How do you make a DVD CD?

celkins wrote on 2/9/2001, 10:43 AM

I got a new DVD player that's supposed to support "video
cd" files. So far, I have not been unable to burn any of
my video files to a CD in a format that the DVD player
recognized. I tried it first on an open CDRW and when that
didn't work I tried again on a closed CDR. No good! The
one I put on the closed CDR was rendered using VF's DVD
template.

Any clues?

Thanks,
Chris

Comments

desertman wrote on 2/13/2001, 8:33 AM

What you need to make are Video CDs or a VCD. YOu first
must rendor your files into a VCD format. Video Factory
will do this for you.

YOu next need to make a Video CD. Video Factory WILL NOT do
this for you. You need another software package such as
Adaptec's Easy CD Creator that can create a VCD. It will
burn a CD-R that will play in a DVD player than can play
back VCDs.

patrickm wrote on 2/14/2001, 10:59 PM

actually, instead of getting Easy CD Creator Deluxe go to
www.ahead.com and get a copy of the Nero burning software.
more powerful, cheaper, and there's even a fully functional
demo that you can download that's only about 5Mb.

patrickm wrote on 2/15/2001, 1:11 PM

sorry, make that address www.nero.com

srdm wrote on 4/18/2001, 11:54 PM

My first attempts at creating a Video CD met with the same
frustration. I'm not sure if this is true, but I think
there is a difference between production CDs and CD-R/RW.
The coating on a CD-R/RW may make it unreadable on many DVD
players. I tried normal VCDs on two DVD players, both of
which had DVD/VCD/CD listed as playable formats. Neither
recognised my CD-R even though the file structure (which is
necessary and created with both Nero and Adaptec/Roxies
burning software) was correct.
The bottom line is if you want to make a CD-R VCD or SVCD
you may need to research DVD players that will recognise CD-
Rs. Also keep in mind that DVD players that recognise VCD
CD-Rs may not recognize SVCD.
I bought an Apex 703 because it pretty much reads any CD
that I put in it. That's not a recommendation for it as I
haven't had it long enought to really put through the
paces, but You'll need to look for something similar.

nlamartina wrote on 4/19/2001, 12:43 AM

Here's the low-down on the whole VCD/SVCD/DVD thing:

VIDEO DISC CREATION/PLAYBACK:
- It is entirely possible to make VCD-compatible files in
VideoFactory, write them to a CD-R using a VCD creator tool
(like EZCD Creator 3.5 and up), and play the disc back on a
DVD/VCD player. Simply writing *.mpg files to CD-R and
throwing it in you VCD player won't cut it (as I did the
first time I ever attempted to make a VCD). The MPG files
need to be converted to DAT's first, and then written out
with a catalogue, menu, etc. That's where the VCD writer
software comes in.
- In order to play a VCD you created, your player MUST HAVE
A BLUE LASER (or brighter, among other things). Most recent
DVD/CD/VCD players have this. Why is this a must? Old
players used to have red lasers. They were cheap,
efficient, and they lasted a while. Nice, but look at your
CD-R discs. What color is their data side? Blue. This means
they are reflecting blue light, and absorbing most the
rest. So what happens when a player with a red pickup laser
tries to read it? The laser light gets absorbed. Remember
that CD/DVD/VCD players use the reflecting/scattering light
routine to interpret the pits and lands on a disc as bits
and bytes. If the red laser can't reflect off a blue disc,
all the D/A converter sees it a long string of 0's, which
basically means there's no disc. That's a no-no. Only the
oldest DVD or CD players have red lasers, but occasionally
a tight-fisted manufacturer will pump out one with a red
instead of a blue. Check the manual to your players and see
if they make mention of CD-R/CD-RW compatibility. There are
other factors at hand, like file formats, file systems, and
most importantly, the Orange-Book standard, but the rule
generally goes that the older the player, the less likely
it will be compatible.

Bottom line is that "Yes", it is possible to make a VCD
using content made in Video Factory. It's even possible to
play it back like any other "production" VCD/DVD. It all
comes down to player-compatibility and the adherence to
MPEG standard. Just check your players for compatibility.
The unfortunate part is that while there is a standard for
the content we write on our discs, the standard for the
equipment that reads them is substantially more fuzzy.
Don't forget to do your research, and always try different
players. Also, never stray from standard templates.
Bitrates have to be nearly EXACT to work. Also, always try
your discs on multiple players. It may work on one, and not
another, often regardless of chronological age. Difficult
process, but rewarding in the end. Keep trying, and good
luck.

Nick LaMartina