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View Full Version : Why SVCD? Why not just MiniDVD?


LB
12th October 2002, 00:41
I've been wondering this for awhile and did a few tests and now am at the conclusion that SVCD is pointless. I love the quality of them, so I figured why not just just make minidvds instead? Basically, its identical to the SVCD creation process except for that you have to encode at 720x480 or a dvd compatible resolution (not 480x480), use 48khz sound, and mux it differently... But, using the same bitrate for a SVCD (~2100) and the same bitrate for the audio (224) you can create a dvd compliant movie that is the same size as a SVCD with almost identical quality. Benefit? Well, when you eventually buy a DVD-R you can just copy over all your minitDVDs to it.

Again, this is assuming you don't mind the quality loss between a SVCD (minidvd in this case) and an actual dvd. I would much rather have 5 movies on 1 dvd with slight quality loss than 1 movie on 1 dvd.

So, what do you guys think? Why not miniDVD instead of SVCD? I see no benefit except a loss of compatibility on the SVCD->DVD conversion compared to a minidvd.

Oh yea, 1 more question. Compatibility? Wouldn't ANY DVD player on the market play these too? So there wouldn't be a reason to buy a special apex player?

**EDIT: This is also assuming you are content with 224 svcd quality audio.

jdobbs
12th October 2002, 22:31
Very few standalone players play mini-DVD. The player can tell when a CD has been inserted rather than a DVD and responds differently.

A lot of standalones play SVCD.

Wilbert
14th October 2002, 14:55
Did you consider making MPEG2 compliant CVD+miniDVD's?

video: 352x480, GOP: (for PAL it's 15: I1P4B2, NTSC 18: I1P5B2)
audio: same as SVCD at 48kHz

JeromeERome
16th October 2002, 00:11
Hey LB you can use a 480x480 SVCD in a DVD project by using the
following method. I do this all the time to save space of 720x480
without losing quality. Basically you demux the a/v tracks from your
SVCD. Then you convert the 44khz audio to 48khz. Use DVDPatcher to patch
the header of your video file so it appears as 720x480 to your DVD
authoring software. Then setup and burn your DVD or cDVD. I know this
works with Maestro. This thread may help.

http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26830&highlight=dvdpat

ulfschack
16th October 2002, 17:05
I use the method described by Jerome too for my old home DV svcd:s. Be aware however that not all players recives this trickery too well. I've seen some strange results on my friend's (otherwise very compatible ... pioneer 343) player. So to be absolutely sure you should recompress and take the loss of quality (I dont :) )

cheers