VCD or VHS which would you choose?

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
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I only have a VCD or VHS option for downloading the Japanese versions of The Ring.

Never used a VCD before.

Let me know the issues. thanks

Chris
 

BoomAM

Diamond Member
Sep 25, 2001
4,546
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like most people, ive used VHS, its an industry standard. VCD however, is not.
from my experiance, VCD is a way to lower the quality of a DVD to VHS quality and then put it on several standard CDR CDs.
if your converting from DVDs(not saying you should do it as its illegal)to VCD, then it`ll go one of two ways. good quality picture & sterio sound, or crap washed out picture, and fuzzy sound.

if your makin home movies & stuff, then VCD, IMHO, VCD is they way to go as you can play it on any PC with or without DVD Drive, and in DVD Players with your TV.

with VCDs, as long as you know how to do it propely and use a decent program to make them, and write to the cd, then you`ll be fine. but dont rush, otherwise you`ll get a crap VCD that wont allways work and/or abismol quality.

hope this helps
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
this is a dealer, options are VHS or VCD....there is no DVD that I know available.

 

rbV5

Lifer
Dec 10, 2000
12,632
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Despite what the previous poster claimed, VCD IS most definately a standard, and is hugely popular in Asia.

VCD and VHS are ~ equal in resolution, 352 X 240 NTSC (352 X 288 PAL) If it were me, I'd go for the VCD if you have a DVD player that supports VCD playback, or are going to watch on your PC. Pre-recorded VCD generally have better IQ than VHS counterparts (but can vary), and also keep their quality throughout their useful life, while a VHS tape wears with each use, and tape heads must be kept clean for best playback IQ.
 

AnitaPeterson

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2001
5,965
464
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VCD all the way!

It lasts for much longer than tape, it can't be ruined by a dirty head, and works in virtually any DVD player and/or computer you can think of... Some VCDs also have menus and other features that make them close to the DVD standards. And a well-encoded VCD is just as good - quality-wise - like a VHS recorded in SP mode - don't even think of LP-recorded tapes!
 

starwarsdad

Golden Member
May 19, 2001
1,433
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The only argument against VCD from me would be having to change disks for multiple disk sets. The quality is usually just a bit better than VHS.
 

JeremiahTheGreat

Senior member
Oct 19, 2001
552
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i can personally vouch that VCD image quality is absolutely terrible.. its comparable to VHS on slow moving scenes but in quick moving ones, phooor.. you can see the compression blockiness spring out and it truely looks horrible.

Since your watching ring, no-disc swapping is a must! It'll spoil the atmosphere!!!!


BTW, there is a DVD version of Ring, i rented it at the local video store.. scared me shitelss for a long long time..
 

dayg

Senior member
Feb 20, 2001
872
1
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JeremiahTheGreat, where do you live and what is the name of your local video store? I wonder if BB has it? Can anyone confirm if BB has it? I saw some guy were selling The Ring (Jap version) on egay for over $60 bucks.

FYI, The Jap version of The Ring has 3 series (Ring, Ring2, Ring 0)
 

MrPhelps

Golden Member
Sep 9, 2001
1,421
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If you are getting a movie from kazaa or like that you never can count on how good it was ripped and encoded.
Vcd is by far superior to vhs, I will never by a vcr again.
The one big problem is not all DVD players will play VCD's it needs to say cd'r and vcd's not just VCD. You can buy a manufactured VCD and have it play on sme units and try a homemade VCD might not. Plus VCD's sometimes are a different region.

Still VCD and its better brother SVCD's rock!!!

vcdhelp.com Try this site it has a DVD player compatability list to see if your DVD player will play what you want.

If my link doesn't work get there the spanish way, Manual. lol:)
 

MrPhelps

Golden Member
Sep 9, 2001
1,421
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Originally posted by: techietam
I will never by a vcr again

What is VCR? I remember I heard about it looooong time ago.. ;) ;) ;) ;)

j/k :)


Its a ancient device that date about 200bc and it played magnetic tapes and when the gods got made it made the device eat the tape.
:)