Convert .avi episodes to .mpg file (SVCD)

[snorkyller]

I downloaded some episodes which I want to be able to watch on my DVD.

So I had to convert the AVI file to a MPG file (create a SVCD).
I wonder which format should I select: NTSC or PAL? I know that here in America it's NTSC.

But the converting application automatically select PAL for some AVI file (maybe because they are in PAL format). I didn't realized it so many mpg file are in PAL format and I erased the avi source file

I wonder if I should take what the application automatically select or if I should always take "NTCS".

With PAL, the resolution is 480x576
With NTSC, the resolution is 480x480

If the avi is 480x576 (PAL) I wonder if the application will crop the image to make it 480x480 (NTCS)...

Any helps will be apreciated...

[DrFrag]

It will probably squash the image down rather than crop anything. It won't appear distorted on your TV though, because it's really more of an aspect ratio correction.

A bigger issue is the frame rate. PAL is 25fps and NTSC is 29.97fps. I don't know the details of how it will do this, I suppose by adding the occassional frame as a blend of the one before and the one after. Try it and see how it comes out.

I'm assuming you can't play PAL SVCD discs on either your DVD player or TV. Otherwise there's no point changing the format.

[snorkyller]

Yeah I can play PAL SVCD, but the image has been stretched in the horizontal.... Astro appears to be fat...

[DrFrag]

Look for a setting in the conversion programme that lets you either lock or unlock the aspect ratio and try changing that.

[snorkyller]

I can't change or set the output size in my converting software (TMPGenc). If you choose NTFS, it'll be 480x480 and if you choose PAL, it'll be 480x576.

What's strange is that if I run the SVCD on my computer with WinDVD, everything is just perfect, but I get a stretched image with my DVD player connected to my TV... <_<

I don't understand what's wrong 'cause I really not see any setting in the conversion software which could fix the problem.

And I tryied 2 converting softwares... and the same result with both...

[GIR]

snorkyller are you using the Project Wizard in TMPGenc?

[GIR]

Forget my last post I did not notice this sentence:

Originally posted by snorkyller@May 29 2004, 01:42 PM
What's strange is that if I run the SVCD on my computer with WinDVD, everything is just perfect, but I get a stretched image with my DVD player connected to my TV... <_<

OK, that means there is nothing wrong with the SVCD you authored, all that means is that your DVD player is stoopid

[Anapan]

If you're using a NTSC player/television to play them you'll want to encode the MPG to NTFS resolution or else you would see that squashed/grey image on any vCDs you make. I always just use Nero Burning Rom to import videos and let the program handle any reencoding/scaling that's necessary. If you want to use TMPGenc, you should be able to adjust aspect ratio in it's video settings (the first screen when you hit the settings button from the main screen).
For best quality SVCDs, check out http://www.kvcd.net/ for tmpg templates that allow you to squeeze the very most video quality out of a standard 800mb CD possible. They have different templates for PAL or NTSC. There are some automatic conversion programs on the msg board there that may be able to save you some reading on the exact way to get all the conversion stuff done properly, tho I haven't spent the time to try any of them yet myself.
I have a 14 gig video recording on my harddrive I've been meaning to convert to a hq SVCD, so tomorrow I will be trying to get one of those templates working. I'll be able to help out with the KVCD stuff more after I get it going myself...

[snorkyller]

Thank you Anapan

But what's a KVCD??? I know VCD and SVCD but I never heard about a KVCD. I was trying to make SVCD... On the KVCD web site I saw the word KSVCD too. I'm confused about that. So I don't know which template could help me on http://www.kvcd.net/dvd-models.html

I use TMPGenc only 'cause it makes really good quality .mpg in 35 min. Before, I had "Cucusoft avi to VCD" it took it 2:30 to convert and the image quality was really poor...!!!

I have "Nero Express"... If you tell me that it do the job, I'll use it. It would be more simple... But I didn't see any AVI to MPG convert tool on "Nero Express" and it show me the following message
"The MPEG-2/SVCD Plugin could not be found. Your files cannot be converted automatically and need to be in SVCD compatible MPEG-2 format. To enjoy MPEG-2 encoding, please visit http://www.nero.com for purchasing information"
Well <_<

In the TMPGenc setting screen, I got the following settings from the project wizard:
MPEG-2
480x480
4:3 Display
29.97 fps
Constant bitrate (CBR)
NTSC

I wonder if a change in the "advanced" tab would help...
Source aspect ratio = 1:1 (VGA)
Video arrange method = Ful screen

Maybe I could try something like:
Source aspect ratio = 4:3 525 line (NTSC)
Video arrange method = Ful screen (keep aspect ratio)

If it doesn't work, it'll be another waste of CD-R.... <_<

[Anapan]

KVCD is just encoding options for VCD and SVCD video files. If the site mentions mpeg1 then it's a VCD, if it mentions mpeg2 or KSVCD/SKVCD then it would be an SVCD.
The TMPEG templates in the red or green fields on that page would both work on most DVD players, so really you only need to get the one with the right ammount of time for your video (or one with alot of time so you can fit several episodes on one cd).
I ended up going to my friends house to fix his computer all day so I never got to encode that video after all. I'll post instructions when I get it figured out, tho it may be a few days now...

I agree that TMPEGenc will get you the best quality mpeg files, and is probably the best way to go when you're making a VCD, I just found Nero to be faster and easier for standard VCD (drag and drop the file then hit the burn button) - the quality isn't all that bad really. The problem you had was trying to burn an SVCD, you need to buy a separate plugin to use SVCD encoding in any Nero products (or just download a registered/cracked dll if you want it for free).

In the advanced options there, you'd want the 4:3 one probably since you seem to have a PAL resolution video to begin with and that might cause problems if you encoded it with the 1:1 aspect setting, tho I think 352x480 is standard vcd resolution - PAL is the standard that uses 525 vertical lines...

Good luck with that, if it fails you can always put the crap cd in the microwave for a cool light show