3 ms·
In a similar boat; I got a CD-I with the add-on MPEG-1 module (picked up for $20 for a floor-model clearance table in the late-90s), but in my eyes the big fail
by wcfields 8y ago
In a similar boat; I got a CD-I with the add-on MPEG-1 module (picked up for $20 for a floor-model clearance table in the late-90s), but in my eyes the big failure of VCD as a format was needing two discs per movie.
VCD's aren't that terrible though (a 4head Hifi VCR though would look better), here's a recording of the opening of the Matrix with some trailers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRElGEgHzEE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRElGEgHzEE
VCD's never really made it into piracy. If I recall at the time the Warez scene was using Vivo Active [1] (H.263 video and G.723 ADPCM audio) splitting videos at 650Mb, which gave greater fidelity than MPEG-1 in a smaller package. I think that only lasted a year or so until DiVX/Xvid came along.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivo_Software https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivo_Software
- BonesJustice 8y agoI can recall a period when pirated MPEG-2 SVCDs could be found easily enough. It was mostly during that period where DVD players were commonplace, but DVD burners were rare. I think some players (Apex?) could even play MPEG-4 video off of CDs, though I don't think that was a standardized format. Regardless, pirated SVCDs were nowhere near as common as the h.263 discs you mentioned, and you're right about MPEG-1 VCDs. I don't recall seeing (m)any pirated movies in that format. > a 4head Hifi VCR though would look better I'm suddenly missing my old Sony SLV-N81 :).