The Tools

In this tutorial we're going to use just two applications and an optional third one.

1. VirtualDub

The open source application is a linear video editor, we're going to use it to prepare everything for the video encoder, the second application we're working with.

The application that converts the video in the Video CD format is specialized to do just that and works perfectly if it receives the video in exactly the right specifications for the desired conversion format.

The encoder has some basic processing functions that prepare the video but it makes more sense to leave these tasks to a specialized, fast, professional application like VirtualDub. It resizes the video, converts the frame rate, allows you to add subtitles to the video with the help of a plugin and, in the end, with the help of the integrated Frame Server, passes the video file to the video encoder.

You can download VirtualDub from : VirtualDub's Downloads Page

2. Tsunami MPEG Encoder

The Tsunami MPEG Encoder is considered by lots of people the second best MPEG encoder in the world, after Cinema Craft Encoder

MPEG is the compression algorithm behind the Video CD format and MPEG v2 is the compression algorithm used by the Super Video CD format.

While the first best encoder is somewhat expensive, Tsunami MPEG Encoder's Video CD and Super Video CD encoding sections are free, you only have to pay if you wish to encode videos in the DVD format.

The MPEG encoder will receive the already processed and prepared video file from VirtualDub through its frame server and will do it's magic, converting the movie in the MPEG or MPEG v2 formats.

You can download Tsunami MPEG Encoder from: Tsunami MPEG Encoder's Download Page

3. VobSub (optional)

VobSub is a collection of small application and plugins designed to offer support for subtitles.

From the whole package, we're going to use just one plugin designed for VirtualDub that lets us insert subtitles in the video. Because the original Video CD standard has no subtitle support, the subtitles have to be written directly on the image, a process also called "burn-in".

You only have to download this application if you plan to use subtitles in your projects.

You can download VobSub from : AfterDawn's VobSub Download Page

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