Configuring MPEG Properties

MPEG is the dominant file format used to create VCD, SVCD and DVD. This high quality compressed format can be used across all platforms. VCD, SVCD and DVDs accept MPEG files that conform to their respective standards. MPEG files differ in many parameters that characterizes the MPEG format.

The table below lists down the format in which MPEG files are made by Video Edit Magic depending on the type of video disc.

NTSC is the picture standard used in USA while PAL is used in almost all European countries. The MPEG 1 format also supports Variable Bit-rate video that can be used to achieve high compression ratios depending on the kind of video's presence in the Timeline.

Making MPEG Movies for VCD, SVCD and DVD

Creating VCD, SVCD or DVD involves:

1. Making MPEG movie conforming to the standard that the disc accepts.
2. Burning the created movies to an appropriate disc (CD or DVD)

Video Edit Magic is able to make MPEG movies for various Video Discs as discussed in the table above. However, a separate CD or DVD burning software is required to burn these MPEG movies to a CD or DVD.

To make movie for VCD, SVCD or DVD, select the required format from "MPEG Output Format" box and click OK. The values required to create the correct MPEG Format is automatically filled up.

The options available are:

1. MPEG 1 VCD (NTSC)
2. MPEG 1 VCD (PAL)
3. MPEG 2 SVCD (NTSC)
4. MPEG 2 SVCD (PAL)
5. MPEG 2 DVD (NTSC)
6. MPEG 2 DVD (PAL)

Aspect Ratio

In DVD - NTSC, movies are created in 720x480 video dimension, whereas in DVD - PAL, movies are created in 720x576 video dimension. Besides the video dimensions every DVD video stream even has a DAR (Display Aspect Ratio) flag. The flag tells the media player for what kind of target display the stream has been encoded. Depending on the display you want to view your movie you can change the DAR.  By default the movie will be created in a 16:9 display aspect ratio. You can choose to view your movies in the following:

1. 4:3 - For Standard Television
2. 16:9 - For Widescreen
3. 2.21:1 - For Cinemascope Movie

Note: The DAR (Display Aspect Ratio) does not define the ratio of the video dimensions, you have encoded the video stream at. So even though Windows Media Player will continue to show the accurate video dimensions in the properties, still it will play the video in the DAR you have chosen. For example, if you have created a movie in DVD-NTSC and DAR as 16:9 the video will appear stretched when playing in Media Player but will still have a dimension of 720x480.

Making Custom MPEG Movies

Although, MPEG is primarily used to create movies for VCD, SVCD and DVD, Video Edit Magic also provides you with the feature of making movies in custom MPEG 1 format. To make custom MPEG movies, select MPEG 1 (Custom) from the "MPEG Output Format". Specify custom values for:

1. Video Dimensions: Select the width and height in pixels from the ones available.
2. Frame Rate: Select the frame rate in frames/second (FPS) from the ones available:
3. Audio Bitrate: Specify the bit-rate from the ones available.
4. Audio Frequency: Select the Audio Frequency from amongst the two options given. By default, it is 44.100 kHz. You may also opt for 48 kHz.