VCD to SVCD

[ps76]

I already made a VCD out of a dig. video from a trip to Thailand.
Since I cannon make menus work on this one - using Studio 8 - I would like to change it to SVCD, because I know that menus DO work in SVCD, if using Ulead movie factory.
SO: I copied the mpg file back to my pc (orignally a "dat" file, but renamed it to Mpg) - but what now?
Should I use TMPGenc to run it all the way through again, asking for a SVCD this time? Or are there some other way?
THanks for any good advice.

[DJRumpy]

You do realize that by re-encoding, your going to lose quality? You should also run your MPEG through VCDGear, using the 'fix mpeg errors' option. When you burn it to CD-R media, defects in the burn will often cause problems with the mpeg when it's ripped back off.

You can do the conversion exactly as you stated. Just drop it into TMPGenc (this assumes you have purchased it for MPEG-2 support). The results won't look any better, but your should be able to author in your menu's. If I remember correctly though, VCD does support menu's and chapters.

[ps76]

Yes, I will try this. I cannot make my menues work in VCD, tried many tricks. Might have to do with my DVD player also of course (Pioneer DV 350) - but it takes them without problems, when its SVCD.
Okay, but should I run the "fix error" thing You mention before or after I recode it to mpeg-2?

And why does it say to me "can`t load P3package.dll"?

[Gazorgan]

Renaming DAT to MPG? If you use VCDGear and convert a DAT to an MPG, you will notice they aren't the same size (hint hint hint).

[DJRumpy]

You should use it to correct any errors in your mpeg before dropping it back into TMPGenc. A DAT file just has additional overhead that can be stripped out using VCDGear ( that's what Gazorgan is trying to hint at ). He is correct, although you can just drop the DAT onto TMPGenc as well (the extra data won't interfere with a re-encode). You can use this feature (DAT to MPEG) to strip an vcd mpeg directly off the CD. I've used this method, even for bad burns, where the mpeg couldn't be copied directly from the vcd due to errors.

In either case, make sure you run your mpeg through vcdgear, with the fix errors option turned on, before you re-encode with TMPGenc. Do this either direct from the VCD, or simply select the file on your drive, and run it through to a new filename. The log will indicate if it fixed any errors.