VCD

What Is a VCD?

“VCD” stands for VideoCD, a standard that allows both video and audio to play on regular CD. Video and audio are encoded in MPEG format and stored on disc.

Less often, VCD is a file extension for a “virtual CD,” or a disc image of a CD or DVD. Windows recognizes this type of VCD as a physical disc, even though the VCD runs directly on the hard drive, independent of the CD-ROM drive. VCDs are particularly useful for computers that lack a physical ROM drive because of space constraints, or for mounting CD-DVD content on networked computers.

In this article, “VCD” refers to the second definition: a CD or DVD converted into a disc image.

Creating a VCD

To create a VCD, you’ll need a CD-DVD emulator like FarStone VirtualDrive, which lets you configure up to 23 “virtual drives” and pre-load your VCDs in them.

VirtualDrive also lets you customize your VCDs with documentation and expansion packs, or combine several volumes of a CD set in a single VCD. This is especially useful when a variety of content needs to be shared over a network.

Benefits of VCDs

Because they operates directly on the hard drive, VCDs require no spin-up time and have access rates more than 200 times faster than physical CDs in a CD-ROM drive. VCDs can’t be scratched or broken, are easy to store and transport, and can be launched with a simple desktop shortcut. Other benefits include:

• Multiple disc play
  Pre-load up to 23 VCDs and run them simultaneously, hot-swapping between volumes of a multi-disc set
• Reduced demand on system resources
  VCDs eliminate the need for a CD-ROM drive and extend the charge of laptop computer batteries
• Disc customization
  Custom VCDs can include documentation, expansion packs, and product manuals
• CD/DVD archiving
  Protect original game and application discs by converting them into VCDs. Organize VCDs in a searchable library with custom VCD cabinets