Disc Workshop FAQ

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Disc Workshop · Downloads · Quick Start · User Guide · FAQ · Release Notes · Testing and Limitations

Does it rip protected DVDs or Blu-rays?

No. It converts selected readable files and does not decrypt protected media. DVD title menus and complex Blu-ray playlists are not automatically assembled.

What is the difference between VCD, SVCD and XVCD?

VCD uses a fixed standard MPEG-1 profile. SVCD uses MPEG-2. XVCD uses custom MPEG-1 settings. Advanced XVCD/SVCD parameters can exceed format specifications; hardware compatibility varies.

Can I fit a whole film onto one disc in MPEG-1 or MPEG-2?

Yes. Choose XVCD for MPEG-1 or SVCD for MPEG-2 and enable Fit whole movie on one disc. VCD selection switches to XVCD when fitting is enabled. Long films require lower quality; an oversized result is rejected.

Can I split a film into two discs at the highest fitting bitrate?

Enable Maximum bitrate per disc and set the disc count to two, or choose your own manual break. Each volume receives its own calculated rate within the fitting ceiling, reserving room for audio and authoring.

How do I choose an exact break?

Open Preview / choose breaks, scrub the timeline or enter HH:MM:SS, and click Add break here. Save the break list. Boundaries round to an output frame. Leave at least one second on each disc.

Do the arrow keys step frames or change preview volume?

No. Those preview shortcuts and their keyboard hook were removed in 1.8.3 after user-reported problems. Use the timeline or time fields. Space still plays/pauses.

How do black screens and fades work?

Opening and ending silent black screens are independent options on every disc, each defaulting to four seconds and configurable from 0.1 to 120 seconds. Ending black follows the video or its fade. Optional internal-break fades affect picture and sound, without changing source break times. Padding counts toward capacity and bitrate fitting.

Can I toggle low vision while converting?

Yes. The fixed top-bar toggle stays available while conversion settings remain locked. The larger bold high-contrast appearance is remembered between sessions.

Are subtitles selectable on the finished CD?

No. Selected embedded or external subtitles are permanently burned into the picture. Use one assembled movie file so subtitle timing stays aligned. Text subtitles require FFmpeg’s libass/subtitles filter.

Will a 4K or HD source make a high-definition CD?

No. VCD/SVCD/XVCD output is standard definition by default. HDR-to-SDR processing needs suitable FFmpeg filters; Dolby Vision is not explicitly supported.

Why is my widescreen picture squeezed?

Anamorphic squeeze expects one 16:9 stretch on the TV. The output is marked 4:3. Set the TV to Full/Wide/16:9 stretch once, or disable squeeze for conventional letterboxing.

Why is the suggested break not silent?

Quiet detection measures audio levels rather than speech. Music, effects, whispers or continuous dialogue can prevent a suitable point. Fallback cuts are marked in DISC-PLAN.txt; preview and listen before burning.

Why is FFmpeg or VCDImager missing?

The external tools are not bundled. Extract their distributions fully, keep their DLLs and helper executables together, and use Locate .exe to select the correct executable.

How do I burn a finished image?

Keep CUE and BIN together and write the CUE as an image using ImgBurn. A data CD containing the files is not a Video CD. Wait for writing and verification to complete.

What should I do if a job fails or is cancelled?

Read job.log, check free space, source readability, audio stream selection and tool paths. Partial output remains; do not burn it. Remove unwanted partial files only after processing has stopped.

How do I update or uninstall?

Close the app after any job stops, then install the latest version in the same location. Remove it through Windows Settings → Apps. Source movies, output folders and saved tool/accessibility settings remain. Old portable shortcuts may still open an earlier version.

How do I convert an MP4 video to VCD or SVCD?

If FFmpeg can read your MP4, add it to Disc Workshop, choose VCD for MPEG-1 or SVCD for MPEG-2, select the disc size and number of discs, and create the BIN/CUE images. Burn each CUE as a disc image with suitable burning software rather than copying the MP4 onto a data CD. See the VCD/SVCD creation quick start.

What is the difference between VCD, SVCD and XVCD?

VCD is the standard MPEG-1 Video CD format. SVCD is the MPEG-2 Super Video CD format. XVCD is custom MPEG-1 output that goes outside standard VCD parameters. Disc Workshop also allows advanced SVCD settings; changing standard parameters can prevent playback on some devices.

Can I fit a whole movie on one CD-R?

Disc Workshop can calculate a video bitrate for one disc or split the movie across several discs. Longer films need a lower bitrate for one CD, which can reduce picture quality. A fitted custom bitrate is not a guarantee of standard VCD/SVCD compatibility. Check the output size and your player before burning.

How do I burn a VCD or SVCD BIN/CUE image?

Select the CUE file in a program that supports burning BIN/CUE disc images, such as ImgBurn, and use appropriate CD-R media. The CUE describes the disc layout and points to its BIN. Playback depends on your player supporting the format, media and chosen encoding settings.