Are VCDs always in the 4x3 aspect ratio?

[gastrof]

I'm trying to convert a .flv video to a format I can put on DVD. I tried converting to VCD, in hopes of using the .dat file to create a DVD, but the result was in 4x3 format.

The original was in widescreen, so I don't need to tell you how bad it now looks (as in squashed).

I don't know if I should look for other software that can make a widescreen VCD, or what.

Is VCD always in 4x3?

[Midzuki]

Is VCD always in 4x3?

Yes. OTOH, SVCD supports both 4:3 and 16:9.

[edDV]

"NTSC" 352 x 240 pixel VCD is defined as 4:3. Pixels aren't square.
"PAL" 352 x 288 pixel VCD is also defined as 4:3. PAL pixels aren't square either.

Wide would be displayed as letterbox.

Horizontally squeezed 16:9 is non-standard but many 16:9 TV sets will horizontally stretch it out to 16:9 or vertically compress it to letterbox (4:3 TV sets).

[gastrof]

Any suggestions on software (freeware?) that'll let me convert a widescreen .flv video to a DVD-friendly format (and preferably burn as letterbox without going to another program)?

[edDV]

DVD is MPeg2. A program like ULead Movie Factory can author a DVD if it imports .flv. If not you will need a flv to MPeg2 transcoder.
http://www.ulead.com/dmf/features.htm
http://www.videohelp.com/guides?sear...or+List+Guides

Some DVD players support divx or xvid.