Getting VCDs to work on DVD players?

Question

I have made many VCDs to play on our DVD players. I have found that are many factors on wether it works or not. First, I find there are all different types of formats to choose from when converting to mpeg. You have mpeg-1 standard or with VCD extensions. You also have mpeg-2 standard, SVCD, or DVD. Then, when you get to the burning stage you also have VCD or SVCD. I find that using the mpeg-1 standard format and burning as VCD usually works best. Finally, I have noticed that using Rewritable CDs doesn't always work as well as the DVD player itself can be picky. It ends up that if using the mpeg-1 standard format and burning as VCD with Recordable only CDs on the right player it works most of the time. Can someone tell me about why the combinations have to be perfect to work? Oh yea, I need to use the right software even though it looks as if the software produces the same result except when it comes to the final test of playing it. Please clarify. Thanks.

Answer 1

Purchase the full DIVX program online and convert all of your VCD's to DIVX format. Almost all DVD players built after 2004 can handle the format. I had the same problem with my collection of "bootleg" DVD's from Iraq.

This will work 90% of the time. Be advised that some formats/discs will simply not convert.

Answer 2

It'll depend on the DVD player. We have two. Our first was a real cheap one which would only play AVI format VCD's. Our second one will play MPG as well, so I convert all movie files to AVI or MPG format VCD using Alive Video Converter then burn them to CD using Adensoft Audio Data CD Burner. Works every time for me.