VCD compatibility

 

For more information about what an VCD is, read this article from DVDRhelp.

I have tried the NorthQ VCD compatibility with two VCD's:

The first one is a VCD with the film "The Browning Version" which I bought to at least have one VCD that I didn't make myself.
   
The other is the "Official VCDHelp.com PAL Demo Video-CD" (PAL version, v1.0.1), which a friend of mine bought to test the VCD compatibility of DVD-players with.

 

The Browning Version:

When I inserted "The Browning Version", the NorthQ identified it as a VCD.
It then started to play the movie. No problems at all!

 

Official VCDHelp.com PAL Demo Video-CD:

When I inserted the "Official VCDHelp.com PAL Demo Video-CD", the NorthQ identified it as a VCD 2.0.
For some reason, the player then turns PBC off.
As the "Official VCDHelp.com PAL Demo Video-CD" needs PBC enabled to work, it displayed an error!
So I pressed the "PBC" button on the remote control, the playback is stopped and the PBC is enabled.

However, I have to press "PLAY" (or "ENTER") to start the playback again.

 
With PBC on, the VCD is started as it should.

 

After going through all the tests on the "Official VCDHelp.com PAL/NTSC Demo Video-CD" (PAL version, v1.0.1), I had got the following results:

Video-CD Report Card
Brand and model: NorthQ 7100 Comments:
PBC Function Tests

Pass

Fail

items in italics = critical

Pass

Fail

Problem
8 cm CD-R, and VCD2.0 compatible

X

 

 <playtime> settings

X

 

  
PBC (playback control) compatible

X

 

 <autowait> settings - test 1

X

 

  
Entrypoint <selection> chapters

X

 

 <autowait> settings - test 2

X

 

 with flaws
Entrypoint <playlist> chapters

 

X

 Random function

X

 

  
<bsn> value greater than 1

X

 

 <loop> timing = immediate

X

 

  
Multi-playitem <playlist>

X

 

 <loop> timing = delayed

 

X

  
Audio only segment item

X

 

 Default button mapped?

X

 

 "ENTER"
  Multi-default menus

X

 

  
 

 

    
Test screens

Pass

Fail

 XVCD test clips

Pass

Fail

Problem
PAL still screen

X

 

 352x240/288, 1500 CBR

 

X

 skipping audio
NTSC still screen

X

 

 352x240/288, 1150 VBR

 

X

 skipping audio
PAL video clip

X

 

 480x480/576, 2000 VBR

 

X

 slow video, skipping audio
NTSC video clip

X

 

 704x480/576, 3000 VBR

 

X

 slow video, skipping audio
NTSC-FILM video clip

X

 

 704x480/576, 6000 CBR

 

X

 slow video, skipping audio
TV model: - TV overscan - top: - bottom: - left: - right: -

As you can see, most functions within the VCD standard works, only two functions had problems, and one function was working but with "flaws". When it comes to the XVCD tests, these are covered on the XVCD compatibility page.

Another bad thing on the NorthQ when it comes to playing VCD's is that it has no "Return" (or "Back") key defined! I had big problems with this when testing the "Official VCDHelp.com PAL/NTSC Demo Video-CD". At the end of each test, I had to press the "Return" key to get back to the previous menu. As I could not find any "Return" key, I had to stop the VCD and start from the beginning to get to the next test.

So, to sum up how the NorthQ 7000/7100 plays VCD's:

bullet Seems to always disable PBC before staring to play a VCD disc.
bullet Supports most PBC functions.
bullet No "Return" key available.


 

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