X2

278 Annex: Digital Video and Data Storage
General notes on AVI videos
The AVI format (Audio Video Interleaved) isn't actually a proper video format! Rather, it is a
so-called "container", where the conventions for transferring audio and video files to the
program are only loosely defined. The codec (
coder/decoder) actually defines what storage
format is used. A codec compresses audio/video data into its own unique format which
can only be read by the codec itself and is decoded when the film is played.
In concrete terms, a computer-generated AVI file
can only be loaded by and played on a
different computer if the same codec is installed on it.
Many codecs (e.g. Intel Indeo
®
video) have now become standard components of the
all this codec on the other PC. The best method available is to copy the
codec installer to your export directory and burn it every time you create a video disc
ay on computers.
You may encounter some problems when using older video editing cards with codecs
which only function with the card’s hardware. Such AVIs can
only be used on the
computer which was used to create them. Try to avoid using this kind of codec.
Overview of the different disc types
MAGIX Video Pro X2 contains many disc types depending on whether you want to burn a
movie or slideshow and which disc type you are using (CD or DVD), or the type of playback
quired.
The table below will explain which disc types can be best employed in different cases, the
differences in quality, and how much storage space each format requires.
For further information please read the chapters on the individual disc types.
Disc type Media Menu Quality ca. length Suitable
for
Playback on
VCD (See
"
Video CD
(VCD)
")
CD Yes * approx. 70
minutes
Movie DVD player
on TV
S-VCD (See
"Super Video
CD Yes ** ca. 30-70
minutes
Movie
photos
DVD player
on TV
Versatile Disc
(DVD)
")
DVD Yes,
advanced
*** approx. 2
hours
Movie
photos
DVD player
on TV
w CD Yes *** ca. 20 Movie DVD player
TV
Windows™ installation. Others like the popular DivX codec are not standard. If you are
generating an AVI file for future play on another computer using one of these codecs, you
should first inst
(slideshow disc) for pl
device or quality re
CD (SVCD)")
DVD ("Digital
miniDVD (vie
page 282) minutes photos on