Fastest VCD encoder

[dne202]

I have many hours of Mpeg-1 to encode. I've tried using Cleaner 5, Astarte M.pack and Quicktime's plugin to encode VCDs, but they're so painfully slow. I'm running a G4 450 on OS 9.2. Does anyone know of any other software I could be using that encodes faster than the ones I stated above? Are there ways to adjust my capturing techniques so that the source file will encode faster. Again, I'm looking for speed.

Also, what Mac programs can prepare Mpeg-2 video to SVCD worthy aspect ratios? The three programs I've stated about won't let me crop the Mpeg-2 stream to 480 by 480.

Dan

[major]

1/ One of the fastest way to encode a VCD on mac is still Toast Titanium
2/ M-Pack can encode to SVCD size without problems. Check Ross tutorial.

[dne202]

Thanks for the help with the SVCD encoding, I guess I overlooked it. Another question though, does Toast Titanium actually do the encoding? I thought you had to encode the file as a VCD Mpeg prior to bringing it into toast. If this is not the case, how does one encode a quicktime file into an MPEG 1 in toast?

Dan

[major]

Open Toast, click on VCD, drop a .mov file on the window and it will start encoding.

[dne202]

I see, but does that trigger the same encoding engine as I was using when I exported from quicktime? Cause they look similar to me.

Thanks for the help
Dan

[major]

Yes, it is the Toast engine in both cases. It is probably the fastest mac solution to encode a VCD with an acceptable image quality. The OSX version is far better than the OS9 as you will be able to encode in background.