Create (S)VCD's and DVD's

Over the last years DVD-Video has conquered the market as the standard for video storage. The arrival of (re)writable DVD's on the market has created the possibility to record your own movies on DVD. Although (S)VCD may be pushed from the market by DVD-Video some time in the future, it is also still a very interesting method to store your final movies. Here we will present the basics of recording your own DVD's and (S)VCD's.

1. VCD, SVCD and DVD

Both VideoCD's (VCD) and Super VideoCD's (SVCD) are regular CD's containing, video, audio, stills and navigation menu's formatted according to a specific standard. VideoCD was developed as a standard to be played on CD-i (CD interactive) players, launched by Philips in 1989. Although the players turned out not to be a success on the market, the format survived because the technology is royalty free, which is not the case with DVD-Video. Super VideoCD is an enhancement of the VideoCD system, developed by the China Recording Standards Committee for exactly the same reason and allowing better quality video. In the Far East both formats are still very popular where pre-recorded (S)VCD's and special (S)VCD-players are widely available. Many modern DVD-players can also play VideoCD and a smaller number also Super VideoCD.

The DVD (or more correct: DVD-Video) format was developed by a consortium of the main players on the consumer electronics market and with support of major film studio's. This has certainly contributed to the acceptance as the new standard for storage of video. It allows high quality video and sound, multiple audio tracks, selectable subtitles and advanced navigation. Last but not least the format offers copy protection possibilities.

2. Creation of DVD's and (S)VCD's

Unlike burning a data CD or DVD the creation of these DVD's and (S)VCD's is not just a matter of taking your files and burn it to disc. Designing a DVD is called authoring. This because the process of adding titles dividing in chapters and adding an index in the form of a menu much resembles the writing of a book. Although the term is not generally used for creation of (S)VCD's, the process is quite similar. There are many dedicated (S)VCD/DVD authoring programs on the market, both commercial and as freeware in a wide variation of sophistication. From advance packages that enable the user to create hollywood style menu's, multiple audio tracks etc. to easy to use programs offering design of menu's based on a set of predefined templates.

An increasing number of CD/DVD burning programs also incorporate the possibility to author (S)VCD's and DVD's. Another tendency is to integrate authoring possibilities in video-editing programs to create a seamless process from capturing your base material until burning your disc.

3. Examples of authoring tools

The following tools are for VCD and/or SVCD only

Philips VCD Toolkit

This free software, for VCD only, can be considered as the mother of VCD authoring programs. It was launched in 1996 and has not been further developed, so the user interface looks rather outdated. However, since it was developed by Philips, the developer of the VCD standard, it exploits all the possibilities of VCD.

VCDImager

Another free VCD authoring tool, also useable for SVCD. The tool itself is a command line tool, but many different graphical user interfaces have been developed like VCDEasy, VCDImagerGUI and VCDWizard. www.gnu.org/software/vcdimager/vcdimager.html

I-author

This program was designed specifically for the (S)VCD standard in mind. It is only sold for the Chinese market, but you may be able to lay your hands on a copy somewhere on the Internet. Also not a very flashy user interface but it exploits all the possibilities of SVCD

Below a list of a number of authoring Tools for DVD. Some of them can also be used for (S)VCD.

DVD MovieFactory and DVD Workshop

These are programs from the Taiwanese company Ulead. DVD MovieFactory is an entry level authoring program. It has a wizard style user interface and is supplied with a number of menu templates and is therefore very easy to use, but is limited in possibilities. DVD Workshop is more advanced and offers the user a more comprehensive sets of possibilities. Both programs also support VCD and SVCD. www.ulead.com

My DVD and DVDit!

Supplied by Sonic from the USA, these programs are to the Ulead programs mentioned above. MyDVD is the entrance level package, DVDit! a more advanced package. For DVD only. www.sonic.com/

TMPGEnc DVD-author

From the same author of the famous encoding program TMPGEnc. It's a midrange program. Interesting feature is that you can also import movies already on DVD. It does not include an encoder so you will have to feed it with already mpeg-2 encoded files. www.tmpgenc.net or www.pegasys-inc.com

DVDlab

The user interface of this program from MediaChance is more like professional tools. And the PRO version does include a lot of possibilities that are not available in entry or mid level authoring programs. These include multiple audio tracks, subtitle support, menu transitions and a lot of other stuff to create really professional looking DVD's. Very reasonably prices too. www.mediachance.com/

Scenarist and RealDVD

Again programs from Sonic. Now you're getting in the programs for people with high budgets. RealDVD is at or a little above the of DVDlab and already a costly tool. Scenarist is for the true professionals but probably too complicated for most and definitely beyond enthusiasts budgets .www.sonic.com

DVD Maestro

This program designed by a company called Spruce is considered by many as the real top of the bill in possibilities and with a user friendly interface. It is however no longer supported and very hard to find.