What is XVCD

Note!!! Remember that these are no STANDARDS such as VCD, SVCD or DVD.


XVCD stands for eXtendedVCD. XVCD has same features as VCD but it is possible to use higher bitrates and higher resolution to get higher video quality. XVCD is basicly everything that uses MPEG1 video, is not within the VCD standard and burnt in "VCD"-Mode.

XSVCD stands for eXtendedSVCD. XSVCD has same features as SVCD but it is possible to use higher bitrates and higher resolution to get higher video quality. XSVCD is basicly everything that uses MPEG2 video, is not within the SVCD standard and burnt in "SVCD"-Mode.

A X(S)VCD can be played on

- XVCD on some standalone VCD Players but not XSVCD at all.
- Some standalone DVD Players check here for a compatibility list. The main problem why many players won't play X(S)VCD is that it may require faster CD-R/W reading speed in the Player.
- And of course on all computers with a CD-ROMs/DVD-ROMs with a software VCD/MPG Player.






Technical Info

Remember that these are no STANDARDS as VCD and SVCD.

X(S)VCDs are in two format, NTSC and PAL (and a third one also, NTSC Film but that is almost never used).
XVCD PAL

Video:
any kbit/sec MPEG-1 both variable and constant bitrate.
352 x 288 pixels
25 frames/second
Audio:
32-384 kbit/sec MPEG-1 Layer2
Extra:
Menus and chapters
Still pictures in 704x576,352x288


XSVCD PAL

Video:
any kbit/sec MPEG-2 both variable and constant bitrate
352 x 288 pixels
352 x 576 pixels
720 x 576 pixels
25 frames/second
with up to 4 Subtitles
Audio:
32-384 kbit/sec MPEG-1 Layer2
with up to 2 Audio Tracks
Extra:
Menus and chapters
Still pictures in 704x576,352x288
XVCD NTSC
Video:
any kbit/sec MPEG-1 both variable and constant bitrate
352 x 240 pixels
29,97 frames/second
(23,976 frames/second NTSC Film)
Audio:
32-384 kbit/sec MPEG-1 Layer2
Extra:
Menus and chapters
Still pictures in 704x480,352x240


XSVCD NTSC
Video:
any kbit/sec MPEG-2 both variable and constant bitrate
352 x 240 pixels
352 x 480 pixels
720 x 480 pixels
29,97 frames/second
(23,976 frames/second NTSC Film)
with up to 4 Subtitles
Audio:
32-384 kbit/sec MPEG-1 Layer2
with up to 2 Audio Tracks
Extra:
Menus and chapters
Still pictures in 704x480,352x240




Video File Comparison

Format VCD SVCD
DVD HDDVD
HDTV
(WMVHD) AVI
DivX
XviD
WMV MOV
Quick-
Time RM
Real-
Media AVI
DV
Resolution
NTSC/PAL 352x240
352x288 480x480
480x576
720x480²
720x576² 1920x1080²
1280x720² 640x480² 640x480² 320x240² 720x480
720x576
Video
Compression MPEG1 MPEG2 MPEG2, MPEG1 MPEG2
(WMV-
MPEG4) MPEG4 Sorenson, Cinepak, MPEG4 ... RM DV
Video bitrate 1150kbps ~2000kbps ~5000kbps ~20Mbps
(~8Mbps) ~1000kbps ~1000kbps ~350kbps 25Mbps
Audio
Compression MP1 MP1 MP1, MP2, AC3, DTS, PCM MP1, MP2, AC3, DTS, PCM MP3, WMA, OGG, AAC, AC3 QDesign Music, MP3 ... RM DV
Audio bitrate 224kbps ~224kbps ~448kbps ~448kbps ~128kbps ~128kbps ~64kbps ~1500kbps
Size/min 10
MB/min 10-20
MB/min 30-70
MB/min ~150MB/min
(~60MB/min)
4-10
MB/min 4-20
MB/min 2-5
MB/min 216MB/min
Min/74min CD 74min 35-60min 10-20min ~4min
(~10min) 60-180min 30-180
min 120-300
min 3min
Hours/DVD N/A N/A 1-2hrs
(2-5hrsª) ~30min
(~1hrs) 7-18hrs 3-18hrs 14-35hrs 20min
Hours/
DualLayerDVD N/A N/A 2-4hrs
(5-9hrsª) ~55min
(~2hrs) 13-30hrs 6-30hrs 25-65hrs 37min
DVD Player Compatibility Great Good Excellent None Few None None None
Computer CPU Usage Low High Very High Super high Very High High Low High
Quality Good Great* Excellent* Superb* Great* Great* Decent* Excellent
kbps = thousand bits per second
Mbps = million bits per second
² approximately resolution, it can be higher or lower
~ approximately bitrate, it can be higher or lower
ª DVD with lower video quality, similiar to VCD/SVCD video quality
* the video quality depends on the bitrate and the video resolution, higher bitrate and higher resolution generally means better video quality but bigger file size