MPEG-1 or MPEG-2?

[budgirl357]

When encoding a movie to be made into a svcd or vcd, how do I know whether it is MPEG-1 or 2? I always consider the quality, but some non divx files are good enough to be svcds. I just don't know (technically) where to look to see this info. Will someone out there bless me eith the answer to this simple question? You guys are great!

(most of you, at least! )

Peace,
budgirl357

[cmacleo]

1) If you are encoding yourself, then it is a matter of how you wish to encode the file - sorroy for stating the obvious. TMPGEnc allows you to encode to VCD (MPEG1) or SVCD (MPEG2)

2) If you have a mpg file and wish to know if it is MPEG1 or MPEG2 then the simplest way I find is to try opening it using VirtualDub and use file/properties. Also if you do not have the MPEG2 codecs installed (via say a DVD playback software) then the SVCD MPEG2 will not playback.

Also the resolution os a give-away where
VCD = 352x288 (for PAL, 240 for NTSC)
SVCD = 480x576 (PAL, 480 for NTSC)
xVCD uses similar number to above but is highly player and creator dependant.

3) if the file is an AVI then it is neither MPEG1 or 2 and probably uses a DIVX codec (MPEG4 sort of)

[TasDavo2]

Not sure of your knowledge but here we go:
vcd=mpeg1
svcd and flavours(xsvcd+DVD)=mpeg2
R u downloading mpeg files from the net and wondering what flavour they are?
Simple program called Mpegprop, search in google will find it, download it run ait and just drag and drop any mpeg file into it and you'll get more info than you could possible need from it.
Hope it helps.
Win Media player will give you basic infomation about mpeg files to just play one, then select file/properties to see what it says.
Cheers
Dave
ps. my rule of thumb is if its a divx source I encode to vcd(mpeg1)
If its a straight DVD rip then encode to svcd(mpeg2)
Enjoy Bud