mpg file clock rate - what's the standard?

[bluescorps]

This is a general question re: making vcd's from rendered mpg
files. I use Easy CD Creator to burn vcd's, which shows the parameters of the .mpg file you're trying to 'vcd'. In trying to burn a vcd from a
MovieXone-rendered "vcd-template" file, Easy CD complains about two things: the video bitrate AND the "system clock rate". It wants files with a clock rate of 1200. MovieXone and Ulead both have an adjustment
for the video bitrate (needs to be 1150, ok) but has no adjustment for the system clock rate and makes files with a clock rate of 1040 and 1058, respectively. These are flagged in Easy CD as "not acceptable per White Book specs", and indeed, the vcd won't play in my Panasonic dvd player (stutters, etc). When I run the file through TEMPGENC utility (the ultimate leveler it seems), the clock rate is now 1200, bitrate 1150, and no problems burning or playing. I don't understand all this variation. Does Nero do this too?
Thanx,
b.c.

[vitualis]

Obviously, your MPEG-1 encoder doesn't actually know how to create a VCD compliant file.

Now, usually, as long as the main specs are correct:
video bitrate: 1150 kbit/s CBR
audio bitrate: 224 kbit/s CBR (MPEG-1 Layer 2 audio, 16-bit stereo sampled at 44.1 kHz)
frame size: 352x240 for NTSC or 352x288 for PAL
framerate: 29.97 fps for NTSC or 25 fps for PAL or 23.976 fps for NTSC-FILM

...the rest can be fixed. As for the "clockrate" thing, you can fix this by multiplexing your MPEG file with a muxer that knows about VCDs. For example, use the Simple multiplex option on TMGEnc (File --> MPEG Tools), load your file and set your output file, and change the setting from "Auto" to "MPEG-1 Video-CD".

Easy CD Creator won't have a problem with the file then.

However, your bitrate, framesize, framerate must be correct to start off with. Remuxing your MPEG file won't correct these.

Regards.