Getting The Most out of VCD's?

jb_slimp wrote on 6/4/2002, 11:38 AM

I have begun to do small video projects that I sell. Lot's of people request VCD's as the format of their choice. I happen to think VCD's look like poo-poo, but they are convenient and most newer DVD's play them. Anyone with ideas to get the most out of VCD's. They typically look choppy to me. I have tried some filtering with not much success. Please help if you can....Thanks.

I am using a Sony TRV27 mini DV to record footage and VegasVideo 3.0

Comments

BillyBoy wrote on 6/4/2002, 4:48 PM

It is all in the eye of the beholder. You can make "good" quality VCD's, I've made hundreds with Vegas Video and Video Factory before that. Paying extra care to filtering techniques DOES make a difference, sometimes a big difference. I've written several articles on my advertures with levels and color curves.

Of course if you start with DV source the quality will unavoidably go down. Still I think most people are happy to get something to play on their DVD player and watch on a big screen TV, so overall a somewhat softer image is acceptable.

They should NOT look choppy (meaning block noise or pixelation) when viewed on a TV through a set top DVD player. They can look choppy if you use Media Player or some similar player and play them off your computer at 2X, fill to window or trying to play them at full screen. Oh it will work, but the quality will suck.