Problem burning project to VCD

milt96 wrote on 12/1/2002, 12:56 PM
I have tried unsuccessfully to burn three different projects as a VCD.

The projects range in size from 8 minutes to 90 minutes in length.
What ends up happening is, a VCD shell is created with no movie (all files necessary for a VCD can be found on the CD, but there is no movie). CD size equals 670 KB and contains the following folders: CDI, EXT, MPEGAV, SEGMENT, & VCD.

The steps taken to burn the CD:
In VV3, while in the project, go to the Tools menu, go to Burn CD.
Choose Video CD
Render format button selected
File Path: E:\Unity Tour 2002.mpg
Format: MainConcept MPEG-1 selected (only choice, no other choices in drop down)
Template: VCD NTSC
Description: Audio 224 kbps, 44.100 hz, layer 2
Video 29.97 fps, 352x240
Selected: Stretch video to fill output frame
Burn Mode: Burn CD (I’ve selected test previously and it has come back as successful)
Burn Speed: I’ve gone from 12x to max speed.

VV3 goes through the process of rendering (time intensive).
Everything on the screen leads you to believe that the process is working correctly. At the end of the process it even says it’s done (no errors or problems reported). Yet, I end up with a 670kb disk with no movie.

Additional info: I’ve even tried to make a movie out of already rendered projects with the same results.

Using Nero, I’ve taken a rendered project and tired making a VCD. The result was a VCD that had a file on it that could not be read.

What I have done successfully is to copy a rendered project onto a CD and play that CD on the computer. What I want to do is play my project on a DVD player.

Any help would be appreciated. If more info is need, let me know and I’ll get it to you.

Thanks!

Milt
(a relative newbie)

Comments

SonyDennis wrote on 12/1/2002, 2:12 PM
How big is the file in the MPEGAV directory?

Is there a <filename>.mpg file in the same directory as the project (or whereever it was told to put the file)? How big is it?


///d@
milt96 wrote on 12/1/2002, 4:50 PM
The file on the CD inside the MPEGAV folder is 78.3 MB (Which is very interesting because properies on the entire disc read only 670 KB have been used, go figure that one!?!?). The file is listed as a .DAT file.

The MPEG file in the directory is 77.2 MB.

Things just get curious'er and curious'er!

Now I'm really confused! :)
fetch wrote on 12/1/2002, 5:11 PM
Make sure that your rendered project does not exceed VCD standard bitrates which is a combined audio & video bitrate of 1500kbp/sec and the audio sampling frequency is 44.1khz not 48.

This is why nero will not accept it.

<<The file on the CD inside the MPEGAV folder is 78.3 MB (Which is very interesting because properies on the entire disc read only 670 KB have been used, go figure that one!?!?). The file is listed as a .DAT file.
>>>

This is normal because your cd has been closed - no more writing to disc is accepted.

Try burning to a CD-RW to experiment with the settings before doing your final burn. This will save you alot of coasters.

You can play the .dat file in Windows Media player by selecting file >open navigate to the folder with the dat file & select 'all files' to view the dat file/s

I'm curious as to why you are burning to VCD with such a small file where as if you burn to SVCD you'll get much better quality. The file may be a little bigger but will still fit on a 650MB cdr.

Goodluck anyways.



good
SonyDennis wrote on 12/1/2002, 6:16 PM
And if you play the MPEG file, what do you get?
Have you tried playing this disc on a player that you know plays burned VCD discs?
///d@
milt96 wrote on 12/1/2002, 6:42 PM
Fetchthis was correct, I can play the .Dat file located in MPEGAV in Windows Media Player. As a novice renderor/burner I did not relize that I could do a SVCD, but will now look into it.

SonicDennis, I tried the VCD on two DVD players, one that I'm was pretty sure it would not work on (the one in the tv room is kinda old), and then on the one located on my computer which I just assumed (makes an ASS out of U and ME ;). I thought and still kinda do (unless you all know otherwise) that a CPU DVD player would play all types of cd's. Is this not the case?

I am going to experiment with the SVCD in the mean time.

I will also remove from the trash the 6 or so cd's that I thought were junk. I will try a couple of DVD players and see if it works on any of them. I guess my thought that I would never have to copy over a CD is proven wrong :)

I've been using VV3 for several months now and learn something all the time. This recording problem has been frustrating and I've been looking all over the web and this forum for a solution. It appears (until I test it on other DVD players) that it has been a hardware problem all this time. At least I feel better about VV3.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I try not to bother with questions unless I'm really stumped.

I attended the VAST tour (creative cow) seminar in Los Angeles (Douglas Spotted Eagle), and learned a lot. It was obvious though that I'm just at the foot of the hill as far as knowing the program. I've searched all over, but have had little luck in finding places to learn VV3. Lots of FCP, & Premier classes and books. Wish I could sit with one of you as you do your editing and remdering. I know that watching someone for just a few minutes would really help (lots of ooohhhh, that's how you do that).

Again, thanks for the help. I will report back on the DVD issue.

Milt
SonyTSW wrote on 12/1/2002, 10:28 PM
Not all DVD players are capable of playing VCDs and/or SVCDs. Check your owner's manual for your player, it should list the formats it supports. You might also want to check out this Web site for a list of player and format compatibility:
http://www.vcdhelp.com/dvdplayers.php

My Sony DVP-S360 is very picky about the media. If I burn a VCD to CD-RW media, it plays just fine. But if I burn to CD-R media, it refuses to read the disc. So you also might want to try burning your VCD (or SVCD) to CD-RW media.