Using YAMB to change aspect ratio

[pooksahib]

Hi. I have mp4's which play 16:9 when they should be 4:3. The threads I've read tell me YAMB is the solution and that I should "...create a new .mp4, highlight the video track, hit properties button, select pixel aspect ratio"

I can't find a way of highlighting an individual track nor do I see properties. Help please!

Here's the program I've installed:

[jagabo]

You have to first demux the tracks if you want to use YAMB. Then import the individual tracks. Try Mp4Muxer instead. It can import MP4 files directly.

http://www.videohelp.com/tools/MP4Muxer

[pooksahib]

Thanks, jagabo, but I'm still at a loss. When you say 'try mp4muxer INSTEAD' are you saying to forget about yamb? Because, as far as I can see, mp4muxer just demuxes/muxes - nothing about changing AR.

Anyway, I used mp4muxer to demux, loaded the audio and video tracks to yamb but still can't see an option within yamb to change the AR. Some further pointers would be most welcome!

(I was hoping to find a simple, effective program such as mpeg4modifier or dvdpatcher - is there no such thing for changing the AR of mp4 files? And why is it called mpeg4modifier when it's for avi??)

[jagabo]

In YAMB: Select the h.264 elementary stream. Press the Properties button. Set the "Pixels Aspect Ratio".

[pooksahib]

I've used yamb before (long time ago) and I remember it looking like your screenshot. The version I have now is 1.6.0 and looks totally different, no sign of 'properties' - see my original post. What version do you have and I'll see if I can get it?

Actually, 1.6 IS old... How did I manage that? Hang on...

[pooksahib]

Losing the plot rapidly here...
Installed yamb v2 beta. Loaded audio & video, muxed them, got a 'success' message but the newly created file is nowhere to be seen. I'll have to try the version before the beta. Bloody hell...

[jagabo]

I have YAMB 2.0. But it isn't working correctly because it doesn't communicate with the version of MP4Box I have.

[pooksahib]

Seems to be the same here. 2.0.0 yamb's first message to me was something like 'can't find mp4box please specify path in settings'. I tried to install "MP4BOX_GPAC.Framework.Setup-0.5.0" but can't - message is 'error opening file for writing'.

Is there another program that can fix the AR of an mp4?

[jagabo]

Try putting MP4Box.exe and js32.dll in the YAMB folder.

[pooksahib]

js32? I'll have to google that...
Gotta go now, I'll start again tomorrow. Thanks for your suggestions to date.

[jagabo]

I put those two files in my YAMB folder and was able to mux the .h264 and .acc elementary streams into an MP4 with the PAR set. But the file doesn't play properly. MPCHC opens the file, displays a window with the new aspect ratio and plays the audio -- but the window is all black.

[pooksahib]

Well, I ran yamb 2.0 complete with mp4box and js32 in the right place but it still 'can't find path'.
Tried 2.1 again. It at least produces a new mp4 file but it's exactly the same as the original despite me checking '4:3'. So I've given up - I'll just use the TV to change the AR for these particular files.

Yamb is bloody weird - v2.0 is 'portable' but v2.1 needs to be installed. And its default install location is Users/Me/Appdata/Roaming!!! I installed it in the usual place (Program Files) yet it doesn't show in Control Panel/Programs & Features.

Too much nonsense with this program, I've totally wiped it.

[poisondeathray]

Do you need MP4 ? Another option is to use mkvtoolnix to rewrap into MKV and set the DAR that way

[jagabo]

By the way, setting the aspect ratio in the header is really just a suggestion to the player. Some players will pay no attention to the flag.

There are tools that can change the aspect ratio encoded in the video stream itself. Those are much more likely to work.

[pooksahib]

jagabo - presumably you mean the likes of xmedia recode? I did that immediately after my previous post and the result was good. But I'm kicking myself for not thinking of mkvtoolnix. Thanks, poisondeathray - it worked a treat.

[jagabo]

presumably you mean the likes of xmedia recode?

No. I mean tools like Mpeg4Modifier for Xvid AVI, DVD Patcher for MPEG 2, etc. They can change the aspect ratio flags embedded in the video stream -- without reencoding. They're fast and there's no loss of quality from reencoding.

I'm kicking myself for not thinking of mkvtoolnix. Thanks, poisondeathray - it worked a treat.

I was going to mention Mkvtoolnix but I thought you required MP4. Many people need MP4 to play on a PS3, for example.

[pooksahib]

Hi jagabo - yes, I've got those tools (see post #3) but they didn't like the look of my mp4's. It still puzzles me why a tool for AVI is called mpeg4modifier...

I play my vids on a WDTV Live Hub - it handles virtually anything bar WMV8. Which again bugs me - why build a machine that plays WMV9 and not the prior versions...

[jagabo]

It still puzzles me why a tool for AVI is called mpeg4modifier...

Because it works on Xvid and Divx which are MPEG 4 Part 2 codecs. It was available long before Mpeg 4 part 10 (AVC, h.264) and the MP4 container were common.

[pooksahib]

Thanks again.