Put your film on Video CD (VCD or SVCD)

VCD & SVCD mastering

We can produce DVD+R or DVD-R disks or pressed DVDs with or without menus and text pages.
see main page: DVD mastering

DVDs are not the only "CD" type discs that will play in many current DVD players

the other disks are:
MiniDVD (15min max), simply puts files mastered for DVD on to a standard CD, with obvious restrictions on the length of the material.. they may or may not play on a standalone DVD player...they usually work fine in computers though, being recognised by software DVD players as DVDs (even if only played in a CDR) - they require PCs or MACs to the spec of the software DVD player.
Audio CD
VCD (VideoCD): a standard CD format of about 70 minutes of "similar to VHS quality" video and CD quality sound.
SVCD is a standard CD format of about 35 minutes of "similar to SVHS quality" video, though depending on the original material and encoder it can get very close to DVD.
XVCD (variable length) non-standard format which may or may not play in a standalone DVD player.
DivX (90min) has been made popular by its abilty to fit a full feature film on a single CD. DVD players don't play them

"VideoCD" is the most compatible and widespread format, even Sony Playstations can play them (via an adaptor).
Most DVD players can play pre-recorded VideoCDs, but some have problems with VideoCDs recorded with a CD Writer onto CD-R or CD-RW (eg on a computer). This is due to the different reflectivity of CD-R disks. Newer models with "dual-laser pickup" do not have a problem. Some older models are happier with CD-RWs which are closer optically to DVDs.
VideoCD advantages? More robust than tape. Ability to jump to specific tracks, freeze frame, fast forward (depending on DVD player, but usually upto x32 and down to 1/4 speed). CD quality sound (depending on masters!). Cheaper than DVD or even VHS tape in quantity. (However, for under 12 minutes miniDVD would be a better quality solution).

We can produce miniDVD, VCD or SVCD disks from your VHS, SVHS (inc Nicam), U-matic, miniDV, DVCpro or BetaSP masters. Other formats by arrangement.

Approx cost (eg up to 9 min video): £20 for 5 CDs (CDR). Additional disks £ 0.70 each (up to 100).
(Disks are mastered in software, in either Cinemacraft or similar quality encoder).

Tel 0118 9268144 or 07956 855197 for full details or e-mail VCD filmcentre.co.uk

Technical & Links:
VCD standard: MPG1 compression 352x288 25 fps (PAL). 44.1KHz stereo audio see playing VCDs on a PC
SVCD standard: MPG2 compression 480x576 25 fps (PAL). 44.1KHz stereo audio

DVD player compatibility list . Also the filmcentre's own compatibility/problems list
a test SVCD (NTSC) file SVCDSample.cif (17Mb) that can be put on a CDR to test your DVD compatability. You will need a CD writer and Adaptec Easy-CD to cut the disk.
(full info on www.vcdhelper.com). There doesn't seem to be a test PAL version on the net, so we will put one up soon...

examples		We can produce DVD+R or DVD-R disks or pressed DVDs with or without menus and text pages. see main page: DVD mastering




VCD, SVCD & CD compatibility
		DVDs are not the only "CD" type discs that will play in many current DVD players the other disks are: MiniDVD (15min max), simply puts files mastered for DVD on to a standard CD, with obvious restrictions on the length of the material.. they may or may not play on a standalone DVD player...they usually work fine in computers though, being recognised by software DVD players as DVDs (even if only played in a CDR) - they require PCs or MACs to the spec of the software DVD player. Audio CD VCD (VideoCD): a standard CD format of about 70 minutes of "similar to VHS quality" video and CD quality sound. SVCD is a standard CD format of about 35 minutes of "similar to SVHS quality" video, though depending on the original material and encoder it can get very close to DVD. XVCD (variable length) non-standard format which may or may not play in a standalone DVD player. DivX (90min) has been made popular by its abilty to fit a full feature film on a single CD. DVD players don't play them "VideoCD" is the most compatible and widespread format, even Sony Playstations can play them (via an adaptor). Most DVD players can play pre-recorded VideoCDs, but some have problems with VideoCDs recorded with a CD Writer onto CD-R or CD-RW (eg on a computer). This is due to the different reflectivity of CD-R disks. Newer models with "dual-laser pickup" do not have a problem. Some older models are happier with CD-RWs which are closer optically to DVDs. VideoCD advantages? More robust than tape. Ability to jump to specific tracks, freeze frame, fast forward (depending on DVD player, but usually upto x32 and down to 1/4 speed). CD quality sound (depending on masters!). Cheaper than DVD or even VHS tape in quantity. (However, for under 12 minutes miniDVD would be a better quality solution). We can produce miniDVD, VCD or SVCD disks from your VHS, SVHS (inc Nicam), U-matic, miniDV, DVCpro or BetaSP masters. Other formats by arrangement. Approx cost (eg up to 9 min video): £20 for 5 CDs (CDR). Additional disks £ 0.70 each (up to 100). (Disks are mastered in software, in either Cinemacraft or similar quality encoder). Tel 0118 9268144 or 07956 855197 for full details or e-mail VCD filmcentre.co.uk