|
BURNING
GUIDES -> Create VCD/SVCD in VCD Easy
VCDEasy is a
versatile program that can be used for burning VCD, XVCD,
SVCD, XSVCD and CVD formats. Most of the early versions
of this program are freeware, such as the v1.1.5.2
free version being used in this guide.
This guide only covers the actual disc creation process as
the program only supports this aspect of creating a CD-based
video disc. Your files must already be encoded and ready for
use. More in-depth guides can
be found at www.vcdeasy.org.
Although excellent, just be warned that they are a bit
cumbersome and can be overwhelming for new users.
STEP 1
- Setup VCDEasy to work with a CD burner
After starting
VCDEasy, it should open to the MAIN window. Find the burner
settings button (marked in GREEN
on this guide) and click it to bring up the options menu.
The other green-marked item should show some kind of ASPI
layer, normally Adaptec. If no ASPI layer is availaable, it
means you have never installed CD burning software on this
computer. Either install CD burning software (like Nero or
Roxio) or go and download ASPI4ALL software. It is a
freeware driver pack and should be easy to find a download
if you search on www.google.com.
VCDEasy is not as simple as your average burning software
like Nero, RecordNow or Roxio. You must setup both the CD
burner drive AND the burning drivers, as it uses the
freeware engine CDRDAO to burn discs. After clicking the
options button, this screen should appear:
Select your burner from the list.
I have a LITE-ON CD burner, and I must force the GENERIC-MMC-RAW
drivers on my burner. Clicking on MORE INFORMATION will take
you to the VCDEasy support site and give a list of burners
and proper drivers. Most burners use GENERIC-MMC or GENERIC-MMC-RAW
drivers. Be sure to also checkmark the FORCE EXECUTION box.
The other check boxes are optional. The image shows what I
use.
Be aware that choosing the wrong driver may damage your
burner. Not likely, but can happen. Also, overburning CD
video discs is not suggested.
Click OK and let's go make a disc. The burner setup is
finished.
STEP
2 - Importing video files
The MAIN window
should re-appear:
The items marked in RED on the
image are the important ones.
VideoCD type: This is easy. Merely select the format
of the file you wish to import. VCD and XVCD should use the
VCD 2.0 type. SVCD, XSVCD and CVD should use the SVCD 1.0
type. PAL or NTSC depending on the footage. Checkmark the
INTERACTIVITY box if you want menus. Since VCD 1.1 did not
allow for PBC (playback controls), the interactivity option
is not available. Normally VCDEasy will auto-select this
based on your imported video files.
CD Writer: This should already be setup from STEP 1
of this guide. Just verify it still shows the correct
burner. Be sure the BURN option is checkmarked. Burning
simulation is not needed, but you can do it by checking the
SIMULATION option.
Volume Label: You can label the disc here if you
want.
CD Files: This is where VCDEasy will store your
temporary S/X/VCD files. Make sure you have at least 700MB
available in this location.
Add Files: Select your video files. Again, they must
already be in proper format. Note that XVCD, CVD and XSVCD
files will give error messages, and you must tell VCDEasy to
ignore these "problems" found in the files. It
will load the files, as shown in the status bar at the
bottom of the VCDEasy screen. If the file requires
AUTOPADDING then go ahead and select 'YES' when prompted.
- If no INTERACTIVITY was selected, then the disc is ready
to burn. Goto STEP 4.
- If you want menus and chapters, and INTERACTIVITY is
selected, then continue on to STEP 3.
STEP
3 - Advanced functions: menus and chapter
Adding chapters is
fairly easy. But making menus can get a bit complex.
Chapters. First, change
from the MAIN screen to the CHAPTERS screen. This is where
chapters are created.
The items in green are the most
important ones when making simple chapters. The SEQUENCE box
shows the file that is being worked on. Each file must be
worked on separately. This example is a single CVD file.
This disc will only have one actual video file. If your disc
has more, select each sequence one-by-one and add chapters
as needed.
The easiest method is to select a couple of equidistant
chapters, however you can also select precise chapters based
upon time or frame. There is also a preview window, though
you must have proper MPEG codecs installed for it to
function.
The window on the far right side shows the chapter marks.
Menus.
This guide only
supports making one menu for the full disc. And again,
this guide only covers the actual disc layout and burning.
All files must be ready prior to using this guide. For VCD/XVCD
menus, make a 320x240 image. For SVCD/CVD/XSVCD menus, make
a 640x480 image. These are NTSC values. For PAL use 384x288
and 768x576. Adobe Photoshop is suggested for image
creation.
In VCDEasy, select TOOLS on the far right menu and then
select the MPEG STILLS button found near the top of the
program screen. This is where your menu image is converted
into a MPEG file suited for VCDEasy menu use.
First. Go to the INPUT IMAGE area and BROWSE. Find
your menu images and select the file.
Second. Go to the MPEG STILL TYPE area and select the
type of MPEG that correlates to the CD-baed video disc you
are trying to create. In this example, a CVD is being made,
and thus uses SVCD values. It is NTSC format. If the disc is
VCD/XVCD format, use LOW. If the disc is SVCD/CVD/XSVCD
format, use the HIGH option.
The defaults for all other settings are fine. Only tweak if
needed or if you like to experiment.
Third. Press the GENERATE button to create the MPEG
files based on the still images. The new file will match the
name of the image source and go to the location specified in
the OUTPUT IMAGE FOLDER.
Fourth. The menu is now made, and it is time to
import the menu video. Go back to the (S)VCD page and go to
the MAIN window. As was done with the main video, click the
ADD FILES button and add the newly-created menu MPEG file.
Sixth. Finally, be sure that the video files are in
the proper order and selected.
A checkmark appear on selected files. If an item is not
selected, right-click in the box to change it to selected.
The menu file should be first. All video files should be
after it, and in order. To change the arrangement of files,
click on the filename and drag it to the desired location.
In the example, the "hilton.mpg" file appeared
second when added, instead of first, and it was dragged into
the first spot.
End. Though the menu in the example was fairly basic,
it can get as complex as you make it. Some people even go so
far as to make MPEG file in Adobe Premiere and create the
effect of motion menus on VCD.
STEP
4 - Burning the video to disc
Burning the VCDEasy
project is actually the easiest aspect of the process, as
long as the burner is properly setup as per STEP 1, and the
video and optional menus are setup properly as per STEP 2
and 3.
Find the GO button and press it. 
This will initiate the burning process.
When done, pop it in your CD-media-capable player and enjoy!
Page Last Updated: May 15th 2005
|
Print
this guide:  |
|
