Create MPEG1 / VCD File

Software name : Avidemux
Software version : 2.4

MPEG1 files are useful for use in computers with low specifications. They can also be played by nearly all computers without having to install additional software. This makes them ideal when creating a CDROM or an internet video file that you want to be very compatible.

I assume that you already have a video file which you want to turn encode.

If you don't already have a suitable file, then you may need to :

1. export a file from a video editing programme
2. capture a DV tape to a file on your hard drive
3. download an appropriate file

The file should be as high quality as you can get - this is because every time you convert a video file into another type of file quality is lost. So you want to start with the highest quality file as possible to ensure the newly created file is the highest quality it can be. Ideally it will be a DV file exported from a video editing program or captured from a camera or an MPEG2 file or VOB from a DVD.

Opening a File

You probably have a file on your harddrive that you wish to open. To do this click on main tool bar 'File' and then 'Open' :

You will be presented with a file browser similar to this:

Find the DV file or similar on your computer by browsing the files and folders. You can't mess anything up doing this so just click around until you find the file you want. When you have found it, highlight it by clicking on it and then either double-click on it or press 'Open'. You should see Avidemux with the video file open like so:

Deinterlacing

The next thing that we might want to do to the video file is to add a deinterlace filter. This would be appropriate if you had a video that was edited from a DV camera and is still interlaced. If we create a DVD that isn't played on a standard TV then we might see the effects of the interlacing which will look like strange horizontal lines through the video.

If you don't know what the effects of interlacing are you can see them in the screen shot below (most clearly visible on the face of the man at the top left).

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The jagged edges appear where there is motion in the screen. We can remove this by adding a deinterlace filter.

To do this click on Filters under the Video menu.

Then click on the Interlace tab, and select yadiff.

Then click on the '+' button at the bottom of the list :

You will then be shown a pop-up window like this:

Click 'OK' to the default settings shown, and Yadif should appear on the section on the right :

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It's important that the deinterlace filter is the first filter you add.

Then Click Close on the bottom right of the screen:

When you save the file the filter will do its work deinterlacing the video.

Select VCD template

Next we want to select 'VCD' from the 'Auto' menu item :

This pop-up window will appear :

Select the Aspect Ratio from the drop down menu that matches your original file (the Source) and the file you are creating (the Destination). Usually you will use '4:3'. When you have chosen the right setting press 'OK' on this window and you will be returned to the interface of Avidemux.

Saving the file

To save the file click on the 'Save' button.

You will see a file browser open :

Choose a place to save the file by clicking on the folders you see. The you need to give the file a name by typing this into the text box at the top:

Make sure the name ends in ".mpg". When you have done this click 'Save'.

You should see a box which lets you know how long you have to wait for the encoding to finish and shows the encoding progress.

When its done you'll get a success message if the encoding works correctly :