i need help

[naqvi225]

can any1 tell me if you can convert vcd quality to dvd quality and how

[johnnyis42]

sorry if this thread is dead, ut i was bored going through the forum, and thought maybe you might still want an answer to this....

basically, no, you can't upgrade quality on encoded video/audio. the "VCD" and "DVD" quality lables describe the aproximate equivilant of a bitrate in a certain codec to the accepted standards of MPEG files used for VCD and DVD video. the bitrate a raw video signal/file is encoded into is usually done with a "lossy" codec, meaning that aproximations were made to get the file size doiwn with a minimum sacrifice in quality. "lossless" codecs use a different algorithm method where the decoder is able to completely reproduce the original image or sound with the new file, which is smaller than the original.

usually, the "lossless" codecs need much more computing power than the "lossy" codecs. it is theoretically possible to re-encode a file encoded with a "lossless" codec to its original format bit for bit. however, when using "lossy" codecs (mpeg, mp3, divx, etc) you can never get the exact original file back, but you can attemt to make an approximation of the original file.

in order to do any of this, you need utilities and the appropriate codecs installed for audio/video file editing. this is amongst the more advanced aplication usage, and to do it right you need to do alot of reading on the subject, and trial and error comes into play big time. there have been a few utilities put out there to simplify the whole process, but very few of them seem to be very dependable, or offer support for a wide range of codec compatability.

the other side of this whole discussion is the legality of all of this when dealing with copywritten material, and also the use of certian codecs that aren't open source. mpeg and mp3 are not open source, so it may be difficult to find all the resources you need from simple searches.

the bottom line is that it is alot easier to buy a dvd than to encode a vcd to dvd quality, and you're guarenteed to get your dvd quality that way. that is the simple truth to the whole internet file swapping thing: the files traded over the net are rarely, if ever, as good as the original. if quality is important to you, then the investment is worth it.

[naqvi225]

hey thnx alot for responding to my post.i have another question.
uhm u kno how some .vcd files are widescreen?i have one like that but the quality isnt tht good.is there a way i can make it smaller u kno like the two black lines,one on the top and one on the bottom...i think its called putting it into a smaller frame,and if i do will the quality improve a little,because i kno alot of times for example if there is an avi. file and the quality isnt really good putting it widescreen makes it even worse

anyways thanx alot for replying to my question
hope u reply to this one too...u seem to know alot about this stuff

thnx again :-)

[johnnyis42]

yeah, i know what you are talking about, and there is some software out there that allows you to do that. some professional stuff, some freeware. virtual dub comes to mind. you can give that a shot, but beware because iot doesn't like the asf/wma hacked codecs.

[naqvi225]

what are hacked codecs

[johnnyis42]

basically, codecs follow the same rule as any other software as far as licensing goes. you have your open source, proprietary, etc.

a little while ago, people were able to take microsoft's .asf file format (predecessor to WMV) and the codecs that microsoft used for it, and tweaked them up a bit. now, i'm not totally certain how they did it or what exactly they did, i have heard it was mostly for the sound codec, and used for combining it with divx video for highest compression and highest quality (since mp3 typically has larger file sizes/quality compared to microsoft codecs)

you will find these codecs in divx packages such as anglepotion or nemo codec pack. typically, they do well playing most video files, but can seriously break other multimedia aplications and cause some games to crash as well.

the thing about these "hacked" codecs is that they are fully functional, in that you can use them to both decode AND encode files. usually proprietary codecs are given away for free with decoding functions, but you have to pay a premium for encoding (or int he case of divx, you only get to encode with certain features, and you have the "divx" brand on all your videos) . in the case of the microsoft codecs, they were hacked to be able to encode without microsoft's permission, and not to mention used primarily in the good ol "copywright violation"/"pirating" trade. since then, microsoft has flexed their muscle and any free software used for video editing has to deny you the ability to use their software with those codecs or suffer the wrath of microsoft.

in all reality, the need for those codecs has long since left, and why anyone still uses them is beyond me. the latest divx and xvid are so much better.

[naqvi225]

hey if i was to buy a dvd , do you kno if it is possible to copy it or do they have it locked or sumtin,and if it is.... could I fit it on a 4.7 gb dvd disk

[johnnyis42]

DVD's are encrypted. this is where the DCMA comes in, the law that all the content owners are now using to sue people. technically it is illegal to surpass any method used to copy-protect any media, however it is a consumer's right to make back-up copies of their own software, movies, music, etc. also, in order to utilize things like portable mp3 players and media devices for movies and what not, you need to convert media from one format to another, and therefore if you want to convert a DVD that you purchased for your own use into WMA format to play on your PDA or portable media player, you have to break the law in order to do it, or else buy the movie again in a different format, and those services don't even exist yet.

so yes it is possible, but technically it is illegal.

[naqvi225]

do u do it?