raising VCD data rate in Toast

[dca]

I make VCD's with Final Cut Pro -- exporting a FCP movie file to Media Cleaner to convert to a VCD stream. Then I use Toast to create the VCD. When encoding in Cleaner, the bitrate option is rendered inactive when you select VCD (the default is something like 140/sec). I'm trying to raise it to, say, the 266kbit/sec MPEG1 standard in Cleaner for CD-ROM movies, or even higher. Is there any way to raise the data rate? VCD quality is OK, but I'm producing short segments where space isn't an issue.

[AntnyMD]

Toast forces compliance with VCD standards in that you can't make adjustments to bitrate. To make MPEG encodes at higher bitrates, you have to use a different encoder app. In OS 9/X I recommend Movie2MPEG; in OS 9-only, use Astarte M.Pack's MPEG-1 encoder (though the quality can be surprisingly crappy on some encodes).

[dca]

If I use Movie2MPEG and raise the data rate, is there any effect on the playback of the VCD (choking, etc.)?

[AntnyMD]

If your playback device can only handle standard VCDs, then yes, making an XVCD (which is what happens when you raise the bitrate outside of spec) will make your player choke. The vast majority of settop DVD players that support VCD also allow playback of higher bitrate XVCDs. Computers will also be able to play back this material, with some small exceptions. My suggestion is just for you to try it.

[dca]

If I use use Movie2MPEG, then open Toast, I can't add the files -- Toast doesn't recognize them as VCD-ready. That's another thing I've never quite known -- what does Cleaner add to a file to make it VCD compatible when you check that option? What's the difference between a regular MPEG1 file and a VCD-compatible MPEG1 file?

[AntnyMD]

Movie2MPEG's files are fine -- but again, Toast only wants to accept 100% compliant files, those that are compliant with the VCD spec. To author VCDs with files produced by Movie2MPEG, I recommend using MissingMPEGTools. With it, you create an XML file of your VCD's structure, then use the XML file to create CD-ROM XA tracks that can be burned via Toast.