Free online H265 to VCD converter

What the H.265 format is

H.265, also called HEVC, is a video codec designed to deliver similar visual quality at roughly half the bitrate of H.264. It commonly appears inside .mp4, .mkv, or .mov containers, so the filename extension alone does not identify the codec.

Modern smartphones, action cameras, drones, screen recorders, and video cameras often create H.265 footage. HandBrake, FFmpeg, OBS Studio, and video editors can also export it. Older televisions, media players, and disc-authoring tools may not decode HEVC, which is why an MPEG-1 conversion is sometimes necessary.

What the VCD format is

Video CD is a CD-based video standard rather than just a filename extension. A compliant VCD stores MPEG-1 video in a disc structure that players expect; the converted elementary video is normally multiplexed as an MPEG program stream with an .mpg extension.

VCD uses fixed limits: PAL video is 352×288 at 25 fps, NTSC video is 352×240 at approximately 29.97 fps, video bitrate is about 1,150 kbit/s, and MPEG Layer II audio is typically 224 kbit/s at 44.1 kHz. A 74-minute CD holds about 74 minutes of VCD video, and an 80-minute CD holds about 80 minutes.

Its main use is compatibility with standalone VCD players, older DVD players, and computers with CD drives. It is unsuitable when high resolution or efficient compression is required.

How to convert H.265 to VCD

Convert with FFmpeg

FFmpeg is suitable when you need a repeatable conversion and can use a command line. First determine whether the source should use PAL or NTSC. Use PAL for a 25-fps source intended for PAL equipment, and NTSC for North American, Japanese, or other NTSC equipment.

For PAL, run:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -target pal-vcd -vf "scale=352:288:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=352:288:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2" vcd.mpg

For NTSC, run:

ffmpeg -i input.mkv -target ntsc-vcd -vf "scale=352:240:force_original_aspect_ratio=decrease,pad=352:240:(ow-iw)/2:(oh-ih)/2" vcd.mpg

These commands decode H.265, resize and pad the picture to the VCD frame size, encode MPEG-1 video and MPEG Layer II audio, and write an MPEG program stream. Replace the input filename with the actual H.265-containing file. Padding preserves the source aspect ratio; without it, a widescreen image can look stretched.

Create the VCD disc image

A compliant vcd.mpg is not enough for most standalone players. Install the desktop authoring utility VCDImager and create a BIN/CUE image:

vcdimager -t vcd2 -c videocd.cue -b videocd.bin vcd.mpg

Burn the resulting videocd.cue image with disc-burning software that supports BIN/CUE images, selecting image writing rather than copying the files as ordinary data. Use a blank CD-R and finalize the disc; do not burn the MPEG file directly as a data file if the target player expects a VCD.

Use the built-in online converter

You can convert the video on 101convert.com for free without installing software. Check the output specifications before downloading: a file intended for VCD must use MPEG-1 video, the correct PAL or NTSC dimensions, and 44.1 kHz MPEG audio. The resulting file may still need VCD authoring before it can be burned as a playable disc.

Quality, compatibility, and limitations

H.265-to-VCD conversion is a lossy re-encode. VCD resolution and bitrate are far below those of most H.265 sources, so fine detail, text, motion, and widescreen imagery will degrade. Keeping the original H.265 file is advisable for later editing or archival use.

VCD capacity is measured in playback minutes rather than normal file size because compliant MPEG settings use approximately 1,150 kbit/s video and 224 kbit/s audio. A long source may need multiple discs; lowering the bitrate to fit more video can make the result non-compliant and incompatible with hardware players.

Some modern players no longer support VCD, and some accept MPEG files without accepting the complete VCD structure. Test one rewritable disc when possible, and match the television standard used by the target player.