How do you encode Cinepak AVIs that can be played from at least a 4x CD-ROM drive? \ VOGONS

How do you encode Cinepak AVIs that can be played from at least a 4x CD-ROM drive?

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First post, by thepirategamerboy12

Posted on 2020-04-02, 13:38

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So, I like viewing my own video files on older computers. I render Cinepak MOVs in Sony Vegas and they play back fine on a 4x and even a 2x CD drive, but you can't play MOVs in fullscreen VGA mode like AVIs in Windows 3.1, so it'd be nice to be able to make those as well. But for whatever reason, whenever I try to make Cinepak AVIs in Sony Vegas or FFmpeg and burn them to a CD, the laser doesn't go along a linear track and instead constantly seeks back and fourth during playback causing nasty framerate drops. I don't know if it's because the audio stream isn't alongside the video or what. If anyone here is familiar with this topic, please enlighten me on how to get these videos to play properly from a CD. For now, I have to play them back via the HDD on my 486 since that's fast enough to handle the seeking. Also, is there any way to lower the bitrate with FFmpeg at least? At 320x240 15fps I always get around 2000kbps no matter what I try.

Reply 1 of 7, by jmarsh

Posted on 2020-04-02, 15:06

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Look for a setting that references "interleaving", you want to reduce the amount of audio (usually measured in ms) stored per chunk so that it ends up getting more evenly spread out.

Reply 2 of 7, by thepirategamerboy12

Posted on 2020-04-03, 18:43

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I wasn't aware of that. Thanks. I found that option in Sony Vegas, but I'm not sure what the command for FFmpeg would be.

Reply 3 of 7, by Zup

Posted on 2020-04-03, 18:51

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How do you record your CDs?

CDs recorded at high speeds on modern drives can fail in older equipment. I'd recommend to write CDs at the slower speed available.

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Reply 4 of 7, by thepirategamerboy12

Posted on 2020-04-04, 06:24

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I burn at 8x speed, the slowest any of my burners support. I really don't think that's the issue, as everything else works perfectly fine like MOVs, WAVs, etc.

Reply 5 of 7, by Jo22

Posted on 2020-04-09, 10:12

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thepirategamerboy12 wrote on 2020-04-02, 13:38:

So, I like viewing my own video files on older computers. I render Cinepak MOVs in Sony Vegas and they play back fine
on a 4x and even a 2x CD drive, but you can't play MOVs in fullscreen VGA mode like AVIs in Windows 3.1, so it'd be nice to be able to make those as well.

Uhm, then I wonder, how did QuickTime games play their FMVs ? Didn't QT use MOV also ? Back in the Windows 3.1 days 4x or 8x speed wasn't common, if memory serves.
In fact, I *think* I grew up with single-speed and double-speed CD-ROM drives. This doesn't have to mean much, of course. 😅
Also, MPEG-1 was possible with single-speed, too. I remember that, because I used to watch VCDs (originals, no pirate copies).
Even on WIndows 3.1 with XingMPEG Player! 😉

Edit: It would be interesting to know, how Video CDs used to made. Especially, how they managed to retain VHS quality with the limited tech of the day.
If we knew what software (encoder) was used, and which settings it was configured for, we might be able to better understand how to "master" video files for older computers.

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Reply 6 of 7, by GL1zdA

Posted on 2020-04-09, 10:54

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Jo22 wrote on 2020-04-09, 10:12:

Edit: It would be interesting to know, how Video CDs used to made. Especially, how they managed to retain VHS quality with the limited tech of the day.
If we knew what software (encoder) was used, and which settings it was configured for, we might be able to better understand how to "master" video files for older computers.

That's pretty well described on wikipedia, both the codec parameters and on disc structure:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_CD#Techni … _specifications
I have never burned my own Video CDs, but Nero had a profile for burning Video CDs which should match the specification.

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