I was just wondering that since standalone DVD players are suppose to be less "fussy" about settings or resolution or the mpg files than the lowly VCD player. Therefore can we burn on the same VCD

1) the track which is VCD1.1 or 2.0 or 3.0 format/resolution 2) the same track but with DVD/SVCD/non standard format/resolution

and have the DVD play both of them without any problems?

I have tried before burning one track being of higher resolution(non-pal or NTSC) and the VCD player can handle the standard track but only plays the sound of the non standard track, displaying only a black screen. Will a DVD player know how to play it? I don't have a DVD player to try but my PC can play it flawlessly..

regards, eugene

-- Eugene Siow (esiow@rocketmail.com), December 21, 2001

Answers

This is a very good question. Unfortunately, there is no standard answer. DVD players usually don't tightly enforce VCD or SVCD standards (by the way, not all DVD players support SVCD), which why XVCD works. In theory, yes, this should work. However, I have no doubt that some players will refuse to play such discs. You'd probably just have to try it on a player by player basis. I can tell you that mixing PAL/NTSC on the same VCD/SVCD is a no-no for a standalone DVD player. The reason it works on a PC is that PCs don't enforce VCD/SVCD standards at all. They see the video and if they have a codec for it, they play it. I would advise against mixing MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 video on the same disc. You are likely to have major problems. If you had two MPEG-1 files but one was at 352x240 and the other was at 480x480, this might be playable on a standalone DVD player, but if you start mixing MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 video, I don't think it's going to work at all.

-- Jason (Jason.Shumate@equant.com), December 21, 2001.

How do you mix mpeg1 and mpeg2 into a VCD? What burning software will be used to do that?

If you are referring to framesize specification for VCD format, then yes the DVD player can handle that within reasonable limitation. Assuming you stick within NTSC or PAL grouping format. If you have a TV that can handle both standards and a DVD player that can auto switch, then you are good to go.

As for bitrate specification, the DVD player can play almost up to DVD specification bitrate; However, if you like skipping video then yes it will do it for you.

My experimentations on VCD, XVCD, XSVCD, SVCD, etc tells me that not all DVD players are built equals and certain DVD Player will bring joy to you. I've mixed VCD at 352x240@29.97fps@1120kbps with 704x480@29.97fps@2200kbps and it plays fine on both my pioneer and apex.

-- (wingstarzz@hotmail.com), December 27, 2001.