Karaoke forum for PowerKaraoke (karaoke software to create, play, and burn CD+G and video karaoke)

[Ron]

Can someone explain the different MPEG compression options? I am converting my CD+G's to DVD and I have been using the "MPEG 2 with DVD extensions" mode. However in some cases the process doesn't work in this mode, but will work in MPEG 1 mode. What are the advantages of the DVD extensions and other modes?

Thanks.

Ron

[admin]

MPEG-2 gives better quality and higher compression rate. MPEG-1 is VideoCD compatible, while MPEG-2 is used for DVD compression. With CD+G VideoCD compression is usually good enough.
_________________
Piotr
info@powerkaraoke.com
PowerKaraoke
www.powerkaraoke.com

[Ron]

I am playing back though a DVD player and Karaoke mixer, so I would like the best quality possible. I am using a DVD software to acutally create the DVD from the MPEG files that are created using CD+G to Video Converter. Do I need to use the DVD extensions in this case?

Thanks.

[admin]

If you are having problems with MPEG encoding you may create AVI files and use them in your DVD authoring software (it will re-encode it). Or you may use MPEG-2 (DVD format) and use the files traight away in DVD authoring software.
_________________
Piotr
info@powerkaraoke.com
PowerKaraoke
www.powerkaraoke.com

[Ron]

Thanks for all of your help. I am still having considerable difficulty getting many of my existing CDGs converted. Sometimes the text colors will be askew or there will be very short gaps in the music. Sometimes the ripping process will stop in the middle of the song. I'm thinking that this might be related to my DVD drive. It is a generic drive and is not listed on any of the websites as CDG compatible. Do you think that I would have more success if I purchased a Sony drive that is specifically listed as CDG compatible?

[admin]

Have you tried to lower reading speed?
_________________
Piotr
info@powerkaraoke.com
PowerKaraoke
www.powerkaraoke.com

[mene]

dvd shrink is a good programme to use and its free, you can get this from download.com, also you can edit your videos in your windows movie maker and select a bite rate compatible for the net,

I cam on this site to read about burning cdg's your information was most useful, thanks, I hope my small little input to this thread is of some use to someone,
merry christmas folks

[Ron]

I have tried lowering the speed all of the way down to 1 with no success.

[admin]

Then it is your drive that is causing the problems unfortunately.
_________________
Piotr
info@powerkaraoke.com
PowerKaraoke
www.powerkaraoke.com

[Ron]

OK. Thanks. Forturnately, the drives are very cheap right now.

[Ron]

Hello again,

Well, I bought a new drive, a Plextor PX-708UF2, advertised as CD+G read and write. It will now rip the files and create a video file. Problem is there are a lot of errors. I've tried lowering the speed, using AVI, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2. Still errors. The text is readable, just a lot of stray and incorrect characters. Any suggestions?

Ron