KVCD: Capture to .wmv using Windows Movie Maker?
 

OK! I've been reading numerous topics/FAQ's/Websites on how to do capture and the KVCD website seems to have what I'm trying to do. It's all fascinating but, here's my problem:

The FAQ's I'm reading detail how to rip DVD's...what I want to know is how to convert your .wmv to ??? and use the KVCD templates to get the required 120 minutes on one CD-RW (my Sony DVP-530D will read CD-RW's in VCD format). I've also learned that I can change the header on MPEG-2 SVCD's to VCD using TMPGen MPEG Tools to get SVCD video to work on my DVD player. Therefore, it stands to reason that if I can capture 100 minutes of video from my Digital camcorder, then I should be able to use the KVCD templates to get that video onto a single SVCD (CD-RW format and do a header change to VCD) prior to burning it CD-RW. If I sound confused, I probably am! So how do you do it? My camcorder uses firewire to download the video, and the software is Windows Movie Maker 2.0. That's the crux of my frustration over the last couple of weeks. ANY help would be greatly appreciated!

GMan

Hi GMan,

First of all, you won't be able to put 120 minutes with good quality on one CD for two reasons. First, your camcorder's frame rate is 29.97fps, and second, it's full screen capture. 120 minutes (and more) will go on a CD if the source is FILM (24) or PAL (25fps), but not at 30fps. Also the full screen will increase the pixels to be encoded, and that reduces quality because a higher CQ must be used to compensate for the film area.
So from a camcorder, you'll probably get no more than an hour on a CD with KVCDx3. That's a rough estimate, because I haven't tried that.
Unless you plan to encode with KVCD LBR (352x240), and then you'll get ~2 hours with ~VCD quality.

-kwag

Yup, I figured out pretty quick that I had to capture at a lower resolution. The last thing I tried, was 640x480x30 FPS and ended up with 887megs of .wmv after 8 hours of encoding...

What I would like to do is capture at no more than 480x480 (SVCD) and use the templates. If I have to go to VCD resolution in capture, than so be it, but I of course don't want to loose to much fidelity. The technicality of the issue is pretty formidable, but I believe I can find the middle ground I'm looking for. Any suggestions Kwag?

GMan

Try capturing at least at 352x480 (or higher) and then encode at 352x480 (half-D1 resolution) and see if that will play in your standalone.
That is a very descent resolution, and it will look far better than a VCD.
If your player supports SVCD, you can use the SKVCD template, and burn as SVCD. That is MPEG-2. Or you can use the KVCD 352x480 PLUS, which is MPEG-1. I would go for the later :wink:

-kwag

352x480 29.97fps NTSC
 

This is going to seem like a dumb question, but where do I get a program that will encode at that res? I have tried several, looking for that magic combination of encodeability/compression/etc., but haven't found one that will provide 352x480. I can encode at 352x240 or 640x480 (way to big). Is there a preferred program that will encode 352x480 straight to MPEG-1 or MPEG-2?

Re: 352x480 29.97fps NTSC
 

TMPGEnc :D
Just load the SKVCD template or the 352x480 PLUS. Then you'll be encoding at 352x480.

-kwag

is it just me or is the new movie maker slow?

MMaker 2.0
 

Yup, it's slower in my opinion, but I like the new features....

352x480 template
 

I think I'm going to have to watch my verbiage here!

OK, Kwag, first...thanks for being patient with me on this...
Secondly, should I use my originally captured file (640x480x30fps=887megs) .wmv file and run it through the aforementioned template? Do you think it will squeeze it down far enough to fit on one VCD/SVCD? That's my goal. I just don't know enough about the compression and other neato tricks you guys have been working with...

:imstupid:

Re: 352x480 template
 

If that is the size of your constant bit rate captured file, you'll probably squeeze that to ~400MB with any KVCD template :D

-kwag

~400 megs
 

Well, the dreaded TMPGen process is started. My machine is telling me to check on it in 7 hours. Now I have to figure out how to do the audio since TMPGen strips it out.

I can forsee what my topic will be later... 8O

TMPGen predicted 1.4 gigs while using the KVCD template...I take it that when going back to MPEG-1 since I'm going to get a .m1v file it will shrink considerably?

:?:

Re: ~400 megs
 

You didn't use TMPEG's internal prediction, did you :?:
You have to use file size prediction, and not TMPEG's prediction :!:

-kwag

You didn't use TMPEG's internal prediction, did you
 

This isn't a cut-and-dry process is it? I just checked my hard drive and I now have a 312x480 mpeg of what I started with! What happened to the 352x480?

I need to learn how to get the audio and merge it back to the file for the final output as well...

Give me strength! :?

Hi Gman,

Go to the main page at www.kvcd.net and under the "Guides" section, click on "KVCD x2 Guide" and follow that guide. That should bring you up to date on all procedures :wink:

-kwag