DVD to VCD - What did I miss?

[Dhruv]

Some of you might remember me from a few years back . Anyway I just wanted to know what the easiest method of DVD to VCD without having free space (I've only got 4gbs free ). I want the quickest method that results in good quality. Is it still to use DVDx?
BTW my specs are PIII 733mhz, 256mbs, 4gb free, 12x DVD-ROM drive (don't laugh )
Thanks!

[bartman]

Why laugh ?...I still have a PII450 and a TNT2

Anyway, one of the best programs I've used to rip DVD's without using up hdd space is still DVDx. All it needs is around 10-20Mb to cache DVD data to prevent constant reading of your DVD (and wearing out the drive) and can rip to VCD, SVCD and AVI (for the divx freaks ).

Also, Another good thing I like about DVDx it that it will downsample your 5.1 audio to Pro Logic.....which, while it isn't true surround sound, it is better than stereo .

[Dhruv]

Thanks for your help . Is Pro Logic compatible with VCD or would that be pushing it to XVCD?

[bartman]

Sure is.

Dolby Pro Logic is simply a stereo sountrack. The "surround" bit is encoded into the stereo soundtrack using tech that Dolby came up with that will allow left, right, centre and surround (and sub). The surround track is the same for both left and right but unless you are a supreme audiophile, it doesn't matter for most movies.....especially given the alternative (stereo).

As an interesting side note, if you have a surround system hooked into your DVD player, play a regular audio CD and listen to it using Pro Logic....it is amazing at the difference it makes....even though it isn't really "true" surround.

[Dhruv]

Sounds good ! Thanks for all the help, just another quick one:
Is it worth using an external encoder with DVDx? Will it have a significant increase in quality?

[bartman]

To be honest, I've never used an external encoder with DVDx. The default output does me fine normally. If I need to use an external encoder I tend to use it directly or frameserve from Premiere to TMPGEnc but that's only when I want an extra low bitrate ( like ripping Shrek to one VCD ). Even then I can't tell much difference between the quality....then again I'm using a regular TV and not some wizz-bang projector......

[Dhruv]

Ok, I'll just use the standard encoder. Thanks for all your help!
Cheers,