What is VCD (Video Compact Disc) ?

 
WHAT IS VCD:

VCD stands for Video Compact Disc, which looks like regular music CD, however it offers VHS quality video and high quality stereo sound and usually about 60 minutes of playing time. VCD uses MPEG1 compression. A VCD can be played on almost all standalone DVD Players and of course on all computers with a DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive with the help of a software based decoder/player.

 

ADVANTAGES OF VCDs:
  • random access search
  • There is no deterioration or degradation of picture quality over time
  • VCDs do not have regional lock codes (like the DVD), so they can be played anywhere in the world
  • The picture quality is at least as good as that of VHS tapes; audio is usually Dolby Digital Surround.
  • there is no incompatibility problem because of different formats (such as PAL, NTSC & SECAM)

 

VCDs CAN BE PLAYED ON:
  • All Personal Computers - both PC & Mac with CD-ROMs/DVD-ROMs, a sound card and a good graphics card
  • VCD Players (very common in Asia)
  • Almost all DVD Players; check the manual of your DVD player
  • Game Consoles (Playstations, Sega Saturn, Dreamcast, Nintendo 64 & 3DO Game Consoles; they all require add-on movie cards; NOTE: Playstation 2 does NOT support VCDs)

 

HOW TO PLAY VCDs ON YOUR COMPUTER:
  • Windows :
    You can play VCDs with Windows Media Player - insert the VCD in your CD-ROM or DVD-ROM, browse to the MPEGAV folder, then double click on the .dat files (do not forget to change "Files of Type" into "All Files"; their names start with AVSEQ).
     To play a VCD with menus and still pictures use WinDVD or PowerDVD, insert the VCD and just hit Play.
  • Mac :
    Play VCDs with MacVCD, it does also support MacOS X.
  • Linux :
    Play VCDs with MpegTV Player or Videolan.

 

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