How to convert your VCD and SVCD to DVD±R without re-encoding[

VCD and SVCD to DVD±R without re-encoding
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The simplest way to put your VCD's or SVCD's onto a DVDR for ease of viewing, is to just re-author them. However, not all DVD Players will play them without errors, so you need to try one and test it on your DVD Player. If it works fine, keep doing it, if it doesn't work, either get a new DVD Player or re-encode them to DVD compliant files (best way if your mates or family borrow them, but thats not covered here, check other tutorials).

I have tried a few methods, many easy, many complicated, many messy. The simplest and easiest way I have found is to use just one program, DVDLab ( http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab ). It will accept VCD or SVCD MPG files directly (it does give you a warning with SVCD however) and will convert the Audio from 44.1 kHz to 48 kHz (essential for successful playback). It then re-authors to a set of VOB files ready to burn out with Nero, RNM or your favourite burning program.

No need to join the MPG files, just link the end of one to the start of the other. If you have a 2-3 sec overlap between each MPG, just learnt to live with it on your DVDR's or attempt to chop it off one of the mpg files. You can use TMPGenc, MPEG-VCR or MPEG2Cut (for SVCD free from d/l section of http://darkav.de.vu/ ) to do that.

For best result, you need to extract the DAT or MPG files off your CDR's as a true MPG file. Use IsoBuster (www.isobuster.com) by right clicking the AVSEQ01.DAT or .MPG file and selecting "Extract but filter only M2F2 mpeg frames".

DVDLab have written a great Tutorial with lots of pictures and very easy to follow, so just follow that (this is the easiest Tutorial I have written ). It is posted on their site at:-

http://www.mediachance.com/dvdlab/tutorial/svcd.html

When you load in your MPG file, it will ask you "What to do?". Always select "Demultiplex to Elementary Streams" and if the audio is not at 48khz it will then ask if you want to Audio transcode it, answer Yes. If you say No it will NOT add the audio, so the only answer is Yes.

If you have problems with the MP2 audio (your player doesn't play the audio well or not at all) for true DVD Compliance, you need to convert it to AC3.

NOTE: MP2 audio is NOT a DVD compliant audio for NTSC DVD's but is for PAL DVD's.

Convert the Transcoded 48khz audio file is best. You can do this manually using BeSweet with BeSweet GUI or AC3 Machine (from http://dspguru.doom9.net/ ) and load it instead of the MP2 audio. DVDLab only allows one audio track, so you cant add both.
NOTE: Some people have reported regular clicks in the audio after converting to 48kzh with DVDLab, I have not. If this is the case for you, then demux the original MPG file with TMPGEnc to get the MP2 audio and use TMPGEnc or BeSweetGUI to re-sample to 48khz.

You can normally fit 2, 3 or maybe 4 (S)VCD movies to a DVDR. The above Tutorial explains how to do all that and how to make a simple menu to allow each to be selected on first play.

Hope it works for you. Any questions, just ask in the forum.


ChickenMan (c)2004 - Posted Jan 2004