VCD/XVCD - different frame sizes, which is best quality???

[Kevin Henry]

My standalone DVD player doesn't do SVCD, but does do VCD & XVCD. Also, it seems to do the remuxed header trick ok too

SVCD seems to take longer to encode. VCD & XVCD is quicker & simpler for sure, and seems to be about the same visual quality.

Now, I've noticed that VCD is 352x240, & XVCD is 704x480. Both play fine in my player.

But which is higher video quality? Surely the extra pixels in the XVCD will waste my encoding bitrate?

Testing & encoding both file types seems to produce identical file sizes.

Which should I use if I want Hi-Q video?

[PimpInDaHouse]

Wrong VCD is 352x240 and XVCD is 352x240 go and check here www.vcdhelp.com/xvcd.htm and look for XVCD NTSC not XSVCD NTSC. The 704x480 is for still pictures like a slide show. And what ever is better to you is fine it isn't us that are judging your work it is you. So which ever you like better is what you should go for.

[apexgard]

try 720x480 it looks great in my sony dvd player that also doesnt play svcd only vcd xvd but ur source file has to be high res to see the improved reselution

[Kevin Henry]

so if the original is 608x352 I should use a smaller resolution?

it seems to look fine to me in either resolution ... but if i convert to vcd at 608x352 i get the screen offcentered, and a line of the bottom of the picture stuck on the top

[PimpInDaHouse]

There is only one real res for VCD witch is 352x240 or you can use uncompliant 480x480 or 720x480, 352x480 may also work these are SVCD res but some times work on some DVD players as VCD res.

[Kevin Henry]

But which gives better quality?

[PimpInDaHouse]

Well the higher the res the better it looks but that means you have to set the bitrate higher and that means you will have to use more CDs. So if I were you I would use 352x240 because that will mean you can fit up to 80min. on an 80min. 700mb CD. Pluse if your mpg isn't compliant you will have to go by how many mb the clip is usually meaning to many CDs. But like I said it doesn't matter what I think only what you think I and the others on this board aren't the ones watching the movie you are. So just try them all out on a test CD and you can judge for yourself. For a test CD just encode a few min. at each res. and decide what you like.

[jedi]

what are the settings that u guys like to use for XVCD?

[PimpInDaHouse]

The same as VCD but with a higher bitrate.