How To: Encode Video to MPEG-2 for SVCD

From GEAR Software Knowledgebase

How to Encode Video to MPEG-2 for SVCD

In order to make a SVCD disc from your captured video files, you must first encode the video into the appropriate format. GEAR Video makes it easy.

To compress your DV video files for SVCD, select "Encode Video" from the Encode menu. This will bring up the Video Encoder window...

Click the "Encoding Settings" button to choose the disc format you wish to encode for (SVCD), change the output directory to store the encoded files, or to change the encoding bitrate. Click the "Add Files" button to find and add files to the list of files to be encoded. When you are ready, click the "Convert" button. The status indicated in the lower left corner will show you that the files are being converted. A progress indicator will show a green line in the bar along the bottom of the window. When the green line reaches the right side of the bar, and the status goes to "Idle", the encoding is finished.

Your video files are now ready to author a SVCD!

Technical Details - Encoding video for a Super Video CD

SVCD titles utilize MPEG-2 video, encoded with a variable bitrate (VBR), to a resolution of 480x576 for PAL, 480x480 for NTSC. The higher efficiency of MPEG-2, along with the higher resolution, and a bitrate of up to 2600 kbps results in video that is better than VHS tape. Audio is encoded with MPEG-1, Layer 2, at bitrates up to 384 kbps. The maximum combined bitrate for video plus audio is 2778 kbps. At this rate, you can fit about 34 minutes of video on a 700 MB CD-R / RW.

VCD and SVCD titles can be played back in most, but not all DVD players. They can also be played using a PC with the appropriate media player software.