video CDs

P

powerdog

Veteran
Anyone know how widely compatible video CDs are with consumer DVD players? Is it a viable way to deliver short videos when you don't know the user's equipment?
 
Re: video CDs

Well, sort of yes and no. Newer players have a much better chance of recognizing the VCD or SVCD. However, It varies drastically from machine to machine and how it is encoded plays a big role too.

If you are asking because you want to distribute Video CDs make sure the encoding is standard and the codec used isn't the newest kid on the block. Regardless of what you do you will find players that won't play it.

It's not a great way to distribute video IMO. Blank DVDs are getting pretty cheap.
 
Re: video CDs

I perfer SVCD over VCD, for the obvious. Like Dakota said, DVD's are getting hecka cheap. I just bought a 100spindle for like 28 bucks. DVD's is going to be the standard now.
 
Re: video CDs

Can I burn a SVCD in my G5 with DVDSP3 or Toast? What makes it "S" -- the disc itself, the software used to create it, etc??
 
Re: video CDs

It's super vcd. It's higher resolution and therefore better quality. (VCD is supposed to be like VHS quality, SVCD is alot better). But you can't have as much video on a SVCD as on a VCD (i'm pretty sure). Still burns onto a CD-R though.
 
Re: video CDs

But how do you choose to make it a SVCD instead of a VCD. Is there a setting in the disk burning software?
 
Re: video CDs

I'm not to sure, I've never actually been able to make one. You can get software to do it, but you'll have to wait for someone else on the forum to give you some help, sorry.
 
Re: video CDs

[quote author=powerdog link=board=Events;num=1107037538;start=0#6 date=01/30/05 at 07:44:31]But how do you choose to make it a SVCD instead of a VCD. Is there a setting in the disk burning software?[/quote]

SVCD is less compression giving you a better image and thus a larger file. (Less room on disc) However, lot's of stand alone DVD players will not play SVCD. It's done through your burning software so can't answer how unless I know what you are using.

It's still not great quality and unless you have no other option I strongly recommend not using video CD. Even if you are making a bunch of disposable discs and are trying to save a few bucks. That's all it will boil down to is a few cents a copy. If you are making 1 or 20 or more. DVD is still the only way you should go.
 
Re: video CDs

Blank DVDs have really dropped in price over the last year or so. To the point where the cost is a non factor.
 
Re: video CDs

Exactly. The only reason not to use DVDs would be not having a DVD burner. But they are dirt cheap now too. The way I see it, even if you only spend one day shooting, editing and rendering your project it would be a crime to play it with a degraded image. It's still your time and work and no matter how trivial it should be presented as best as possible.
 
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