.avi to DVD + resize

I have a couple of .avi files that I want to convert to DVD's for viewing on my widescreen TV. The aspect ratio of the video at the moment (measured with a ruler on my PC monitor) is approximately 2.4:1, (588 x 244 pixels), and I want to convert this to 16:9. As I understand things, if the final picture is not to appear distorted, I either have to crop a bit off each side of the picture or have a black band at top and bottom. How do I achieve the former option, and can it be done with TMPGEnc 4.0 XPress/ TMPGEnc DVD Author 3 - both of which I have, and if so how? Any other thoughts or advice on this topic will also be appreciated.

My thoughts ?

Don't crop. Why cut off image when there is no reason to ?

FitCD will create a basic avisynth shell that has the correct resize in it, ready to process. You can use this as is, or as the start of a larger script.


If you want a simpler life, AVStoDVD, FAVC, DVD Flick or ConvertXtoDVD can all correctly resize your video and author a disc, ready for burning. The quality will be pretty low, given the very low resolution of the source video. It will look even worse when blown up for a larger widescreen TV.

If you must crop (mumble mumble sneer) then have a look at the resizing feature in ConvertXtoDVD, which will allow custom butchery, although you may have to manage keeping the aspect ratio manually)

Thanks for the advice which is most helpful. I shall be going down the AVStoDVD path, I think. Much appreciated.