Comments

p_l wrote on 9/10/2002, 10:39 PM
Just burning the file onto CD will not usually result in a disc that is playable on stand-alone DVD players (with the possible exception of the APEX 1100, I've heard). Just as you need to create the proper file structure for an (VCD spec) MPEG-1 file to be a bona fide VCD, or an (SVCD spec) MPEG-2 to be a bona fide SVCD, so as to play on your stand-alone player, so too must you create the proper file structure to have a DVD-spec MPEG-2 file on CD play on your stand-alone. This is a miniDVD. It can be created by having a VIDEO_TS folder and an AUDIO_TS folder, the former containing your DVD MPEG-2 file, and burning to a CDR or CDRW. The problem with miniDVDs is that very few stand-alone DVD players can play that format, so I'd recommend sticking to SVCDs, or making full-fledged DVDs, but of course you'll need a DVD burner and DVD media.

Read more about miniDVDs here:

http://www.vcdhelp.com/minidvd.htm

Hope this helps!
the_ripper wrote on 9/11/2002, 4:46 PM
Thanks P_l...I thought since ULEAD worked in SVCD mode, it would do the same task in dvd mode. I thought the media was only an issue with filesize not format? If a 5 min dvd formated file fits on the cdr, i thought it would work fine. i guess What I missed is it is not a DVD rather a new format called miniDVD. Thanks, the_ripper
p_l wrote on 9/11/2002, 11:22 PM
You could always try to use your DVD-format clip to author an SVCD, which will then be an XSVCD, but the higher your bitrate, the fewer the stand-alone players that will be able to handle it.

Again, read more here:

http://www.vcdhelp.com/xvcd.htm

My RCA RC5240P DVD player can handle up to 8,000kbs, but I just got lucky, because most won't, if they play SVCD at all. Punch in your player at VCDhelp.com's DVD player compatibility guide to see what it can handle. The following link starts with the specs on mine:

http://www.vcdhelp.com/dvdplayers.php?DVDnameid=682&Search=Search&list=0#comments

Good luck!
Grazie wrote on 9/12/2002, 1:00 AM
Here's my 2 pennies worth, to back up p_l's advice.

I've had assistance from p_l on similar issues regarding MovieFactory and after experimenting with a number of formats AND in conjunction with VDChelp website, I've produced some really pretty VCD mobiles. You can string them together and they make a rather atttractive artform for any new creche or visual sculpture. I'm sure they weren't meant for this, but... hey ho!

Seriously, I really had my DVD experience thwarted by the the two DVD players I have to hand - both proved very very picky about the type of SVCD, VCD and miniDVD they would recognise. I also took the same "beer mats" to a major video and audio retail chain, over here in the UK, Comet and also Dixons, and was able to play the same useless platters on these stores high- and low-end DVD players. Oh yes, they played magnificiently - truly, they were awesome! Even my silly little vid-art projects looked quite amazing.

Sooooo.... I am waiting for the prices for/on the DVD + or - thing sort itself out and will most likely go down that route. But again, who knows were this DVD+/-wrangle is going to end? In the mean time someone is making a fortune on the fog of this particular war.

In short, you can be lucky - p_l - or unlucky - me - and have a successful or not experience with the DVD player you own or choose. But, the VCD help site is truly a very helpful way to determine your route to success. - I've even had contact with one of their DVD reviewers who responded to my comms. to determine if his DVD player was as "choosy" as he had said. It was! And was one of the DVD players I used to test my DVD-MF experiments.

Keep the faith "the-ripper", you'll get there!

Regards

Grazie
the_ripper wrote on 9/16/2002, 8:56 AM
Well thanks guys for advice. Yes I have seen VCDhelp and doom9.net. I really resent doing yet more steps to get a dvd quality cdr and getting more freeware, software, etc.....

I originally assumed the only catch was space with dvd's. and thet a dvd clip would just be small(50 megs per min or so) However, seems like yet more format crap. SVCD's are OK but look a bit like dirty or fuzzy windows to me at times. I have beat to death SVCD on both ULEAD and SF. They are OK though(SF does the best to me), I have quite a large collection of SVCD's. When you watch movies on my 36" set, you see some flaws, but still better than VHS overall. Rendering a 38 min clip takes about 3-4 hrs. so, about 12 hrs per full movie. My PC works hard for a movie. I usually just let it do its thing when I am asleep or gone. I have 2 good units for playback. A Pioneer DV-444 and a Daewoo. I did alot of reasearch, they are pretty good for my usage. The pioneer plays svcd's vcd's etc well. It also has random for mp3 music. This was VERY important to me. I can put an 11 hr disc in and hit random. Its like your own radio station. On the Daewoo? It is region free, macro free, plays svcd's. and vcd's, pretty nifty! Neither play "homemade" DVD's that are burned on a cdr. Thats where I am at. Thanks again, this board has been great. the_ripper
Grazie wrote on 9/16/2002, 9:10 AM
Thanks for getting back to us. I hoped you were going to give us a Holy Grail of positive results!

Formats formats formats......

Grazie