Creating VideoCD Images

STEP 1

Select the VideoCD creation method you want to use and a volume name for the image file.

Setting the Volume Label

VCDGear can accept a volume label for the image you create.  The volume label can be entered in
the space provided -- you have a maximum of 32 characters.  VCDGear can also apply a labelling
format so that you can have different volume labels if you are outputting to multiple images (see Spanning).
Pressing [ ... ] will let you enter in the format of the volume label.

For example, suppose VCDGear generates 3 images and you want each image to have the following
label:    MOVIE_DISC_1        MOVIE_DISC_2        MOVIE_DISC_3

The volume label format will be:   MOVIE_DISC_%d

The %d would represent the image number.  Anyone who is familiar with Java, C/C++ will recognize
this format.  Of course, you can also have %02d and any other crazy combination you want :-)

Note: The ISO standard for the volume label requires that only certain characters can be
used.  VCDGear will allow one to break this standard so that high-bit ASCII can also
be used.

Output Naming Format

When you have files added into the track list, the [ << multi-file naming ] will be available.  This
lets you select how you want the output file to look like.  Like the volume label formatting, multiple
output files (due to spanning) can each be given a naming convention so that the first image
has a name of:    IMAGE_1.bin        and the second:    IMAGE_2.bin        etc...

STEP 2

Add video tracks in the order you want the files to play in.  The positions of the tracks can be
moved up and down via the up/down arrows.  Tracks can also be deleted by the [remove track].
Selecting a specific track in your list will display MPEG information about that file in the left box.
A track list can be cleared by clicking on the [clear list] button.

In the VideoCD Track List, there are 3 columns.  The + column represents the image number.  If you are
only making a single CD image, this will always be 1.  If you span your MPEGs, there may be more
than 1 image.  The # column represents the track number for that image.

You can play any track in the list by selecting it and clicking on the play button beside the down arrow.

Spanning Images

VCDGear can span your images if your MPEGs are over 74min or 80min in length.  To enable this, 
make sure the Span VideoCD Images at 74min (or 80min) is checked.  Any additional tracks that
you add will also be split across multiple images if total disc time for that image goes over 74/80mins.

Adding a Sample Clip

You can only add a sample clip if you have tracks in your track list.  Clicking on Yes to add a sample 
clip will bring up the following screen:

You can set the starting position of the sample by moving the slider (not the slider under the video).
Clicking on [ ? random ] for the starting position will randomly select a point in the video.  Click [ set >> ]
when you're done picking the starting position.

Move the slider to set the finish position.  There are buttons for preset 30/60 second lengths and one
for random.  When the slider is in position, click OK.

The sample clip will be generated after VCDGear has finished building the images.

STEP 3

The track pause time (delay between video tracks) can be set by adjusting the value.  By default, this is
set to 5 seconds.

Click [save] to specify your output file.

NOTE: Save your output file to the hard drive and *NOT* to your CD drive.
Refer to Writing VideoCD Images to CD on what to do after this step is complete.

Then click [start]!