

Regards.