The great SVCD mystery

[tonyjer]

Hi Everyone

Still fumbling and stumbling with SVCD creation using VS8 (Limited to SVCD/VCD cos I have a very small project amounting to 22 minutes and have a bucketful of blank C-R , which as you know are 700mb in size)
I know I posted on this recently but something is still bugging me.

My project is downloaded WMV files, which I then convert to mpeg 2 using the SVCD default (2375kbs, 480*576 etc etc) all goes well and the resulting video file is only about 370Mb in size, which should be no problem to accommodate on CD-R media.

I then follow the workflow as per DVD creation (which has worked a 1000 times).

I go into share/create disk/add video and set the properties to match the mpeg file.

However, the 370 MB mpeg then grows into a 900mb monster, which is too big for CD-R!

Is there a reason for this? Surely 22 min of 2375kbs should not increase in size dramatically prior to burn!

The only strange thing I have noticed is that the default resolution for SVCD is 480*576 but when you come to change the properties in the burn sequence (the gear cog) you only get the 4 standard frame sizes and you cant use user defined.

I know this is not the biggest issue at the moment and I can burn on DVD with no difficulty but it’s a waste with all these free blank CD-R.

In the pre Ulead days I was able to burn about 40 mins of SVCD on CD-R with Pinnacle 8 in my sleep!! (about the only thing I could do)

Many thanks for your time

Antonio, Anna y Eduardo Felipe

[2Dogs]

My project is downloaded WMV files, which I then convert to mpeg 2 using the SVCD default (2375kbs, 480*576 etc etc) all goes well and the resulting video file is only about 370Mb in size, which should be no problem to accommodate on CD-R media.

I then follow the workflow as per DVD creation (which has worked a 1000 times).

I go into share/create disk/add video and set the properties to match the mpeg file.

However, the 370 MB mpeg then grows into a 900mb monster, which is too big for CD-R!

Is there a reason for this? Surely 22 min of 2375kbs should not increase in size dramatically prior to burn!

The only strange thing I have noticed is that the default resolution for SVCD is 480*576 but when you come to change the properties in the burn sequence (the gear cog) you only get the 4 standard frame sizes and you cant use user defined.

I know this is not the biggest issue at the moment and I can burn on DVD with no difficulty but it’s a waste with all these free blank CD-R.

In the pre Ulead days I was able to burn about 40 mins of SVCD on CD-R with Pinnacle 8 in my sleep!! (about the only thing I could do)

Many thanks for your time

Antonio, Anna y Eduardo Felipe

Hi Antonio y Anna,

quit fumbling!!

I presume it was a typo when you said "which I then convert to mpeg 2" - SVCD is not MPEG-2, of course!

The properties of your SVCD file seem fine, though.

I suspect your trouble arises at the "Create Disc" stage.

Make sure you set the "Output disc format:" box to "SVCD".
You'll get a warning dialogue box that tells you that DVD-related settings will be disabled. Click on "Yes" to clear that and carry on.

I don't know if it's a glitch in VS9, but when I click the cog-wheel below the SVCD video clip you've inserted in this "Create Disc" step, I notice that it has defaulted to a constant video data rate of 2520 kbps. If you click on the "Change MPEG Settings...." button, however, and then "Customize..." you can set the compression to variable max 2375 kbps. This should enable "Smart Render" - you should see "Do not convert compliant MPEG files" checked in the project settings dialogue box you get when you click on the cog-wheel.

You might want to click on the "Settings and options" button to the left of the cog wheel to check the "anti-flicker filter" which improves display of the menu.

I tried burning a sample SVCD (actually my first ever!!) with a 97Mb SVCD file, and used the "Speed" menu template (with no motion video in the menu of course) and added an MP3 music track to the menu. It burned an SVCD disk in 1 minute 15 seconds with my 52x CD writer.

The odd thing is that the properties of the SVCD show only 86Mb used - compared with the original 97Mb SVCD file inserted at the "create disc" step.

I was also pleasantly surprised by the reasonable video quality.

Hope this helps!

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi tonyjer

You are best using the same video clip properties and project properties.

Try this:-

1/ Start a NEW project (important)

2/ Insert your Svcd file to the video timeline. (project properties should be the same as the video)

3/ Delete the video from the timeline. ( you now have an empty project )

4/ Share – Create Disc

5/ Add Video File ( add the Svcd )

Burn your disc.

