Need help burning SVCD/VCDs
 

I've been burning a lot of coasters trying to burn a 700MB avi file to SVCD or VCD.... I know how to use vcdimager and cdrdao, its getting the avi to a usable mpeg file that's the problem.... Is there a good howto, guide, or software (non-kde, not avidemux) to help me out here?

I don't want to use avidemux... and I'm looking for a really thorough guide, covering everything from aspect ratios to pal/ntsc to vbr/cbr to limiting the size, or shrinking m2v/mpa to one condensed mpg, etc....

I've managed to mess up quite a few vcds using mencvcd, mencoder, mplex, transcode, you name it.... I cannot get my movie, which is widescreen, to NOT be stretched into 4:3.... i want the black bars on top & bottom, not a vertically stretched film....

I read through the link you posted, and several others, not a single one mentions how to do this... I have no interest in watching a 2.24:1 aspect ratio stretched to 4:3, a waste if you ask me.

Check out dvd::rip -- it probably does what you need. Since you've been playing with this stuff, know what the easiest way to split a DVD9 to 2 DVD5s is? I really don't want to get too deeply into writing XML files and menus etc for dvdauthor - I just want it to work :)

actually, I'm trying to re-encode a divx file I once made using xp (*.avi) back to vcd format in linux... I originally took it from a vhs tape, since afaik it was never released on any other video format....

Pink Floyd - Live in Pompeii..... still have the vhs, but I'd rather not add a vcr to my entertainment system :)

discs are so much shinier :)

yes i do agree...disc are so MUCH MORE SHINIER...bt can you tell me how u convert from vcr to vcd in xp?...wat software do u use? and the hardware?

I don't remember the software, it was just some basic video capture stuff.... and I used a rca->svideo adaptor into the svideo input on my GeForce FX 5600 256MB (BFG Asylum card)... it has a jack on the back between the vga & dvi outs, which looks like s-video but isn't... a special 4-port adapter actually plugs into that jack that has svid out/in on it.... however I also hear that those $40 media capture boxes as Best Buy are decent, and come with software to do the job.