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VCD Basics
- If you already know the VCD basics, and want to make a VCD, Click HERE
- What is a vcd?
It is simply a video compact disc (CD) that contains video and audio - moving pictures and sound. It is capable of holding up to 74 minutes of full-motion video with quality stereo sound. VCD uses the MPEG-1 standard to store video and audio in a high density form. As opposed to DVD that utilizes the MPEG-2. This ensures full compatibility with a wide range of devices. It is a worldwide, standards independent format endorsed by Sony, Philips, Matsushita and JVC.
The really cool thing about a VCD is that you can run it on a variety of different platforms including personal computers and laptops/notebooks (both PC & Mac), DVD players, stand-alone VCD players, televisions, and game boxes (e.g. Playstations) and multimedia boxes.
- What is a video cd used for?
The most common application of VideoCD has been for playing movies and music videos . With the release of VideoCD 2.0 specification, the format is enjoying greatly expanded popularity. VideoCD 2.0 provides full interactivity via remote control, making the format appealing for a wide range of multimedia applications. It has gained rapid acceptance for its ability to deliver high quality, full-motion digital video cheaply. However, be aware of the existence of bootlegged / pirated VCDs.
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VideoCD provides random access search. This means that, you can quickly find that scene where Keanu Reeves dodges those bullets in .
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There is no deterioration or degradation of picture quality over time, even when you watch Cameron Diaz over & over again.
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The discs are not bulky making them easy to store anywhere, even under your pillow.
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They do not have regional lock codes like the DVD, so you can buy VCDs and play them anywhere from Alaska all the way to Zimbabwe.
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They're also much cheaper when compared to a DVD or even a VHS.
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The video quality that you can expect from a VCD is comparable or better than VHS.
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All Personal Computers - both PC & Mac with CD-ROMs/DVD-ROMs, a sound card and a good graphics card.
PC requires MPEG capable software. We recommend or Windows Media Player which you can download for free from Microsoft's site. More software players here .
Mac requires Quicktime and/or SpeedTools
Another downloadable player for the Mac is MacVCD . (Now available Mac 2.0)
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VCD players ; i.e. stand-alone vcd players .
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DVD players ; most DVD players are Video CD compatible
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Game Consoles (e.g.
Playstation requires an inexpensive add-on .
For Dreamcast get the
For Nintendo 64 get the
These are inexpensive add-ons that will enable you to watch VCD movies throurgh your machines
Also some Saturn Consoles & 3DO Game Consoles are compatible provided you get an add-on movie card. Contact your favorite game console dealer. (There are currently no add-on movie cards available for the Playstation 2.)
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Some Philips CD-I Players (all the information you need can be found here .)
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Some Laser Disc Players
This is not as confusing as you may think. Basically, there are two TV video standards, NTSC and PAL. NTSC is used in North America & Japan. PAL is common in Europe, Asia & almost everywhere else in the world. (France & former communist-bloc countries use SECAM; Brazil utilizes PALM).
Most hardware devices (DVD or VCD players) that play PAL video resolution on a NTSC monitor correctly will cut 24 lines of resolution from the top and bottom of a PAL image. Almost all VCDs are in PAL resolution. This is usually not an issue, because not much details are lost by such truncation.
Note : NTSC has 352 x 240 video resolution and PAL's video resolution is 352 x 288. However, the PAL to NTSC video conversion / truncation problem does not exist when viewed on a PC monitor as the PC is able to display the whole image. Most TVs and DVD players are multisync now. Therefore,they can play both NTSC & PAL format. Thus you should not have any problems playing PAL VCDs on these players.
- To make and author a VCD, Click HERE
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