Hope this helps

Trevor

[tonyjer]

Brilliant

Just tried your routine and it worked.

I have never inserted video files into the timeline before. Have always followed DVD Work thru which involves clearing timeline and then share disk option/insert video file.

I guess this is just a variation on a theme.

Do you know why the recommended workflow always causes the SVCD file to balloon in size?

Many thanks anyway.

Gracias y vaya con dios

Antonio, Anna Y Eduardo Felipe

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi Antonio, Anna

Glad that worked.

The recommended procedure does work, you have to make sure your project properties match your video clip properties.

In your case you would have to change the project properties to Svcd within the burner module.(this is what you did not do, and maybe re-rendered to Mpeg 2)

If your project properties were correct before you went to the burner module you would not have to change the settings.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Video Studio changes the project properties to match the FIRST video clip placed in the timeline.

By adding your clip to the timeline you make VS use the clip properties as the project settings.

You then delete the clip, and now have an empty project but with the correct settings.

Share – create disc—add video

Read -- Share ( Burn to Disc ) from the link below

Trevor

[tonyjer]

Thanks again

[2Dogs]

Hi Antonio, Anna

Glad that worked.

The recommended procedure does work, you have to make sure your project properties match your video clip properties.

In your case you would have to change the project properties to Svcd within the burner module.(this is what you did not do, and maybe re-rendered to Mpeg 2)

If your project properties were correct before you went to the burner module you would not have to change the settings.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Video Studio changes the project properties to match the FIRST video clip placed in the timeline.

By adding your clip to the timeline you make VS use the clip properties as the project settings.

You then delete the clip, and now have an empty project but with the correct settings.

Share – create disc—add video

Read -- Share ( Burn to Disc ) from the link below

Trevor

But check this out, Trevor.

(I'm running the VS9 trial)

Create a video file using the PAL SVCD profile. It uses 480x576 max vbr 2375. Note the size of the file. My test file was 98.9Mb.

Stick that in the timeline of a new project file, as per the recommended procedure, then remove it and go to the create disc step, and add the file.

Now, when you choose PAL-SVCD as the output format, with the same vbr 2375 setting, the disc contents, including the menu background and a 10Mb audio file only amount to 89.8Mb.

So VS must be re-compressing the file, even though smart render is enabled and the project properties have been set to match the file.

This also seems to be confirmed by comparing the finished SVCD quality with the SVCD parent file.

Does this happen with your full version or is this a glitch with the trial?

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi 2 Dogs

File / project properties—Show messages when inserting first video into timeline
This will show an info window when VS tries to change the project properties, allowing you to choose the option Y/N.

OK
I made a Svcd using the images from the library. The video was one minute long .

I started a NEW PROJECT (don’t just empty the timeline do---File New Project)
I inserted my Svcd into the timeline.
The info window pops up
I select ‘Details’
I can view both project and video properties.
By selecting ‘yes’ the project properties are changed to match the video properties.

Note :- if File / project properties—Show messages when inserting…. Had not been selected earlier, the above would still have happened, just you would not have seen it.

I delete the video clip from the timeline, I now have an empty project with the correct properties.
I Share –Create Disc
I see SVCD as the ‘Output disc format’
If you have to choose the output format then your project settings are incorrect.

I add my one minute Svcd
I click the info symbol below the duration counter to view the clip properties.13.48 Mb
I add menus
I navigate to the burner window and see 18Mb required, I assume the extra is the menu I am using.

I burn a disc
At no point should VS re-render, re-compress your video files.
At no point should you see the warning ’this will take some time to render’

Quality.
It’s a long time since I used Svcd but remember having playback problems.
Changing the bit rate to constant seemed to cure that
This created a larger file, reducing the rate to 2000 kbps allowed me to fit 40 minutes to a disc
Using 2300 kbps for 30 minute videos.

Hope this Helps

Trevor

[2Dogs]

If you have to choose the output format then your project settings are incorrect.

Hi Trevor,

I am familiar with the dummy insert procedure for setting project properties, and had thought I'd done all that. I will go over all my settings, however, since there must be something wrong.

I am only doing this as an exercise though, since I don't make SVCD's - in fact the latest offer at the big box store for Thanksgiving has 75 8x DVD+r discs for $2:99!!

Hope Leeds is not too chilly!