I was curious to see how or if anyone authors VCDs. I have just delved into this. I am not too technically savvy and am relying on shareware, demos and guesswork to do this stuff.

How much, if at all, is the quality of video degraded after going through different programs? What are the best ways to author VCDs? Is there 1 program that can do it all?

My current way:
1) I use VirtualDub to splice, alter sound and codecs to avi files so they can be used in 2) TMPGE to convert to VCD compliant mpeg files, the problem is when I alter fps from the source avi to VCD compliant mpeg, everything is all flubbed up on the final VCD which I burn with 3)Nero

The only luck I've had with VCDs is actually downloading an mpeg/VCD ready version of AOTC. Its a great copy! But when I capture or "find" other video, its most always in avi format, thus causing me headaches while converting.....

Premature thanks,

Tubbs

:lol: This is funny ... I've also just gotten into VCDs.

You should check out http://www.vcdhelp.com/ & http://www.vcdhelp.com/divxtovcd.htm
This is where I get all my help. I'm already looking into making menus and chapters, and this site has all the info and files I need :thumb:

I was using a demo of Ulead DVD maker, and made menus and background music, but the demo ran out so now I have to.....:eek: buy it or keep using Nero.........

:) I've been around that site too. I'm just not happy with the "cubular" resolution I get on the finished product. I can't pin down what I am doing wrong.....yet......

Hmmm I've had no problems so far ... I'm using VirtualDub 1.4.10 for sound ripping, TMPGEnc 2.56 for the encoding and VCDEasy for the burning .... All programs are freeware, and work flawlessly.

I'm currently looking at some programs for setting entrypoints, thus being able to make chapters .... Altho' it looks like you should be able to do that with some XML editing :)