I need help learning how to burn a VCD after converting a avi file using TMPGEnc 2.5. I have tried to burn video that I have converted using TMPGEnc 2.5, but neither my PS2 or DvD player will play the video. I think that it has something to do with saving the file. I'm very new to this and thank anyone who can help.
Maybe the problem does not lie in 'convertng' (AVI --> MPEG-1 VCD) but in 'authoring' (the process MPEG-1 ---> VCD image ).
The question is: how did you make MPG --> VCD?
My proposal is:
1) Use of VCDEasy (version 1.1.5.2 was still freeware, if you find it. The only drawback is that the 'burning with CDRDAO' will be outdated and will not support new burners, and you'll be forced to make MPEG-1 --> cue/bin only. Then you'll burn the cuesheet with the application you prefere);
2) Use of Nero;
3) Use of VCDGear.
The only thing you must take care of is that the 'MPG' must be < 830 MB. This allows about 80' max of MPEG-1 in a 80' CD, and therefore 99% of the movies must be split into 2 CD. No problem: you'll just have to select in TMPGenc Settings__Advances___Select Range twice: the forst CD you'lll select from: 0 to F frames; the second. From F+1 --> end (insert -1 and you'll have it, by default) frames. This is well explained in http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/dvd2svcd_with_tmpgenc.cfm , see section Select the source range and the following, which teaches you how to encode both CDs in batch mode (in that guide it is written '3 CDs' because it speaks of a SVCD and, keeping a proper bitrate, TMPGenc's wizard tels you that only 55' MPEG-2 SVCD fit on a 80' CD-R (therefore a 2h movie - 120' - needs 3 CDs). I, personally, use SVCDs only if I convert directly a DVD-rip into MPEG-2 (see http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/dvd2vcd_with_smart_dvd2av... for DVD -> VCD or http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/dvd2svcd_with_tmpgenc.cfm for DVD -> SVCD) or if I've VERY GOOD AVI movies (>900 MB and great resolution, comparable to 480x480) and which are < 110', so 2 discs are enough.
Just take care: at the and of disc 1 it will be useful to add the image "Please Insert Disc 2". This cannot be made on VCDGear; with Nero you just have to add a proper bitmap (also a hi-res one: 720x480/576); with VCDEasy you'll have to convert that bitmap, in a 'MPEG still', which can be done in the 'tools' section of VCDEasy (afte inserting it in the main page, go to the 'Interactivity' screen and set the pause, after the image 'Please Insert Disc 2', as 'infinite', instead of being the standard 2").
I know why your PS2 can't play it.... PS@ doesn't play VCD's only DVD's.
At least not without special software. (don;t know if it's out there on the net)
1 question, why VCD?
just encode with TMPGEnc and burn with NERO
Or, if you perfer VCD because theey need less encoding time and, starting from an AVI, the quality loss is about zero, make about 4 MPEG-1 movies and author with DVD Lab a DVD containing 4 VCD movies (I told '4' approximately: the rule is : a VCD movie is 10 MB per minute large; 4 * 2h movies = 4 * 1200 MB = 4800 MB = 1 DVD).
