VCD Encoding

[Gwailofilms]

Some someone technical give us a hand?

I want to make some VCDs and I'm not sure what kit I need. I mean, is it as simple as just a CD-writer and plug-in for Premiere or is do I need more than that?

Thanks,

Gwailofilms

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[Curtin-Parloe]

At last! A PC-type question for me to show off my PC skills?!
VCDs and DVDs use the same file types. I have an old VCD of Star Trek 2, and it uses 2 great big MPG files (if i remember right!), one on each CD.
I haven't seen premiere, but it should save mpegs ok.
You can use a CD writer no probs to stick the mpegs on a CD, but Adaptec Easy CD Creator DELUXE has a specific option to create VCDs (and its less than ?100!)

Hope this helps!

[Gwailofilms]

So, is it just a case of saving my finished flick as a MPEG and then burning it onto a CD?

What about CD-i?

Is there a Premiere plug-in? (That would make life a hell of a lot easier!)

Sorry for all the questions (at work, bored, got time on my hands)!

Cheers for your help, Curtin-Parloe.



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[miker]

Ah, the can of worms that is VCD.

First off, VCD uses a very specific form of MPEG, that is, specific bitrate, sample rate, I, B and P frames. Get your encoding wrong and you'll make a non-ISO compliant VCD that will only playback on a PC.

There is a Panasonic plugin for Premiere that can output compliant MPEG streams, then you can use Nero Burning Rom (and probably EZ-CD by Adaptec) to burn an ISO Compliant VCD 2.0 standard -- you will note on the VCD that the files have been changed and have a .DAT extension. The Ligos LSX 3.0 encoder also has a template for VCD compliant MPEG streams.

Word of warning: not all standalone players will playback CD-R (like my DVD player won't, drat) although I expect most modern ones will.

HTH!

[Gwailofilms]

Thanks! Exactly what I wanted to know.

If anyone knows where to get this plug-in from (pref. for free; this is low-budget after all), please post it here.

Cheers,
Gwailofilms

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The future is here:-
www.gwailofilms.co.uk

[binxalot]

You need to get the BBMPEG encoder, which is free (but extremely slow), or the Panasonic Mpeg 1 encoder (which is not free). There are many more. The panasonic encoder is fast and it integrates with premeire (so does BBMPEG). It makes great quality vcd mpegs too. I found my copy by doing a simple yahoo search for: "video encoder warez". Its out there, it should take you all of about twenty minutes to find it.

What you need to do is create the mpeg with one of the above programs mentioned. Then you need to get a newer version of adaptec's ez cd creator, or Nero 5.0. (I use Nero) Nero is free for a 30 day trail period. You can find a serial # crack on the net too. Both of these programs have built in checks to make sure that the mpeg is formatted correctly.

All VCD's will play on a pc if the correct viewing software is installed. Only certain brands/types of standalone DVD players will play VCD's. Also, you need to use special CD-RW discs with dark black or gold/silver backgrounds for the DVD player to recognize the CD. Its complicated: There is a great web site that explains all of what I've just said in more detail: http://www.vcdhelp.com


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The Bonafide Production Company

[Gwailofilms]

You top bloke! (Or bird... obviously...)

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The future is here:-
www.gwailofilms.co.uk