Dumb Question : I promise they'll get better as time goes by

[ress]

Hello to VCD and all board users, here is my first question (want to make sure before I start making digital video work):

If you own a VCD Recorder, 1. You don't need to do all of the work that is explained in this site, correct? and 2. What do you loose control over or benefits from doing it directly from source to VCD Recorder? The only thing that comes to mind is the optionn of being able to create a nice menu for the user to navigate through the disc.

Get back to me when you can, no hurry, and again,........ my apologies, but I don't want to assume anything before I start.

[KingJohn]

We all already have ordinary CD-Writers, we all already have the free software that's needed, no need to buy more equipment.

Direct from source ? what would that be ? a downloaded movie ? or a recording from a DVD/VHS player ?

[ress]

Hey quick to get an answer

What I meant was, the stand-alone desktop VCD Recorders. And in terms of source I mean, television, VCR, DVD PLayer, Camera.

Thanks

[KingJohn]

I think you will find that the source most of the time is downloading.

As for DVD, DVD ripping then conversion to DivX for other people to share is often use more than making a backup of your own DVD onto VCD

VHS, nah people dont share those much 8)

[ress]

O.K. Lets try this again, I will try to be very clear.

A. If only interested in making VCD
B. You have a VCD DESKTOP recorder
C. You hook your vcd desktop recorder to the television, vcr, or camera
D. You make a vcd from whatever you are recording

My point, "that makes all the info on VCDHelp on recording VCD unnecessary" RIGHT? The coding, converting, etc.etc. is all done by the VCD DESKTOP recorder.

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Now, if I you can, whoever gives me answers on this board, could you point out what I might be missing in terms of "control" or "features" if I go the seemingly EASY route and just make my VCD using a DEKTOP VCD RECORDER.

Thank you, greatly appreciated.

[Mirror_Image]

Just go buy a set-top vcd recorder from a place with a good return policy (a.k.a. 10 days, return for any reason, no restocking fee). If you like it, keep it. If you don't, return it.

[Dead Meat]

If you already own a vcd recorder then go ahead and use it. If you own a somewhat new computer...then add a CD-RW drive for about $50-100. CD-R are dirt cheap if bought in bulk. Sure the desktop takes all the guesswork out of it, just burn away. You lose the ability to author the VCD and make changes to the audio...the bit rate or resolution...plus lots of other advanced features. You could also make SVCD or KVCD if your dvd player supports those formats, which are much better quality. It depends on what you have now and how technical of a person are you. The how-to guides are pretty foolproof, so unless you dont want the hassle, have a decent computer, or are not that technical of a person, I recomend using a computer and CD burner. Just my $.02!

Jeez, check out this guys website I have never seen anything like it

http://www.resselite.net

[KingJohn]

O.K. Lets try this again, I will try to be very clear.

A. If only interested in making VCD
B. You have a VCD DESKTOP recorder
C. You hook your vcd desktop recorder to the television, vcr, or camera
D. You make a vcd from whatever you are recording

My point, "that makes all the info on VCDHelp on recording VCD unnecessary" RIGHT? The coding, converting, etc.etc. is all done by the VCD DESKTOP recorder.

---------------------------------------------------

Now, if I you can, whoever gives me answers on this board, could you point out what I might be missing in terms of "control" or "features" if I go the seemingly EASY route and just make my VCD using a DEKTOP VCD RECORDER.

Thank you, greatly appreciated.

What if you want 10 cartoons on 1 VCD, with a menu so you can select which one to play ?

What if you have other short movies, you going to put a single 10 min movie on a 80 min disk ?

How about a background picture displayed when you first put the disk in ?
Or some Jpeg pictures, with music files attached that play to the end before displaying the next picture.

What would the replacement cost be when it goes wrong, compared to replacing the standard cd writer

What about SVCD's ?

Can you press pause when your recording from a TV, to cut out the ads ?

[bbb]

answer: yep

:P

[KingJohn]

answer: yep

:P

Not on a "VCD" recorder that records direct to disk ?

[Nelson37]

Ress, to answer your question, yes, the VCD Recorder does all the work and outputs a finished product. What you lose is the ability to edit after burning, add other effects, menus, and/or use higher or lower bitrates and resolutions. What you gain is ease of use.

Having looked at your website, I would guess that you;re the kinda guy thats going to tweak and customize settings, not much to do (no challenge) on a VCD Recorder. And, ultimately, I don't think VCD quality will make you happy, unless the video is for web distribution only.